Matson Family - Catching Inlet, North Bend, Oregon
Alexander Mattsson Rauma (Matson) and Fredrika Mattsdotter Runtujärvi made their home on Catching Inlet, Coos County, Oregon an area that was associated with or close to Marshfield/North Bend. They married in 1878; both were immigrants from Finland. Access to their home was by boat. Alex and Fredrika had eleven children, two of whom died young. They also lost Irie in 1914. They built two houses in the Inlet; the second large and beautiful home burned down in 1924. Fredrika succumbed to the Spanish flu in 1919; Alex died in 1922. [Additional family history and genealogical notes are included at the end of this page.]
a cou
Family History and Genealogical Notes on Alex Mattsson Rauma and Fredrika Runtujärvi Matson
Alexander Mattsson Rauma (Matson) - Download these Family History Notes in .PDF Format
• Rauma is a farm in Sanolkylä in Kaustinen/Kaustby nearby Nedervetil. Lena Forslund writes in 1976, “Alexander Rauma left home Oct. 1, 1869, came to U.S. to Michigan for two years then went back to Finland. Then in 1872 came to Coos Bay; worked in logging camps and shipyards.”
• Swedish Emigration records show an Alexander Rauma, b. abt. 1844, destination, Grand Rapids, Mich from Göteborg, 13 Sept 1872.
• Alex Matson came to NY on 29 Sep 1872 and for 2 years was a resident of Mich. He next came to OR settling on Coos bay. He was a ship carpenter until 1909. In the meantime he saved his earnings to purchase a 507-acre farm on Catching Inlet. General farming and a dairy farm was carried on there. He married Fredrika Runtujärvi in Feb 1878. They became the parents of 11 children, nine of whom survive at this time (1912); Albert of Allegany, August, John F., Elmer, & Ernest residing at home; Esther J, wife of Fred Stone of Blue Mountain; Selma who died at the age of 4 months; Otto who died at the age of 4 months, Carl V., Ira, and Lena all who reside with their parents. In 1912 Mr. & Mrs. Matson went on an extended trip to their old home in Finland. This was their first visit to thier native home land since they left its shores many years ago.
• 1880 Fed. Census, OR, Coos Co., North Bend lists Alexander Mattson, age 36, ship carpenter, wife Fredrika, age 21 and son, Albert A. age 1; also living with them are Louis Liliquist (28), lumberman and Matt Story (20), laborer, both born in Finland.
• 1900 Fed. Census OR, Coos Co, Sumner Pct lists Alexander Mattson age 54, b. 1845 in Finland, emigrated in 1875, farmer; wife: Fredrika, age 39, b. 1860, married 23 years, had 11 children, 9 are living; children: Augustus A. 19, John 18, Elmer M. 16, Esther 14, Ernest 10, Carl V. 8, Irie H. 4, Fredrika Lena. 2. Next door is John (67) & Bertha (66) Strang, b. Finland.
• 1910 Fed. Census, Coos Co, Sumner Precinct lists Alex Matson with Fredricka and children: August A., John F., Elmer M., Esther H., Ernest, Carl V., Irie H., Lena F., and grandson, Ben E. and two boarders. Alex is age 64, emigrated in 1872, a ships carpenter.
• 1912 - mentioned in the book, "The Centennial History of Oregon" by Gaston, Vol. 4, page 196, family photo included.
• 1920 Federal Census, Coos Co, Sumner Precinct, East side of Catching Slough, lists Alex Matson, age 74, widowed, emigrated to America in 1872, farmer; children: Andrew A., Elmer, John F., Lena F. and John Strang (89) next door, and also next door to Matt Mattson’s wife, Christina and 2 children, Carl & Agnes Matson. Alex Hongell is also near by.
• Obit 1922: Alexander Matson was born in Finland June 17, 1845. He came to America in 1872 reaching NY Sept. 29, 1872. For 2 years he was in the state of Michigan. From there he came to Oregon and settled in Coos Bay. He was a ship carpenter by trade until 1909. Mr. & Mrs. Matson were the parents of 11 children, 7 of whom survive. They are Albert A., August A., John, Elmer, Mrs. F. Stone, Mrs. Ernest Forslund and Carl V. of Tacoma. Also surviving is a niece, Miss Ida Matson of Marshfield.” [Ida Matson was the daughter of Alex Matson's brother, Anders Gustaf "Gust" Rauma (Mattson). She worked at "The Hub" in Coos Bay and lived to the age of 95 years.]
• 1930 Fed. Census, doesn’t seem to be a Matson family on Catching Slough/Inlet Rd. in the 1930 Census; Albert & Edna & boys are living in Sumner Pct. on Daniels Creek Rd, renting.
• Alexander Rauma Matson and Matts Mattsson Ventjärvi MATSON are 7C1R through Anders Andersson WIKARE, b. abt. 1540.
Fredrika Mattsdotter Runtujarvi Matson
• Miss Fredrika Runtujärvi was born in Finland and came to America in 1877. Her parents and the other members of the family all died in that country save two of her sisters who crossed the Atlantic, one now living in Astoria and the other in Portland, OR and a brother and sister who are still living in Finland (1912)
• Lena Forslund writes in 1976, “Moved from Karleby parish 20 June 1877 to America; Alex married Fredrika Runtujärvi Feb. 19, 1878. Born to them were 11 children: Albert, August, John, Elmer, Esther, Selma, Ernest, Otto, Carl, Irie, Lena. One nephew, Walter Rauma lives in Canada; one niece lives in Coos Bay is 92 years old, Ida Matson. Fredrika Roden Runtujärvi came from her home in Finland with her sister, Tilda (Mathilda) to Coos Bay in 1877, age 17 years. She first worked for a sick lady with a family. Then worked at Eastside in the cookhouse until she married Alex Mattson in 1878.”
• Alex & Fredrika visited Finland July/Aug. 1912; return destination was Portland, OR. At this time they brought a cousin home with them to America, Tekla Erickson.
• Obit from the Coos Bay Times of 24 June 1919: “Mrs. Fredrika Mattson, wife of Alex Matson, of Catching Inlet, died at 8 o'clock last night at her home after an illness of a week, which began with an attack of influenza and ended in pneumonia. Two sons and a daughter residing at home became ill of influenza and the mother was finally taken sick last Monday. She was recovering satisfactorily when she attempted Saturday to get up and help about the home, where so many were ill. Her condition immediately became worse and pneumonia set in, which resulted in death last night. The sons are now recuperating and the daughter is at Mercy Hospital recovering from the flu. Mrs. Matson was born in Finland 24 Jul 1860. In 1878 she came to America, traveling to Coos Bay and here she was married in the same year. The couple resided first at North Bend but in 1888 purchased the ranch on Catching Inlet to which they moved. To them were born 11 children, of whom eight were living until the death last fall of Ernest Matson by influenza. Mr. Mattson survives his wife and the children living are: Albert of North Bend, Carl of Tacoma, John, Hjalmar (Elmer), Otto and Elina, residing at home; and Andrew. The deceased was a charter member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church founded here in 1884 and was a faithful and ardent worker for the welfare of the church. Funeral services will be held on Thursday and will be private and will take place at 1 o'clock at the Wilson Chapel [now the North Bend Funeral Home]. The body will lie in state at the same place from 10 o'clock till 1 o'clock. Interment will be in the family lot at I.O.O.F. cemetery. “ Note: the actual living children at the time of Fredrika’s death were: Albert, August, John, Elmer, Esther, Carl & Elina (Lena)."
Family History and Genealogical Notes on Alex Mattsson Rauma and Fredrika Runtujärvi Matson
Alexander Mattsson Rauma (Matson) - Download these Family History Notes in .PDF Format
• Rauma is a farm in Sanolkylä in Kaustinen/Kaustby nearby Nedervetil. Lena Forslund writes in 1976, “Alexander Rauma left home Oct. 1, 1869, came to U.S. to Michigan for two years then went back to Finland. Then in 1872 came to Coos Bay; worked in logging camps and shipyards.”
• Swedish Emigration records show an Alexander Rauma, b. abt. 1844, destination, Grand Rapids, Mich from Göteborg, 13 Sept 1872.
• Alex Matson came to NY on 29 Sep 1872 and for 2 years was a resident of Mich. He next came to OR settling on Coos bay. He was a ship carpenter until 1909. In the meantime he saved his earnings to purchase a 507-acre farm on Catching Inlet. General farming and a dairy farm was carried on there. He married Fredrika Runtujärvi in Feb 1878. They became the parents of 11 children, nine of whom survive at this time (1912); Albert of Allegany, August, John F., Elmer, & Ernest residing at home; Esther J, wife of Fred Stone of Blue Mountain; Selma who died at the age of 4 months; Otto who died at the age of 4 months, Carl V., Ira, and Lena all who reside with their parents. In 1912 Mr. & Mrs. Matson went on an extended trip to their old home in Finland. This was their first visit to thier native home land since they left its shores many years ago.
• 1880 Fed. Census, OR, Coos Co., North Bend lists Alexander Mattson, age 36, ship carpenter, wife Fredrika, age 21 and son, Albert A. age 1; also living with them are Louis Liliquist (28), lumberman and Matt Story (20), laborer, both born in Finland.
• 1900 Fed. Census OR, Coos Co, Sumner Pct lists Alexander Mattson age 54, b. 1845 in Finland, emigrated in 1875, farmer; wife: Fredrika, age 39, b. 1860, married 23 years, had 11 children, 9 are living; children: Augustus A. 19, John 18, Elmer M. 16, Esther 14, Ernest 10, Carl V. 8, Irie H. 4, Fredrika Lena. 2. Next door is John (67) & Bertha (66) Strang, b. Finland.
• 1910 Fed. Census, Coos Co, Sumner Precinct lists Alex Matson with Fredricka and children: August A., John F., Elmer M., Esther H., Ernest, Carl V., Irie H., Lena F., and grandson, Ben E. and two boarders. Alex is age 64, emigrated in 1872, a ships carpenter.
• 1912 - mentioned in the book, "The Centennial History of Oregon" by Gaston, Vol. 4, page 196, family photo included.
• 1920 Federal Census, Coos Co, Sumner Precinct, East side of Catching Slough, lists Alex Matson, age 74, widowed, emigrated to America in 1872, farmer; children: Andrew A., Elmer, John F., Lena F. and John Strang (89) next door, and also next door to Matt Mattson’s wife, Christina and 2 children, Carl & Agnes Matson. Alex Hongell is also near by.
• Obit 1922: Alexander Matson was born in Finland June 17, 1845. He came to America in 1872 reaching NY Sept. 29, 1872. For 2 years he was in the state of Michigan. From there he came to Oregon and settled in Coos Bay. He was a ship carpenter by trade until 1909. Mr. & Mrs. Matson were the parents of 11 children, 7 of whom survive. They are Albert A., August A., John, Elmer, Mrs. F. Stone, Mrs. Ernest Forslund and Carl V. of Tacoma. Also surviving is a niece, Miss Ida Matson of Marshfield.” [Ida Matson was the daughter of Alex Matson's brother, Anders Gustaf "Gust" Rauma (Mattson). She worked at "The Hub" in Coos Bay and lived to the age of 95 years.]
• 1930 Fed. Census, doesn’t seem to be a Matson family on Catching Slough/Inlet Rd. in the 1930 Census; Albert & Edna & boys are living in Sumner Pct. on Daniels Creek Rd, renting.
• Alexander Rauma Matson and Matts Mattsson Ventjärvi MATSON are 7C1R through Anders Andersson WIKARE, b. abt. 1540.
Fredrika Mattsdotter Runtujarvi Matson
• Miss Fredrika Runtujärvi was born in Finland and came to America in 1877. Her parents and the other members of the family all died in that country save two of her sisters who crossed the Atlantic, one now living in Astoria and the other in Portland, OR and a brother and sister who are still living in Finland (1912)
• Lena Forslund writes in 1976, “Moved from Karleby parish 20 June 1877 to America; Alex married Fredrika Runtujärvi Feb. 19, 1878. Born to them were 11 children: Albert, August, John, Elmer, Esther, Selma, Ernest, Otto, Carl, Irie, Lena. One nephew, Walter Rauma lives in Canada; one niece lives in Coos Bay is 92 years old, Ida Matson. Fredrika Roden Runtujärvi came from her home in Finland with her sister, Tilda (Mathilda) to Coos Bay in 1877, age 17 years. She first worked for a sick lady with a family. Then worked at Eastside in the cookhouse until she married Alex Mattson in 1878.”
• Alex & Fredrika visited Finland July/Aug. 1912; return destination was Portland, OR. At this time they brought a cousin home with them to America, Tekla Erickson.
• Obit from the Coos Bay Times of 24 June 1919: “Mrs. Fredrika Mattson, wife of Alex Matson, of Catching Inlet, died at 8 o'clock last night at her home after an illness of a week, which began with an attack of influenza and ended in pneumonia. Two sons and a daughter residing at home became ill of influenza and the mother was finally taken sick last Monday. She was recovering satisfactorily when she attempted Saturday to get up and help about the home, where so many were ill. Her condition immediately became worse and pneumonia set in, which resulted in death last night. The sons are now recuperating and the daughter is at Mercy Hospital recovering from the flu. Mrs. Matson was born in Finland 24 Jul 1860. In 1878 she came to America, traveling to Coos Bay and here she was married in the same year. The couple resided first at North Bend but in 1888 purchased the ranch on Catching Inlet to which they moved. To them were born 11 children, of whom eight were living until the death last fall of Ernest Matson by influenza. Mr. Mattson survives his wife and the children living are: Albert of North Bend, Carl of Tacoma, John, Hjalmar (Elmer), Otto and Elina, residing at home; and Andrew. The deceased was a charter member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church founded here in 1884 and was a faithful and ardent worker for the welfare of the church. Funeral services will be held on Thursday and will be private and will take place at 1 o'clock at the Wilson Chapel [now the North Bend Funeral Home]. The body will lie in state at the same place from 10 o'clock till 1 o'clock. Interment will be in the family lot at I.O.O.F. cemetery. “ Note: the actual living children at the time of Fredrika’s death were: Albert, August, John, Elmer, Esther, Carl & Elina (Lena)."
