Mattes, E. A. [Edward]

Submitted by Mike Miller

E. A. Mattes. This well-known business man of New Orleans owes his nativity to the Keystone state, where he was born in 1851. His father, Theodore C., was a Pennsylvanian and the proprietor of the largest blue limestone quarry in Northampton county. He died in 1855, at the age of forty-four years, and his wife a few months later. Left an orphan at four years of age, he was taken, reared by his maternal uncle, William Hammann. He graduated from the high school of Easton, Pa., and during his minority spent considerable time as clerk in a dry goods store. He graduated from the United States Institute of Business and Finance, and for some time after found employment as a bookkeeper. Later he embarked in the real estate business, and in connection with it handled stocks, bonds, etc. Prior to his coming to New Orleans he was engaged in handling soapstone. In all these varied business ventures Mr. Matte. was successful, and when in 1884 he came to the Crescent City to represent the Old Bangor Slate quarry, he was in every way eminently qualified to manage the business. He handles Vermont green and red slate and imported roofing tile, keeping only the very best quality of everything in his line. It is said that New Orleans consumes more slate and roofing tile than any city in the United States, and Mr. Mattes, by his correct business methods, has secured a lucrative patronage and built up an excellent and steadily increasing business. He assisted in organizing the Mutual Loan & Building association and was secretary and treasurer of that well-known and reputable financial institution several years. At present he is one of its board of directors. Mr. Mattes is an affable, approachable gentleman, full of enterprise and always ready to co-operate in any movement tending to benefit the community at large. He is a member of the Commercial club, and no one enjoys more general confidence.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 491-492. Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.