Benjamin Matchett was born in Stickney, England, May 24, 1812. He grew up and was educated in his native country, and began life as a railroad contractor, and assisted in building several roads in England. In 1855 he left the country of his birth and came to America, landing in New York. From there he went to Cornwall, Canada West, where he took a contract for laying track on the Grand Trunk Railway. In July, 1856, he went to LaPorte, Indiana, where he began farming, continuing there till the spring of 1868, and then coming to Missouri. He settled in Daviess County and soon afterward purchased a farm, and has been a farmer of this County ever since.
Mr. Matchett has been twice married. His first wife was a native of England, Miss Charlotte Morris, the date of their wedding being May 30, 1836. She died on the 30th of April, 1870. Mr. Matchett married, February 21, 1877, Mrs. Caroline Poynton. By his first union four children were born, of whom two, Benjamin and Elizabeth, are still living. He owns a farm of 175 acres of land in Liberty Township, which he has well improved. Mr. Matchett was 1 boss of the first job of putting on the new patent plates (now in common use) for fastening the ends of the track-rails together on railroads, a contract which he executed in a workman like manner.
