During the
Civil War, Matson enlisted as a private in the Sixteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. After one year's service entered the Sixth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Cavalry (Seventy-first Volunteers), and served until October 1865, and was subsequently promoted to the rank of colonel. After the war, Matson studied law and commenced practice in
Greencastle, Indiana. He was three times elected prosecuting attorney of
Putnam County, Indiana. He served as chairman of the Democratic State central committee in 1878.
Congress Matson was elected as a
Democrat to the
Forty-seventh and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1889). He served as chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions (
Forty-eighth through
Fiftieth Congresses). He was not a candidate for renomination. He was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Governor of Indiana in 1888.
Later career He resumed the practice of law in
Greencastle, Indiana. He served as member of the board of tax commissioners 1909–1913. ==Personal life==