= Joel Aldrich Matteson = '''Joel Aldrich Matteson''' was a [[UnitedStates/DemocraticParty|Democratic]] politician and governor. <> ---- == History == Matteson served as governor of Illinois for 1853 to 1857. He narrowly lost a [[UnitedStates/Congress|senatorial seat]] in 1854; the contest involving [[UnitedStates/LymanTrumbull|Trumbull]], [[UnitedStates/AbrahamLincoln|Lincoln]], and [[UnitedStates/JamesShields|Shields]] resolved with Lincoln throwing his support behind Trumbull. His single term as governor was overshadowed by the '''Canal Scrip Fraud''' scandal. He fraudulently redeemed scrip that had been issued to fund the Illinois-Michigan Canal. The investigation was closed by the [[UnitedStates/DemocraticParty|Democrat]]-controlled state legislature in 1859 when he returned the funds. ---- CategoryRicottone