El Maton, dating back to 1905, is situated twelve miles west of Bay City on FM 1095. El Maton is a Spanish name meaning “the killer,” which was bestowed on the community by the Missouri-Pacific Railroad Company. The town has several legendary versions telling why it is so named. According to one version, it is said that a group of Mexicans, who had been drinking, got into an argument and began fighting on the spot where the railroad track now crosses FM 1095. Several of the group were killed in the action, and thus the place became known by the Spanish words “El Maton.” Another legend involves a railroad accident. In this version a Mexican man was accidentally killed in 1905, when his foot got caught on a rail, and a handcart ran over him. Some say El Maton got its name from the slaughterhouse which was once situated in this area. In the early days cattle were killed here only for their hides and tallow. There was a rendering plant near the present Townsite. The tallow was used in making candles and soap. The present town of El Maton and the surrounding area were once a grassy lowland prairie without a house or building between the townsite and Wilson Creek. All the land within this area was owned by the Pierce family who used it for grazing lands for their livestock. Many acres were later sold to the Ward Cattle Company which then exploited the grasslands. El Maton was once the site of stock pens owned by the various ranchers of the area. The concrete foundation of a grain silo still lies in the Emil Balusek yard. When the Missouri-Pacific was induced to lay tracks to Blessing, the railroad company built a large switch here. This shipping point for rice and cattle was at last called El Maton by the railroad men. In 1905, R. C. Roddy built a large store in El Maton. The first postmaster, Boyd I. Horn, was appointed November 23, 1915, making El Maton an official town. He was succeeded by R. C. Roddy in May, 1916. The store became the post office in 1916 and was still being used in that capacity in 1985. On February 12, 1927, V. Lodge Kopecky became postmaster. He served until Joe Lucas was appointed April 4, 1934.
I found the article I read very interesting. Here is the link: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmatago/elmaton_info.htm
There are several lists of news and events taken from The Matagorda Cnty. Tribune, The Daily Tribune, and Historic Matagorda Cnty. dating back from 1931 up to 1964. They describe life at the time, like family reunions, births, visitors, etc. One tells about the farmers got answers to prayers for rain for their crops while thre was a rain delay to the graduation at the University of Texas (June 1964). Some of these interesting posts included these: "Aunt Molly" returned home Saturday after a week's visit. (Jan. 1931) Mr. R. E. Williams drove to El Campo one day last week to sell a load of turkeys. (Dec.1932) Mr. James Hickl's old white turkey got away and ran all over El Maton Wednesday morning. (June 1964)