They developed a method of producing T–rails for constructing railroad track, which previously had been imported from England.

Scranton became a major industrialist, also leading the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, which depended on the iron industry.

Mattes was head of a branch of a bank in Easton, Pennsylvania, and helped gain financing.

In 1847, his cousin Joseph A. Scranton moved with his second wife and young family to this corner of Pennsylvania.

One of his sons, William Walker Scranton, went to Yale in the family tradition, later becoming general manager of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal company.