In August 1851, his parents Johann (John) Theisen (1805–1881) and Maria Anna (Mary A.)
Theisen (1805–1883) emigrated to the United States, bringing Matthias and his brother Nicholas.
As of 1880, the Theisens and their families (including Matthias and Elizabeth's seven children) all still lived on the homestead, by that time 175 acres in extent.
[2] Theisen had been town treasurer and chairman of the town board for a series of years when he was elected in 1878 from Dane County's 1st Assembly district to succeeded fellow Democrat John Lyle, who was not running for re-election.
This article about a Democratic Party member of the Wisconsin State Assembly is a stub.