United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue, U.S. Government
End of Watch Friday, October 7, 1892
Add to My HeroesStephen D. Mather
Deputy Collector Mather, Revenue Agent Creed Cardwell, and Chief Deputy Revenue Collector Joe Spurrier were shot and killed in an ambush in Lincoln County, Tennessee, while en route to investigate reports of an illegal liquor still.
They were ambushed as they were riding their horses down a remote trail. The agents were able to return fire, and one of the suspects was also shot and killed.
Deputy Collector Mather was killed at the scene. Other agents were able to take the two wounded agents to a local doctor, where Agent Cardwell died later in the day. Chief Deputy Spurrier was taken to his home in Nashville, where he succumbed to his wounds three weeks later.
Deputy Collector Mather had served with the United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue for ten years and was survived by his wife and daughter.
Bio
- Age 48
- Tour 10 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Location Tennessee
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 8 ReflectionsDeputy Collector Mather,
On today the 130th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country-not just as a Law Enforcement Officer but also when you served with the Union Army as a member of the 91st Illinois Infantry Regiment during the Civl War.
R.I.P.
USBP
Anonymous
United States Border Patrol
October 7, 2022
Recent LODD Deaths

Police Officer Gabriel Facio
Apache Junction Police Department, AZ
EOW: June 8, 2025

Police Officer Krystal Rivera
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: June 5, 2025

Sergeant J. D. White
Angleton Police Department, TX
EOW: June 1, 2025

Police Officer Timothy Ontiveros
Bloomfield Police Department, NM
EOW: June 1, 2025

Police Officer Samuel Riveros
Baldwin Park Police Department, CA
EOW: May 31, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Daniel Weston Sherrer
Morrow County Sheriff's Office, OH
EOW: May 26, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Nathaniel Ansay
Florence County Sheriff's Office, SC
EOW: May 20, 2025

Lieutenant Allen "Noochie" Credeur
Rayne Police Department, LA
EOW: May 5, 2025

Special Deputy Sheriff Larry Henderson, Jr.
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, OH
EOW: May 2, 2025