Carl and Roberta Mathis
You may ask how a ditch digger working in East St. Louis and a socialite from Chicago would end up memorialized on a wall at the Adams County Fair. It is an amazing life journey that include thrills, smiles, twirling lights and , of course, cotton candy.
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CARL was born in Wickliffe, KY in a dirt floored shack. Later after a hard life he enlisted in the army and became a paratrooper. Afterwards he worked various jobs, including ditch digger, to support his family. One of these jobs was at a gas station in South St. Louis. This is where his life path and Roberta's first crossed. Carl and Ed Noerper (Roberta's husband), both worked at the station and were friends. One day Roberta with a carload of kids came to visit Ed. Carl saw Roberta and thought she was running a daycare with all those kids. He found out all those kids were her and Ed's children. As Carl tells the story he didn't know when or how but he knew at that moment he would end up marrying Roberta.
ROBERTA was born and raised in Chicago, IL. She graduated from Quincy College along with her husband Ed Noerper. They were one of a few married couples on campus back in the 50's. Ed did an Army tour in Germany during his college years. Roberta joined him overseas and they had their first child there. They then returned to Quincy completed their senior years they both received their teaching degrees. CARNIVALS? - In order to support their family over the summer after graduation Ed bought a small amusement ride. He would hook it up to his station wagon and rent it out around St. Louis. The little business began to grow as did their family. As life went on neither ever taught but their new carnival path was well on its way. Ed needed help so he connected with his old friend Carl. Carl joined the business and asked Roberta if she would help him raise his son since he was going through a divorce. Remember that carload of kids? Add Carl's son and the total was 9 children. Ed and Carl remained best friends and partners up until Ed's death from Hodskins Disease (cancer) in the early 70's. Carl stepped right up and took over the carnival business. And a few vears later asked for Roberta's hand in marriage and she said "YES"! TOGETHER, with Carl’s vision, he and Roberta grew a family business that included everyone in the family. Eventually they would acquire three separate carnivals to play fairs throughout the Midwest. Two of those events were K of C BBQ and THE ADAMS COUNTY FAIR. The county fair was at that time was being operated by the Jackson United Shows. Both shows were friends so they decided to swap fairs to make each of their traveling routes more efficient and easier.
Carl passed in 1987, however by then the next generation had taken over operations. Archway Amusements, Inc. closed its doors in 2020 after the Covid invasion. It wasn’t only the Covid fiasco but the management was aging as well and felt it the right time to make life changes. The family business operated over 60 years. 60 years of making millions of smiles and memories across the United States. The interesting thing is the carnival that is now operating at the Adams County Fair is Sonshine Amusements which is owned and operated by the same Jackson/Jones Families that were at the fair in the 1970’s. GRAND FINALE: Roberta Noerper Mathis passed away in 2025. She left this world but her gigantic legacy will live on through her family and friends. THE MORAL OF THE STORY: Don’t plan you life too much because chances are that God’s plan including your life’s journey/ path may be very different and may even include cotton candy dreams. |
CARL MATHIS
ROBERTA MATHIS
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