John Matthew

EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH

John Matthew


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John Matthews was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1801. He was a son of James and Elizabeth (Coleman) Matthews. When he was ten years old he went with his parents to Miami county, Ohio; after living there two or three years, they removed to Jefferson county, Indiana. He was married to Mary A. Craven at Bethlehem, Indiana, November 11, 1829. Here he was engaged in farming. On October 17, 1854, they started for Illinois, moving by wagon; and after a journey of thirty days, they arrived in Fulton county, Illinois, and located on a farm known as the Dunley farm. Here they resided until the spring of 1860, when they moved to Greenbush, Warren county, Illinois, and for a time occupied a house near Pumpkin Hollow. Mr. Matthews purchased the west half of the southeast quarter of section 34. Here he built his house and made some other improvements during the summer and fall of 1860, and moved on the premises in the fall of that year, where he engaged in farming up to the time of his death, which occurred August 19, 1869. His wife died April 25, 1898, at the age of eighty-eight years.

To John Matthews and wife were born the following-named children:

  • Jane, born October 11, 1830; married A. W. Higbee, February 25. 1851. She died March 30, 1904.
  • Samuel, born August 7, 1832; died July 20, 1834.
  • James, born July 6, 1834; married Georgetta Darneille, February 17, 1870. He died October 24, 1901.
  • John C., born February 19, 1836; married Melissa Rhodes, March 28, 1867.
  • Mary Elizabeth, born June 27, 1838.
  • Martha A., born September 1, 1840; married John Willard, August 31, 1864.
  • Robert E., born January 31, 1844; married Sarah Bond, March 15, 1868. She died November 17, 1873. His second marriage was to Louisa F. Libby, October 6, 1878.
  • Minerva E., born December 23, 1847; married J. H. Snook, January 18, 1884. She died December 17, 1899.
  • Margaret C., born September 28, 1849; married William Alexander, February 10, 1876.

    • In religion Mr. Matthews and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he was a democrat.

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