Black Hawk County IAGenWeb

Families

Harry M Mathews

Harry McKinley Mathews born December 5, 1899, Wapello County, IA. He married on September 15, 1943 to Ruth DeFee Sweeney in Raton, New Mexico. Harry died on August 24, 1983 and is buried at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX, Section 2, grave 77. His wife Ruth rests beside him.

Below is some information as passed on to me by his son, William Sweeney as a tribute to his step father.

Harry was a farmer and rancher, carpenter, chef and all around Jack Of All Trades. He showed me how to do many things, how to hitch up a team of horses, saddle a horse, how to drive a car, drive a tractor, a side delivery rack, how to mow hay, milk cows. What a blast that was! He and my mother Ruth were very close for almost 40 years. The almost always worked together and were seldom apart. When he died, Mom really took it hard and missed him dearly. He always tried to do his best with me and he probably had his hands full. He never spanked me, leaving that to Mom. Pop was a good man.

He grew up in Cedar Falls, IA and was adopted by his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth A Mathews on June 14, 1902. Harry served in the Iowa National Guard and was mustered into Active Service on June 26, 1916, Camp Dodge, IA. He was in Company F, 1st Iowa Infantry Regiment and they went to Texas and were in the Border Campaign chasing Pancho Villa. They came back to Ft. Des Moines, IA where they were mustered out of service on January 15, 1917.

His home address at thime of entering service was 2321 Iowa Street, Cedar Falls, IA. Harry left home soon after and said he went back once in the 1920's when his Mother died. It is unknown what happened to his brothers and sisters. All were much older than he was...

 

William has graceiously sent me copies of Harry's military records.

Write to William Sweeney, if you have any questions
San Antonio, TX