Willis Samuel Mathews 1870 - 1957

MATHEWS, DODDS, FARNSWORTH, GRAVES

Posted By: Deb (email)
Date: 10/10/2007 at 22:10:44

Burlington Hawkeye, Tuesday, 12/24/1957, page 17

Willis Mathews

DANVILLE - Willis Samuel Mathews, 87, died at his home at 2 a.m. Tuesday, Dec.24.

A life resident of the Danville community, he lived for many years on a farm at the west edge of town.

Last rites will be conducted at the Danville Congregational church at 2 p.m. Thursday. Officiating will be the pastor of the church, the Rev. Donald Voss, and the pastor of the Danville Methodist church, the Rev. Horace Ireland. Burial will be in the Jaggar cemetery. The body is at the Elliot Chapel in New London.

Held Various Positions
Mathews held various public positions during his long life. He was born May 28, 1870, the son of Henry C. and Cyrene E. Dodds Mathews, and attended the Danville School and the old Normal school at Burlington. For 16 years he taught school in four rural schools in Des Moines County.

On August 11, 1911, 1903, at Augusta, he was married to Edith E. Farnsworth. He became a charter member of the Des Moines County Farm Bureau, and served as an organizer for the bureau for six years.

Elected to the Des Moines County board of supervisors, Mathews served two years, them resigned to accept membership on the board of appraisers of the Federal Land Bank. He was a member of the Congregational church.

Wife, 4 Children Survive
Mathews is survived by his wife and by three sons and a daughter: Henry F. Mathews, Mokena, Ill.; Marion Mathews and Mrs. Ida Graves, both of Elmhurst, Ill., and Howard W. Mathews, of Danville.

Also surviving are a brother and a sister, Fred D. and Birdie B. Mathews, both of Danville; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Three brothers and two sisters died previously.