Francis M.(Frank) Mathews 1829-1910

MATHEWS, LESTER, PATTERSON

Posted By: Debbie (email)
Date: 10/30/2005 at 18:33:03

The Burlington Hawkeye, Monday morning 3/13/1910, page 3
A Prominent Citizen Gone
Mr. Frank Mathews Passes Away at Early Hour
Has been a resident of Henry County since June 5, 1838
Father Built first house in Lowell

After an illness covering about a week, in which he has suffered greatly from paraysis, Mr. Frank Mathews passed away Saturday morning about 6 o'clock at his home on South Walnut Street.
During the last week or so of his life Mr. Mathews has been unconscious and gradually growing weaker. The doctors during this time had given up hope for his recovery and death had been hovering very near.
Mr. Mathews was perhaps one of the best known and oldest residents of Henry County, where he has resided continously for the last seventy-one years. He was born on December 3, 1829, in Wayne County, New York. At the early age of nine years, he with his father, moved to Iowa, locating at Lowell, June 5, 1838, where the family built the first house. His father was a contractor on the Erie Canal and he superintended the building of the dam across the Skunk River at Lowell. After reaching manhood, Mr. Mathews engaged in the lumbering business and furnished the railroads with many orders for ties. On January 4th he was married to Amelia J. Patterson who came to this state from Indiana in 1840. After his marriage he engaged in farming extensively, in which he was very successful.
Some ten years ago, the family moved to Mt. Pleasant, where he has lived ever since.
Mr. Mathews was the father of eleven children, seven of whom, together with his wife are left to mourn his loss.