MATHEW, Harrison H 1844-1937

MATHEW, PARENT, TURNEY, WHITING, SPIELMAN, MCELHINNY

Posted By: Richard K Thompson (email)
Date: 8/18/2009 at 09:29:37

The Fairfield (Ia.,) Daily Ledger
Tuesday, July 13,1937

H.H. MATHEW, 93, CIVIL WAR VET DIES SATURDAY

Services Yesterday Afternoon For Local G.A.R. Commander

H.H. MATHEW, 93, well-known and highly respected Civil War veteran, and commander of the George Strong Post No. 19, Grand Army of the Republic, passed away at his home, 205 South D street, late Saturday afternoon, following several weeks' illness.

Services were held at the Weston Behner Funeral home on Monday at 2 p.m., in charge of Dr. H.C. WHITING. Pallbearers were Masons. The Daughters of Union Veterans had a part in the services, and at the cemetery the American Legion conducted services. Burial was in Evergreen cemetery.

Harrison H. MATHEW, son of William S. and Casande MATHEW, was born in Davis county, Iowa, on Jan. 8, 1844. He moved with his father to Washington county when he was eight years old, his mother having died when he was two years old. His father passed away in 1860, leaving Mr. MATHEW an orphan at the age of 16.

In 1861 he and his brother went to Indiana, and in 1862 he enlisted in Co. G, 71st Indiana Volunteer Infantry. This regiment was almost annihilated at the battle of Richmond, Ky. They were surrounded in a cemetery. 250 were killed, and 500 wounded, before they surrendered. They were paroled and exchanged.

He then enlisted in the 6th Indiana Calvalry, which became a part of Stoneman's celebrated brigade while down in Georgia. The commander of this brigade made what was termed as an ignominious surrender, and was paroled and exchanged, but part of the regiment of Mr. MATHEW's broke away and hid out in the woods for several days. They were captured, and taken to the infamous prison of Andersonville, Georgia, where he spent six months, under-going all the sufferings that were heaped upon the prisoners. Finally they were paroled and exchanged, brought north and sent to their homes. At that time Mr. MATHEWs weighed about 98 pounds, as compared to his normal weight of 180 lbs.

Mr. MATHEWs went back to Washington, Iowa, and the first night there the residents were so anxious to see him that he finally had to lock his doors so that he might rest.

On Dec. 31, 1868, he was married to Mary Charlotte PARENT of Wayland, at Mt. Pleasant. They celebrated their sixty-sixth wedding anniversary before Mrs. MATHEW's death about two years ago.

After their marriage, Mr. MATHEW was engaged in farming at various locations around Wayland for about 22 years. They then moved to Washington, where Mr. MATHEW was a member of the firm of Wilson, Beaner & Mathew in a general store for six years. They lived in Brookville and La Clede, Mo., for 3 years, and in Ottawa, Kans., for 10 years.

In Ottawa he was commander of the G.A.R. post, as there were a number of veterans living there. In Fairfield he was commander also, and always took an active part in the doings of the G.A.R. and D.U.V.

They then returned to Iowa, which they considered their home and settled in Fairfield to be with their relatives. Mrs. MATHEW passed away February 9, 1936.

Mr. MATHEWs was a member of the Masonic order for more than 60 years, and he and his wife were members of the Order of Eastern Star nearly 40 years. The couple had no children.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

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Transcriber note: Mary Charlotte PARENT (Mrs. Harrison MATHEW) was a sister of Sarah Margaret PARENT TURNEY (Mrs. Joel TURNEY). The TURNEY family had established a concrete outlined family plot (2nd.074) following the death of Joel TURNEY in 1905, at Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield, Iowa. In this TURNEY plot the two sisters are laid to rest with their respective husbands.

Dr. H.C. WHITING was distantly connected to Mr. MATHEW by way of the TURNEY/SPIELMAN/McELHINNY intermarriages.