Thomas Jefferson Matheny (1844-1927)

MATHENY, FREISNER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/28/2022 at 18:10:46

From Nevada Evening Journal and The Nevada Representative July 15, 1927 (page 1)

CIVIL WAR VETRAN ANSWERED "TAPS" FUNERAL SUNDAY

CAPT. T. J. MATHENY DIED FOLLOWING PARALYTIC STROKE--ATTACK SUDDEN

Captain Thos. J. Matheny, 83, Civil War veteran and for a third of a century a resident of Nevada, died at his home at 10 o'clock, following a stroke of paralysis which he suffered Wednesday afternoon at half after five o'clock and from which he never regained consciousness.

The funeral services will be held at the home on Ninth street Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock after which the body will be laid to rest in the Nevada cemetery.

Mr. Matheny had made his usual trip up town during the forenoon and when he first felt the coming of the attack he was working in his garden. Dropping the sprinkling can he walked to the house, complaining of terrific pains in his head. A doctor and relatives were hastily called by Mrs. Matheny, the veteran was put to be and soon lapsed into unconsciousness from which he never recovered.

Mr. Matheny, a native of Indiana, served during the war and received an honorable discharge as captain of Company H 82d Indiana infantry.

He had been a resident of Nevada since 189, when he came here from Thomasboro, Ill., and engaged in the mercantile business, in which business he had been engaged in Illinois.

Politically he had been aligned with the democratic party during his lifetime and since coming to Story county had served his party as county and local chairman and had also served as a delegate in state and district conventions.

He had always taken an active interest in matters of national, state and local interest and was a man of fine character and integrity, a good citizen and neighbor and a kind and loving husband.

Thomas Jefferson Matheny was born in Morgan county, Indiana, January 31, 1844, being a descendant of an old family, originally from England, his great grandfather having emigrated to America during the Revolutionary war days.

He spent his boyhood days in the Hoosier state and at the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted as a private in Company H, 82d Indiana infantry. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, the siege and capture of Atlanta, being with Sherman on his march to the sea, and was present at the grand review of the troops in Washington, after the surrender of Lee. He enlisted as a private, was promoted to first lieutenant in 1864, and later was commissioned captain and given command of the company which he retained until his discharge.

His war record was eminently a creditable one which was always a source of much pride and satisfaction to him.

Bidding adieu to his comrades of the war days, Mr. Matheny returned to his Indiana home and visit his people for a short time, after which he started out to view the country west of the Mississippi.

After traveling over Iowa and Nebraska for a time he returned to Illinois and locate on a farm in Mason county, upon which he lived for two years.

In 1870 he went to Champaign county, Illinois and continued his farming. It was on July 22, of that year that he was united in marriage to Miss Susan C. Freisner, who is left to mourn his death. They continued on the farm until 1873 when they located in Thomasboro, where he engaged in the grocery business, where they remained until 1892, when they came on out to Nevada.

Upon coming to Nevada, Mr. Matheny engage in the hardware business but in a short time disposed of these interests to enter the grocery business and for yearly twenty years he was one of the leading grocers of the city.

In 1911 he retired from active business life, but ever retained a keen interest in all public affairs. Mr. Matheny was a man of sterling character and worth, and in his passing Nevada loses one of her leading citizens and the country one of its loyal defenders.

Mr. Matheny was a member of Jason D. Ferguson Post of this city and the comrades who are able will attend the service.

He is survived by his wife who had been his faithful companion of more than half a a century and several nephews and nieces.