William Mathews (1826-1905)

MATHEWS, JONES, AYERS, SHAW, DUNLAP, CHAFFIN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 1/17/2012 at 17:53:45

From Story County Watchman December 8, 1905

Death of Wm. Mathews.

Wiliam Mathews passed from this life at Mercy hospital in Des Moines Saturday, December 2, aged about seventy-nine years. Deceased was a resident of this county and for many years a properous farmer near Iowa Center. The remains were laid to rest Monday in the Iowa Center cemetery after services at the church. Mr. Mathews had enjoyed fairly good health and his death came as a surprise to his many friends in this neighborhood although it has been known, and realized by deceased, that the infirmities of old age were upon him. He was a good man and well known throughout the county and by his deeds of kindness commanded the universal respect and esteem of all who knew him.

From Story County Watchman December 15, 1905

Obituary.

Last Friday we gave an account of the death of William Mathews but at that time were unable to secure a complete statement of facts, since which time the following obituary has been furnished:

William Mathews was born in Little Milton, Oxfordshire, England, December 2, 1826, where he grew to manhood and came to America in 1885, landing in New York City on December 2 of that year. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Jones in Trenton, N. J., March 24, 1862. To this union four children were born, two of whom died in infancy; those still living are William R. Matthews, who lives six miles southeast of Nevada and Mrs. Ellen E. Ayers, of Des Moines. His wife died January 21, 1870. In July, 1870 he was married to Silvina Shaw, to this union a daughter was born, Sarah, who married George Chaffin, but died December 12, 1893.

Mr. Matthews moved to the old home place, six miles southeast of Nevada, in 1863, where he made his home until April 2, 1894, when he went to live with his children. He died in Mercy hospital at Des Moines December 3, 1905, at the age of seventy-nine years and one day. The remains were brought to Iowa Center, where funeral services were conducted by Rev. D. C. Busenberg and interment was made in the Iowa Center cemetery.

SUBMITTER'S NOTE: William Mathews' second wife, Sylvina was born Sylvina Dunlap. She married firstly, Jonathan Shaw on 2 October 1849.

The date of death of their daughter, Sarah Ann (Mathews) Chaffin, is incorrect. According to the death record, Sarah Chaffin, she died 1 November 1901 in Okoboji Twp., Dickinson County, Iowa.

William Mathews' immigration year as given above is also obviously wrong. According to the 1900 Nevada, Story County, Iowa census William Mathews (who at that time is living with his daughter Ellen E. Ayers and family) immigrated in 1849.