THOMAS E. MATHEWS

The life of Thomas E. Mathews covered the intervening years from1814 to 1900 when eighty-six years of age he was called to his final rest. The history of the pioneer settlement of Cedar county would be incomplete without the record of this gentleman, who from an early day was a prominent factor in its substantial growth and upbuilding. When the state of Iowa was cut off from the advantages and comforts of the east, no railroads having as yet entered this district, Mr. Mathews made his way to Cedar county, braving all the trials and hardships of pioneer life in order to make a home in a country rich in its resources but as yet undeveloped. This district presented a wild appearance upon the arrival of Mr. Mathews in 1838, then a young man of twenty-four years, for his birth occurred in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, October 11, 1814. He entered from the government one hundred and sixty acres of section 29, Rochester township, to which he added as time passed until his possessions in that township embraced three hundred and sixty acres, while in Center township he owned one hundred and three acres. His entire life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and while advancing his own interests he played an important part in the development of Cedar county. He was left an orphan when but a youth and came to Cedar county in company with his brother William , who was likewise identified with the progress and improvement that was here carried on.

Mr. Mathews sought a companion and helpmate for the journey of life through his marriage on the 10th of October, 1848, to Miss Nancy Hill, who was likewise a native of Greenbrier county, West Virginia, born on the 24th of October, 1827. She came to this county in 1847 with her widowed mother, Mrs. Jennie Hill, and a year later gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Mathews. Together they started on the journey of life, not rich in this world’s goods, but with stout hearts and courageous spirits. Like all other pioneers they had to make many sacrifices in the establishment of a home on the frontier but as time passed their labors were rewarded in the acquirement of a good farm property.

As the years passed twelve children were added to the household but only four are now living. The record is as follows: Lizzie, the wife of John Ford, a resident of Winterset, Iowa; Augusta, who owns one hundred and seventy acres of the old homestead, on which she resides; Thomas, who follows farming in Center township; Isaac, a farmer residing near West Liberty, Iowa; Josephine, who became the wife of Charles Rickhoff but is now deceased; Emma, who died when twenty-eight years of age; Charles, who died at the age of nineteen; Hattie, who was fifteen years old at the time of her demise; Mason and George, who were ten and nine years respectively when called to the home beyond; Lena, who died in her third year; and Viola, who died in infancy.

Mr. Mathews became identified with the Methodist Protestant church in 1845, in the faith of which he died on the 11th of December, 1900. His wife, who united with the same church in 1870, survived his death for but a brief period, being called to the home beyond on the 1st of June, 1902, when seventy-six years of age. Although they have passed from this life their memory is yet cherished in the hearts of all who knew them, while to their children they have left the legacy of an untarnished record which will live for years to come.