Individual Details
Richard Mathews Jr.
(5 Dec 1815 - 22 May 1878)
Excerpt from "Morgan County, Illinois...?
"Richard Mathews (deceased), was born in Bourbon County, Ky., Dec. 14, 1815. He emigrated from his native State in company with his father, and reached Morgan county in 1823. These people may truly be called pioneers.
The future is full of possibilities for the young man who has secured a foothold in almost any place in the Great West, for he has none of the conditions with which to contend that clustered around the early settlers. The difference between the pioneer and the young man who becomes a tiller of the soil to-day, is about the difference that exists between a path in the woods and a modern boulevard. The difficulties surrounding early citizenship have been relegated to the past, and the conditions now, if not luxurious, are at least comfortable, and if one becomes the happy owner of an Illinois farm it is all ready for the reaper and the plow. There are now no wild unbroken prairies to subdue, now swamps to drain or trees to fell. this preliminary work had been done by a hardy set of pioneers, and it is only necessary for those who follow them to reap the benefits of their labors. And the one of whom we write is entitled in every respect to the honor that inevitably attaches to the names of those who fought the unequal battle in a manner that made it possible for the prairies of Illinois to teem with plenty.
Richard Mathews, Sr., as has been before stated, came here in 1823, at the time when the celebrated author of the Monroe Doctrine was President of the United States, and, as a matter of course, his father, Richard S., purchased his land of the Government. Our subject was married four times; he had five children.
Richard Mathews, Jr., whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was married, Feb. 1, 1866, to his present wife, and resided on the homestead continuously up to the time of his death, which occurred May 22, 1878. He was the father of five children, whose records follow: Martha H., born Oct, 28, 1866; Sarah M., born Jan. 2, 1869; Lilian M., born April 3, 1871; Richard R., born May 4, 1873; Fred M., born Oct. 13, 1875. The children are all living at home with their mother.
Mr. Mathews owned at the time of his death a magnificent estate comprising 587 acres of land, with fine buildings, and the land is in a good state of cultivation. The farm had, since the decease of Mr. Mathews, been subdivided, the heirs getting the parts due them, and is now carried on in an excellent manner by the elder son. They do a general farm business, and are, like their father before them, extensive handlers of cattle, horses and hogs.
Mr. Mathews was a man of sterling character, who commanded the respect of all with whom he came in contact. He was successful both in a business and social way. He held the office of Deputy Sheriff for a long time and acquitted himself in a highly creditable manner. Charity, to him, was a cardinal virtue, for he was ever ready, and without ostentation, to lend a helping hand to those who were pulling hard against the stream. He belonged to the Methodist Church and also the Masonic order.
Our subject was a Republican in politics, simply because he believed that party to be right. When Richard Mathews died the world was the loser."
Murdered by son Samuel W.?
"Richard Mathews (deceased), was born in Bourbon County, Ky., Dec. 14, 1815. He emigrated from his native State in company with his father, and reached Morgan county in 1823. These people may truly be called pioneers.
The future is full of possibilities for the young man who has secured a foothold in almost any place in the Great West, for he has none of the conditions with which to contend that clustered around the early settlers. The difference between the pioneer and the young man who becomes a tiller of the soil to-day, is about the difference that exists between a path in the woods and a modern boulevard. The difficulties surrounding early citizenship have been relegated to the past, and the conditions now, if not luxurious, are at least comfortable, and if one becomes the happy owner of an Illinois farm it is all ready for the reaper and the plow. There are now no wild unbroken prairies to subdue, now swamps to drain or trees to fell. this preliminary work had been done by a hardy set of pioneers, and it is only necessary for those who follow them to reap the benefits of their labors. And the one of whom we write is entitled in every respect to the honor that inevitably attaches to the names of those who fought the unequal battle in a manner that made it possible for the prairies of Illinois to teem with plenty.
Richard Mathews, Sr., as has been before stated, came here in 1823, at the time when the celebrated author of the Monroe Doctrine was President of the United States, and, as a matter of course, his father, Richard S., purchased his land of the Government. Our subject was married four times; he had five children.
Richard Mathews, Jr., whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was married, Feb. 1, 1866, to his present wife, and resided on the homestead continuously up to the time of his death, which occurred May 22, 1878. He was the father of five children, whose records follow: Martha H., born Oct, 28, 1866; Sarah M., born Jan. 2, 1869; Lilian M., born April 3, 1871; Richard R., born May 4, 1873; Fred M., born Oct. 13, 1875. The children are all living at home with their mother.
Mr. Mathews owned at the time of his death a magnificent estate comprising 587 acres of land, with fine buildings, and the land is in a good state of cultivation. The farm had, since the decease of Mr. Mathews, been subdivided, the heirs getting the parts due them, and is now carried on in an excellent manner by the elder son. They do a general farm business, and are, like their father before them, extensive handlers of cattle, horses and hogs.
Mr. Mathews was a man of sterling character, who commanded the respect of all with whom he came in contact. He was successful both in a business and social way. He held the office of Deputy Sheriff for a long time and acquitted himself in a highly creditable manner. Charity, to him, was a cardinal virtue, for he was ever ready, and without ostentation, to lend a helping hand to those who were pulling hard against the stream. He belonged to the Methodist Church and also the Masonic order.
Our subject was a Republican in politics, simply because he believed that party to be right. When Richard Mathews died the world was the loser."
Murdered by son Samuel W.?
Events
| Birth | 5 Dec 1815 | Green, Kentucky, United States |  |  | |
| Tax List | 1839 | Morgan, Illinois, United States | | | |
| Marriage | 15 Oct 1844 | Morgan, Illinois, United States - Margaret S Devose | | | |
| Marriage | 2 Jan 1849 | Morgan, Illinois, United States - Mary Jane Babb | | | |
| Census (family) | 22 Aug 1850 | Morgan, Illinois, United States - Mary Jane Babb | | ||
| Marriage | 17 Nov 1858 | Morgan, Illinois, United States - Elizabeth White | | | |
| Census (family) | 11 Jul 1860 | Mauvaise Terre Pct, Morgan, Illinois, United States - Elizabeth White | | | |
| Marriage | 1 Feb 1866 | Morgan, Illinois, United States - Maria Ross | | | |
| Census (family) | 19 Jul 1870 | Mauvaise Terre Pct, Morgan, Illinois, United States - Maria Ross | | | |
| Death | 22 May 1878 | Morgan, Illinois, United States | | |
Families
| Spouse | Maria Ross (1843 - 1907) |
| Child | Martha H Mathews (1866 - ) |
| Child | Sarah M. Mathews (1869 - ) |
| Child | Lilian M. Mathews (1871 - ) |
| Child | Richard Ross Mathews (1873 - 1938) |
| Child | Fred M. Mathews (1875 - ) |
| Spouse | Elizabeth White (1833 - 1865) |
| Spouse | Mary Jane Babb (1829 - 1856) |
| Child | William B Mathews (1851 - 1868) |
| Child | Frances Mathews (1853 - ) |
| Child | Samuel Mathews (1855 - ) |
| Child | Infant Mathews (1856 - 1856) |
| Spouse | Margaret S Devose ( - ) |
| Child | John R Mathews (1846 - 1846) |
| Father | Richard Mathews Sr. (1775 - 1833) |
| Mother | Sarah Taylor (1772 - 1854) |
| Sibling | Samuel Taylor Mathews (1799 - 1875) |
| Sibling | Cyrus W Mathews (1806 - 1872) |
| Sibling | Ann Taylor Mathews (1809 - 1842) |
| Sibling | John Mathews (1810 - ) |
| Sibling | Sarah Mathews (1813 - ) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Mathews (1820 - 1845) |
| Sibling | Mathews ( - ) |
Notes
Birth
or Dec 14, Bourbon Co., KYTax List
MATHEWS Richard 20 acres, Sec 3, 15-9MATHEWS Richard 80 acres, Sec 3, 15-9
MATHEWS Richard 10 acres, Lot 1 Sec 3, 15-9
MATHEWS Richard 80 acres, Sec 10, 15-9, Value each - 12, Total Value -2280
Marriage
MATHEWS, RICHARD DEVOSE, MARGARET S 1844-10-15 00B/0044 00001310 MORGANMarriage
MATHEWS, RICHARD BABB, MARY JANE 1849-01-02 B/ 64 1976 MORGANCensus (family)
534, 561, Richard, Mathews, 32 M, Farmer, 6000, KYMary " , 21 F, Ill
A Henderson, 15 M, Ill
Tabitha " , 12 F, Ill
Sarah Mathews, 80 F, Pa
Isaac Sisel?, 22 M, Laborer, Pa
Marriage
MATHEWS, RICHARD WHITE, ELIZABETH 1858-11-17 B/ 130 4088 MORGANCensus (family)
836, 831, Saml Matthews, 61 M, Farmer, 25000, 16000, KYSarah, 55 F, KY
Cy, 25 M, Farmer, IL
Sarah, 22 F, IL
John, 21 M, Laborer, IL
Rich, 17 M, ", IL
Wm Rice, 18 M, Laborer, KY
837, 832, Rich Matthews, 44 M, Farmer, 19000, 6900, KY
Eliz, 26 F, Pa
Wm, 9 M, IL
Frances, 7 F, IL
Saml, 5 M, IL
M? Carne?, 24 M, Farmer, Germany
Geo Renick, 31 M, " , Ireland
Cath " , 42 F, Servt, Ireland
Ed " , 4 M, IL
Mich Sumney?, 32 M, Laborer, Ireland
838, 833, Henry Adams, 49 M, Farmer, 0, 500, KY
Sarah " , 47 F, KY
Sarah , 18 F, IL
Eliz , 15 F, IL
Jno , 13 F, IL
Isaac , 8 M, IL
Migh , 6 M, IL
Marriage
4th wife.MATTHEWS, RICHARD ROSS, MARIA 1866-02-01 C/ 27 1065 MORGAN
Census (family)
39, 39, Matthews, Richard, 54, MW, Farmer, 32500, 8600, KYMariah, 27, FW, Keeps house, IL
Frances, 17, FW, IL
Samuel, 15, MW, IL
Frank, 5, MW, IL
Martha, 2, FW, IL
Sarah, 1, FW, IL
Bishop, John, 20, MW, Laborer, Iowa
Shoemaker, Lena, 18, FW, Housekeeper, Baden
Death
Richard Born Green Co., Ky. 5 Dec 1815 Died 22 May 1878 62 Yr 5 Mo 17 Da "In life beloved, in death ______" (His death cert. is recorded twice in the County Clerk's office, once on page 9, and again on page 20, both times in Death Record Book 1.The following news stories are from the sources indicated:
PROBABLE PATRICIDE. [Jacksonville Journal Tuesday, May 21, 1878]. A Young Man Shoots His Father. The startling news reached this city last night that Mr. Richard Mathews, residing in the neighborhood of Orleans, had been shot by his son, Samuel Mathews, at about five o'clock in the evening, and so badly wounded that his recovery was thought doubtful. As told to us by a gentleman residing near where the occurrence took place, it seems that young Mathews came home in a state of intoxication and was putting his horse away in the barn when his father approached and they began quarreling about some trivial matter. One word brought on another, and both parties are said to have become quite abusive, when the young man drew his revolver, and its contents were discharged at his father, making a bad wound and lodging in the lower part of his bowels. Young Mathews, soon after the shooting, seemed to fully realize the horribleness of the deed he had committed, and became so delirious with grief that persons present had to take his weapon from him to prevent his committing self destruction. Whether he shot his father intentionally or whether while he was flourishing it around to frighten the "old gentleman", the revolver was accidentally discharged with the result stated, is not fully known, as both sides of the question are discussed, as the cause of the much regretted affair. Whisky was no doubt at the bottom of the whole of it, and had the young man been sober, the chances are nothing of the kind would ever have occurred. Dr. Prince went out last night to dress the wound, but fears are entertained that the man is too badly injured to be benefitted by a physician.)
Endnotes
1. Genealogy papers mailed on Ruberts, Mathews and Taylor families. (Los Angeles, CA: Robert D. Mustain,
2. Illinois, Morgan County. ? (copy sent by Robert Mustain, 7/25/00), p 339 - 340.
3. 1839 Tax List Morgan County Illinois, From the publicaton by Eileen Gochanour and Wanda Allers - 1986 online [http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilmaga/morgan2/mc-1839tx.html], accessed Aug 2007.
4. Illinois State Archives & the Illinois State Genealogical Society., Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763 - 1900. (
5. Illinois State Archives & the Illinois State Genealogical Society., Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763 - 1900. (
6. Illinois State Archives & the Illinois State Genealogical Society., Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763 - 1900. (
7. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1860 > ILLINOIS > MORGAN > MAUVAISE TERRE TWP Series: M653 Roll: 213 Page: 796 .
8. Illinois, Morgan County. ? (copy sent by Robert Mustain, 7/25/00).
9. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1870 > ILLINOIS > MORGAN > MAUVAISE TERRE PCT Series: M593 Roll: 263 Page: 585.
10. Genealogy papers mailed on Ruberts, Mathews and Taylor families. (Los Angeles, CA: Robert D. Mustain,