William Matthews
William Matthews, farmer, Hanover Township, was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1803. In 1812 came to Butler County, Ohio, with his parents, where his father farmed for eighteen months, and then moved to this county.
The subject of this sketch was then only twelve years of age, when his father settled on a farm in what is now Hanover Township, and is consequently one of the earliest settlers of this county. He attended the schools, such as they were, log cabins and puncheon seats. There were no public schools in those days.
Mr. Matthews has been on the same farm that his father settled on at that time ever since, except one summer spent in Pennsylvania. He made three trips to New Orleans on a flat-boat -the first in 1820, the second in 1825, and the third in 1833. This country was very wild when he made the first trip. He is perhaps the oldest citizen of the county who flat-boated to New Orleans; and one of the oldest citizens, as he came here before Indiana was a State, and settled in the woods.
He was married in 1832 to Miss Martha Pogue, daughter of John Pogue, who came here from Kentucky, but was a native of Virginia.
Mrs. Matthews was one of the pioneer school teachers of the county. They raised six children, three boys and three girls: Elizabeth, Ellen C., John P., Salome J., Harrison H. and William H. Ellen C. died in the 19th year of her age, May 27, 1855. Mr. Matthews has served for two years as supervisor of roads.
Mr. Matthews is a member of Carmel U. P. Church. he owns 110 acres of land, one and one-half miles west of Hanover, and adjoining Carmel Church, and three-quarters of a mile south of the Lexington and Hanover Pike.
He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Coleman) Matthews, both natives of Pennsylvania.
His father died in his 84th year, and his mother in her 76th years.
Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.
