Matthewf
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
HON. F. X. MATTHEW, one
of the well known and leading pioneers of the northwest, is to be represented
in this volume as he has had more or less to do in the development of the
region covered herein and has wrought with a faithful hand in arduous labors
as a pathfinder for over half a century. He was born in Montreal,
Canada, on April 2, 1818. His parents were natives of France and
came as pioneers to the new world. He was educated and reared until
eighteen in his native land and then he came to the United States and worked
his way from state to state until he arrived in St. Louis. There
in 1838 he entered the employ of the American Fur Company and at once turned
his face to the unknown northwest. He was in all sorts of dangers
incident to a life on the frontier amid savages and wild beasts and hundreds
of miles from human habitations or civilization. He labored for this
company for some time and in the course of his employment, he crossed the
plains three times and had the satisfaction of knowing that he was instrumental
in saving the lives of over two hundred emigrants owing to his ability
to make peace with the savages. He labored at carpentering after
leaving the company until 1849, when he went to California and there remained
a few months. Thence he came to Oregon and settled in the Willamette
valley. He was chosen one of the first justices of the peace there
and held various other offices. He was county commissioner and for
two terms served in the territorial legislature of Oregon, and in all his
public labor he showed a marked faithfulness and ability. He was
beloved by all and was a man of honor. In 1844 occurred the marriage
of F. X. Matthew and Rosa Ossiant, and to them were born eight boys and
seven girls. Rosa Ossiant was born in Canada, on June 15, 1827, and
came with her aunt to Victoria when three years old. Three years
later, they went to Vancouver, Washington, and then to the Willamette valley
where she remained on her father's donation claim until her marriage with
Mr. Matthew. For fifty-seven years of married life, Mr. and Mrs.
Matthew dwelt happily on their donation claim, reared their family, and
were leading and respected people of the valley. They were always
noted for kind deeds and charitable works. It was their delight to
feed the poor and help the orphans and many have been blessed by these
kindnesses and hearts full of gratitude to their benefactors were found
on every hand.
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