MATHEWS
The Mathews family of this sketch is of Scottish ancestry, though the name is of English origin. It was fomerly spelled also Matthes, Mathes, Mathis, Matthews, etc. At least eight immigrants of the name were in Massachusetts before 1650. John Mathews settled in Marlborough, Mass., and it is thought that the Vermont branch descends from him.
(I) Joseph Mathews was born Aug. 16, 1772, probably in Vermont, and died Dec. 6, 1845. He lived at New Haven, Vt., and was a farmer. He married (first) Aug. 22, 1772, Polly Eggleston, born Aug. 22, 1772, died April 3, 1809. He married (second) Jan. 14, 1810, Sabra Holcomb, born May 29, 1768, died Feb. 7, 1851.
Children of first wife:
1. Isaac, Sept. 7, 1795, died April 4, 1796.
2. David, May 22, 1798, mentioned below.
3. Polly, March 29, 1800, died Sept. 10, 1802.
4. George, Dec. 23, 1801.
5. Moses, Feb. 16, 1804.
6. John, Jan. 25, 1807.
(II) David, son of Joseph Mathews, was born in New Haven, May 22, 1798; died Jan. 28, 1876. He was educated in the public schools, and was a mason by trade. He moved in March, 1823, from New Haven to Potsdam, New York, with two children. He became one of the leading masons and builders of this section. Potsdam sandstone was then just coming into use and he built the stone flour mill, Judge Allen's house, South
Academy, and various other buildings. He was a member of the Baptist church. He was a contributor to the funds of the South Academy and was greatly interested in church and educational work. He lived for four years in the house half-way between Norwood and Potsdam. In 1836 he became the owner of a farm of one hundred and thirty-six acres at South Potsdam, and he conducted it successfully for twenty-five years. Then he bought a house and lot near the center of the village, and died there Jan. 28, 1876.
He married, Jan. 14, 1821, Lora, daughter of Joshua and Mercy Perry.
Children:
1. Mary Ann, married Alba Eldridge of Colton, N.Y.
2. Isaac.
3. William, mentioned below.
4. Lucina, married George Pert.
5. Amos, lieutenant in the civil war; lived in Iowa, later in Missouri; died in Aug. 1909, at Potsdam.
6. Emily, married George Plympton, of Lockport, New York.
7. David Perry.
8. Edward, soldier in civil war; lived in Iowa, died in Eldorado Spring, Missouri.
9. Ransom, soldier in civil war; settled in Iowa, now [1910] residing in Fitzgerald, Georgia.
10. Martha Melvina, married Loyal S. Jackson, of Canton; she now resides in Potsdam.
(III) William, son of David Mathews, was born at Potsdam, Nov. 14, 1825, died there Oct. 25, 1907. He was educated in St. Lawrence Academy, Potsdam, and for a number of years taught school in the vicinity. He learned the mason's trade under the instruction of his father. He was a master mason and contractor for many years at Potsdam and built many of the important buildings there and at Canton, Gouverneur and elsewhere through the county. He continued in this business through all the active years of his life. In politics he was a Democrat. He served the incorporated village of Potsdam in the board of trustees and was at one time excise commissioner of the town.
He married (first) Helen E., daughter of Alanson G. Fisher. Her father was a mason and contractor and built the St. Lawrence Academy. She died in 1855 and he married (second) Emma Jane Case.
Child of first wife:
Frank Percy, mentioned below.
Child of second wife:
Elmer E., now living in Syracuse, N.Y.
(IV) Frank Perry, son of William Mathews, was born Jan. 6, 1853, in Potsdam. He attended district school, No. 8, at Potsdam, but left school at the age of sixteen to become an apprentice at the trade of tinsmith. Afterward he followed this trade for a period of twenty years in all, five of which were spent in Utica, N.Y., and fifteen in his native town. In 1876 he entered partnership with H. L. Ives under the firm name of Ives & Mathews. This partnership continued until 1879 when it was dissolved. In 1880 he established a retail hardware store in Potsdam and continued until 1889, when he sold out and became agent of the Standard Oil Company, a position he held for twenty-one years. Since 1908 he has been sales agent for the Ford Motor Car Company, manufactureres of automobiles. He was one of the organizers and original stockholders and directors of the People's National Bank of Potsdam. He is a member of the Raquette River Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Potsdam; of St. Lawrence Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; of St. Lawrence Commandry Knights Templar, of Canton, and of Potsdam Club, of which he is also treasurer and president.
He married in 1881, Helen E., daughter of George W. and Helen S. Bonney, of Potsdam.
Children, born in Potsdam:
1. Helen.
2. Grace.
3. George, employed by the Standard Oil Company at Albany, N.Y.
4. William, graduate of the State Normal School at Potsdam, now a student in the University of Illinois.
5. Mary Louise, died aged one year.