Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Mathews, David Alfred 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 7:06 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

Mathews, David Alfred

In every community there are certain men who develop into leaders of their 
kind.  Some attain local distinction as business men, others as politicians, 
while some combine both claims to leadership.  Morris is fortunate in having 
so many men of more than average ability, and one of them worthy of special 
mention is David Alfred Mathews, whose services in political office have been 
valuable, while he has added to the general prosperity of the community by 
locating here so many of his business interests.  Mr. Mathews was born in 
Delaware County, Pa., August 18, 1847, son of John McHenry and Margaret 
(Ashton) Mathews, natives of Maryland and England, respectively.  The parents 
were married in Pennsylvania, and the father died before his son, David A., 
was a year old.  The mother came to Kendall County in 1856, and there married 
Thomas Hoyle, and survived him.

David Alfred Mathews made his home with his mother and step-father, and 
attended the local public schools.  After his marriage in 1869, he began 
farming in Kendall County, continuing his agricultural operations until 1892, 
when he came to Morris and invested very heavily in city property, now owning 
a beautiful residence, a business block and a number of houses which he 
rents.  When the Morris Hospital was organized, December 5, 1906, and 
incorporated under the State laws, Mr. Mathews was made president; M. U. Hull, 
secretary, and James Hanson, treasurer.  Later the organization consisted of 
five trustees:  D.A. Mathews, president, and L. S. Hogue, J. Leach, Thomas 
Hall and Eugene Cryder.  The original medical staff was A. E. Palmer, 
deceased; Frank Palmer, G. T. Nelson, deceased; T. C. Bowker, H. M. Ferguson 
and W. E. Walsh.  This institution is a fine one and has accommodations for 
twenty-five patients.

One December 23, 1869, when he was twenty-two years old, Mr. Mathews was 
married to Mary Hephzibah Leach, born in Nettle Creek Township, daughter of 
Samuel and Mary (Livsey) Leach, natives of England.  Mr. and Mrs. Mathews had 
one son, Arthur E., who was killed by the kick of a horse when aged twenty-
four years old.  He married Mary E. Cobleigh, and their daughter, Fern, died 
at the age of seventeen months.

Mr. Mathews has taken a very active part in politics, being a staunch 
Republican, and has served as alderman of his ward for five years.  While 
living in Kendall County, he was a member of the school board for nine years, 
and was elected supervisor of Morris Township April 7, 1914.  He is a Chapter 
and Knight Templar Mason, being connected with the local lodge at Morris and 
Medinah Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Chicago; belongs also to the Knights of 
Pythias and the Pythian Sisters, and the Eastern Star.  He is vice-president 
of the Lincoln Club of Morris, and is in every way a man of worth.

pages 861-862

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

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