Biographies: Charlie P. Mathis, 1932, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: July 1, 1932 Winnfield News-American

Passing In Review

This Week We Have Charlie P. Mathis

by R. W. Oglesby

In 1903 there were only two brick business houses in Winnfield, Bernstein's
store and the Bank of Winnfield, a small building which stood about where
Morgan and Lindsey's store is now located.  All the other buildings around the
square were frame.  The largest store in town was that of Mathis and Seiss. 
It stood right where the Peoples Hardware is now located and was housed in the
big warehouse just back of the hardware and now fronting on Bevill Street. 
The stores around the square all had front galleries just as country stores
have and what sidewalks they had were out in the street.

Mr. Mathis was born in Winn Parish.  The old Mathis place is near the Amecite
Plant.  His father was Uncle Johnnie Mathis.  I never knew him but have heard
lots of him from those who did know him.  The tell me he was a natural
optimist.  No matter how dry it was and hot, Uncle Johnnie would always say
"we will make plenty and to spare."  He believed in the Bible from kiver to
kiver and when he did all he could he trusted the rest to the Lord.  He always
graced the table by putting both hands on the same before taking his seat and
saying, "Thank God for dinner."  Quite a colony of the old settlers lived in
that country and worshiped at Jerusalem right near the Marble Quarry.  The old
church and the people are gone but the cemetery is still kept up and once in a
while one of the descendants of the old settlers is buried there.

With such a background, it's no wonder that our friend was such a good man. 
He inherited the optimism of his father as well as the kindness, for I never
knew a sweeter spirited man than C. P. Mathis.  He was graciousness and
kindness personified.  His voice was gentle and mild and he was always ready
to do some act of kindness.

Once my firm filed a petition to put a certain lumber company into a
receivership.  We had not trouble in doing this, but we did have a lot of
trouble agreeing on a receiver.  We wanted one and the attorney representing
the company wanted another.  We were deadlocked and finally Judge Wear said,
"How will C. P. Mathis do?"  Instantly both sides agreed that he would be
acceptable.  He was appointed and did a good job entirely satisfactory to all
and he got a fee of about $4000.00.

His wife grew ill and was an invalid for some years before she passed away. 
Uncle Charlie was gentle and patient in his attendance at her bedside.  After
she passed away he went to live with his daughter, Mrs. Louis Seiss, at Lake
Charles, where he was reverenced and revered by all the members of the family. 
Some years ago he passed away and his remains were brought back here and
placed by her side.

In the fall of 1928 I went to Lake Charles as a delegate to the Louisiana
Annual Conference.  Mrs. Seiss had already told the committee on entertainment
that she wanted as her guest whoever came from Winnfield.  You can imagine my
delight when I was informed that I would be entertained in the home of my
former Winnfield friends.  And what an entertainment it was!  The whole family
did everything they could to make my visit pleasant.  The boys even took me
out to the Gulf for a duck hunt and when I started home Mrs. Seiss loaded my
grip with fig preserves.  What a gracious hostess she was!  The spirit of her
father hovered over her household and has been transmitted to her children. 
It is candid opinion that it will be handed down from generation to
generation, and leads to the irresistible conclusion that "A good name is
rather to be chosen than riches, and loving favor rather than silver and
gold."

Uncle Charlie did not leave his children a great amount of worldly goods, but
he left them something infinitely better that the world cannot take away.  Our
American Institutions are safe as long as family traditions are kept alive. 
Once its sacred precincts are invaded, the future will be dark and foreboding.