Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Mathews, Charles 1881
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net August 2, 2010, 2:45 pm

The Portland Observer, Wednesday, March 9, 1881
On Sunday, February 27th, Mr. Charles Mathews, one of the pioneers of this 
section, and for thirty-six years a highly esteemed resident of the adjoining 
township of Orange, passed away, after about sixteen months’ intense suffering 
from inflammatory rheumatism.

Mr. Mathews was born in the town of Ardien, Ireland, in 1814, making him at 
the time of his death 64 years of age.  When he was 18 years old, his father 
immigrated with his family to this country, settling in the State of Vermont.  
Subsequently they removed to Oswego, N.Y., where Mr. Mathews married the wife 
who now survives him.  In 1838 he purchased 160 acres of land on section 35 in 
Orange, then almost an unbroken wilderness.  Mr. Mathews did not remove to 
this State, however, until 1844, when he came out with his family and took 
possession of a small house on the farm of Ira Webster, three miles north of 
Portland, for whom he worked one year.  This house is still standing a few 
rods north of the residence of L. A. Smith, who now owns the farm.  At the end 
of the year Mr. Mathews built a house on his land in Orange, and commenced the 
arduous task of carving out a home.  Years of hard work followed, but industry 
when properly applied always has its reward, and where thirty years ago stood 
the formidable old forest, are now well tilled fields, fitted for the latest 
improved machinery, and where stood the crude log house, is now a commodious 
dwelling, and on the opposite side of the road are barns and all necessary 
buildings for a well cultivated farm.  All this, however, was not done without 
a sacrifice, and when the blunt of the hard work was over, Mr. Mathews found 
himself considerably broken down in health, and about sixteen months ago he 
was taken with inflammatory rheumatism, which clung to its victim with a 
tenacity that baffled the skill of the physicians, and at last physical nature 
gave out, and Mr. Mathews passed peacefully to the land where suffering and 
trials are unknown.

A wife and four children—three daughters and a son—are left to mourn the loss 
of a kind husband and father.  Three brothers of the deceased are living—
Arthur and Barney Mathews of Orange, and John Mathews of Oswego, N.Y.

The funeral services were held at the Catholic church in this village on 
Thursday of last week, and although the day was very stormy, a large concourse 
of people turned out to pay their respects to the memory of the deceased.  
Rev. Father Bolte officiated, and the music was furnished by singers from 
Ionia.  The services were lengthy and quite impressive.  In accordance with 
the request of the deceased, the remains were temporarily interred in the 
church yard here until such time as the society shall secure a burial ground.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/m/mathews7519nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 3.3 Kb