BIOGRAPHY: Dr. William Edgar MATTHEWS, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 41-42
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DR. WILLIAM EDGAR MATTHEWS, one of the most prominent physicians of Johnstown, 
Pennsylvania, was born in East Wheatfield township, Indiana county, 
Pennsylvania, January 11, 1860.
     He was educated in the country schools, at the Armagh academy and at the 
State Normal school, Indiana county. His efficiency and high character as a 
teacher are proven by the fact that at the age of nineteen he was chosen to fill 
the position of principal of the Market street school of Johnstown. He has also 
held other responsible positions in the schools in the environs of Johnstown.
     Having resolved to make medicine his profession, he studied with Dr. W. B. 
Lowman, and entered Jefferson college, Philadelphia, where he graduated April, 
1887. After graduating he entered a competitive examination for a hospital 
position, and was one of the successful ones out of a class of one hundred and 
eighty-seven.
     For the first six months he was in St. Joseph's hospital, Reading, 
Pennsylvania, and after that for one and one-half years was at the Philadelphia 
hospital. This hospital is supported by the city of Philadelphia, and at that 
time embraced about two thousand patients. From the importance of this position, 
and his success in securing it, we have an early intimation of Dr. Matthews' 
attainments in his chosen profession.
     April 11, 1889, after his hospital service, he came to Johnstown, where he 
has remained ever since, practicing his profession with uniform success, and 
winning by his generosity, honesty, affable manners and undoubted capacity, 
hosts of appreciative friends. Dr. Matthews deserves high credit for having made 
his way unaided from the farm through the schools to a position of importance in 
his profession. After the flood he was for one year chief medical inspector to 
the State Board of Health, doing excellent service. Prior to 1896 the State 
Board had but sixteen inspectors, and Dr. Matthews was one of them. Now there is 
an inspector for each county, and he is the one for Cambria county. He is one of 
the staff of the Conemaugh Valley Memorial hospital, is a member of the Cambria 
County Medical society, and of the Pennsylvania State Medical society.
     He is a member of Johnstown Lodge, No. 538, F. and A. M., of Portage 
Chapter, 195, R. A. M., of Orient Commandery, No. 61, Knights Templar, and of 
the A. O. U. W., No. 245. He is also first vice-president of the Johnstown Board 
of Trade.
     April 9, 1891, he married Cora Belle Greene, a daughter of Wesley Greene, 
of Johnstown, and an amiable and cultivated

lady. Of this union two children were born, Elizabeth Rosalie and Ruth Matilda.
     As intimated above, Dr. Matthews is possessed of a good ancestry. His 
grandfather, Archie Matthews, who emigrated to East Wheatfield township about 
1787, and who was one of its very early pioneer settlers, was of the traditional 
good Scotch-Irish stock. His avocation was that of a farmer, but he also owned a 
distillery, and built and operated a woolen factory. That he was an intelligent, 
wide-awake farmer and business man is shown by the considerable amount of 
property which he accumulated and bequeathed to his descendants.
     He married Elizabeth Finley, who was born in 1784. On the old homestead 
February 2, 1828, Archie Matthews, Jr., father of Dr. Matthews, was born. He 
inherited part of the old homestead, and has resided there ever since, having 
followed farming as a life occupation.
     His family consists of four boys and three girls. The mother of Dr. 
Matthews was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1842, and is a daughter of 
Capt. Hugh Mitchell, a boatman on the old Pennsylvania canal.
     Archie Matthews is a democrat, and a respected and worthy citizen. Dr. 
Matthews is also a democrat, having inherited his political tendencies as well 
as many of his other characteristics, from his sturdy ancestry.
     He has the welfare of his city sincerely at heart, but has never been an 
office-seeker now an office-holder.
     From this brief sketch it is correctly inferred that Dr. Matthews has lost 
no time; "young in years, but old in experience," as expressed by the wise 
Bacon. Moreover, he has lived well.