BIO: Ira E. MATTHEWS, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 839 - 841. _____________________________________________________________ IRA E. MATTHEWS, superintendent of the fire brick plant of Hiram Swank Sons, which is being completed at Irvona, Clearfield county, Pa., was born in Iowa, September 1, 1881, and is a son of John E. and Philena (Rickets) Matthews. Abraham Matthews, his grandfather, was born in Maryland, his parents coming from the north of Ireland, and his great grandfather moved from Maryland to Altoona and thence to Glasgow, Cambria county. Abraham Matthews settled in Beccaria township, Clearfield county, in 1838, being a pioneer settler in the county, in which he lived practicaly all his life. He cleared the farm now known as the homestead in the early 40's. When he began the work of clearing it, he walked from Glasgow, worked all day and walked back at night, and he continued these heavy labors until he had constructed a log house to the square, on which elevation he could sleep without so much danger of the wolves devouring him. When he got the house built to the square, he would bring his rations for one week, and squirrels and wood mice were so plentiful that he had to tie his food to a limb with a string, and then at times they would jump to the basket or gnaw off the string which supported it. When he got a few acres cleared he would sow it in wheat or other grain; then there was a steady task to keep the deer from eating it up entirely. He had a dog, which he trained to chase the deer from the grain and by perseverance and a good backbone he managed to accumulate a goodly portion of this world's goods. Many were the hardships of the early settlers at that time. All his merchandise was brought on horseback or by wagon from Water street, Huntingdon county, or Tyrone, and at that time wagons had no locks and chains were scarce, so when he came to descend a steep hill with a heavy load, he would stop at the top, cut a tree suited to the size of the load, and attach it to the back of the wagon, but forward, and this would serve as a drag and prevent the load from shoving the oxen, as horses were scarce at that time. His wife, Mary (Anderson) Matthews, was born in Maryland. They died in Clearfield County, Pa., the former in 1903, at the age of eighty- eight years, six months and two days, and the latter at the age of forty-six years. John E. Matthews was born in Beccaria township, Clearfield county, in 1854. Soon after his marriage he moved to Clinton County, Ia., where he worked at farming for three years, living there from 1879 to 1881. He then came to Clearfield County, where he owns 273 acres of land, 120 acres being under cultivation. He makes a specialty of stock raising. He married Philena Rickets and they have four children: Charles A., who is a veterinary surgeon in practice at Cumberland, Md.; Ira E.; Lottie, who resides at home and Jennie, who is a student in the High School. Ira E. Matthews attended the High School at Eutahville for three years and later the summer sessions of the Normal School which were conducted by such well known educators as Silas Frampton, J. Frank Rowles and Prof. J. V. Clark, after which he taught school for one year. In 1900 he resumed his studies and passed one term in the State Normal School at Westchester and later, after teaching through a great part of 1901-2, he spent a year at Juniata College, at Huntingdon, Pa. In thus thoroughly equipping himself, Mr. Matthews was prepared to fill almost any position where education and careful training might be demanded, and he first accepted a situation with the contracting firm of McAtee, Ache & Reed, as time-keeper, at Clearfield. Four months afterward he became concrete inspector for the N. Y. Central Railroad, and resigned there in order to become concrete foreman with the railroad contracting firm of McMannian & Simms. He continued with that firm and two years later was made superintendent of concrete work and continued to superintendent of general construction with that company until June, 1910, when he became superintendent of construction and superintendent of the plant for Hiram Swank Sons, at Irvona. The Irvona Fire Brick plant of Hiram Swank Sons, is one of the finest of its kind in the country. This plant is being erected by the four sons of Hiram Swank of Johnstown, Pa. Hiram Swank is a pioneer in the manufacture of fire brick, he establishing his first plant at Johnstown, in 1856, which is still in operation, conducted by his four sons under the firm name of Hiram Swank Sons. The construction work on the Irvona plant was started in June, 1910, after experts had visited the largest and most modern plants of this kind all over the country, the object being that nothing that would add to the convenience and utility of the new plant should be omitted. The laying out, construction and equipping of the plant has been directly under the supervision of the present superintendent, Ira E. Matthews. The main building has dimensions of 306x77 feet, and the boiler-house extension is 70x30 feet. The frame is entirely of steel. The plans are for sixteen kilns, with a contemplated extension of 300 feet additional space to the main building. The product includes the manufacturing of nine-inch brick and all kinds of shapes. If the output was reduced to nine-inch brick exclusively, the capacity provided for would be 80,000 brick daily. At the end of one year if plans are completed employment will be afforded 175 men. The plant is constructed in such a manner that the clay and coal can be conveyed to their respective places without resorting to manual labor, by means of elevator trucks. The concern owns an abundance of the finest grade of clay and has both the New York Central and the Pennsylvania Railroads insuring good rates as well as fine accommodations for shipping both the raw material and the finished product. During the months since this plant has been under construction, real estate in proximity has increased from one hundred to one hundred and fifty percent. The value of the plant is stated to be $100,000. Mr. Matthews is a young man to have so thoroughly mastered the details of the business in which he is engaged. He has accomplished much in his thirty years, having taught school for six years before turning his attention into the present channels, and since then has been engaged in construction work in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Canada and also passed several months in New Brunswick, 300 miles from civilization. The completion of the present plant and the installation of the machinery, will reflect great credit on him as a careful and accurate business man. In politics Mr. Matthews is a Republican. He is identified fraternally with the Elks at Tyrone and the order of the Moose at Coalport.