Greenbrier County, West Virginia The Biography of Joseph William MATHEWS The Biography of Joseph William MATHEWS was submitted by Sandy Spradling, E-mail address: This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm Source: History of Greenbrier County J.R. Cole Lewisburg, WV 1917 p. 67-72 CAPT. J. W. MATHEWS. (By Mary E. Mathews.) The subject of this sketch, Joseph William Mathews, son of the late Mason Mathews and Eliza Reynolds, was born in Lewisburg, Va., September 18, 1841. He was educated at the old Lewisburg Academy and had matriculated at the University of Virginia when the Civil war broke out. He at once entered the Confederate army, and served through the entire war. He was appointed captain and assistant quartermaster, July 3, 1862; he was with the army of General Pemberton at Vicksburg, and was surrendered with that army when Vicksburg fell. He was exchanged and was made captain and assistant adjutant-general upon the staff of Maj. Gen. Carter L. Stevenson, ranking from September 1, 1863. He was captured at Athens, Ga., May 8, 1865. He was twice mentioned in General Stevenson's reports to the war department for conspicuous bravery, once at Demopolis, Ala., and once at the battle of Baker's Creek, Mississippi. After the war he engaged in the mercantile business in Lewisburg, and later in Baltimore, Md. Upon the organization of the Bank of Lewisburg, he was appointed cashier, which office he held until his death in 1897. He married on October 8, 1872, Miss Rosannah MacVeigh, of Baltimore, Md. Of this union there were seven children, four of whom, with their mother, are living. Such is the tale of any man's life: his birth, his education, his work in the world, his marriage, his family and his death. But what a small part of a man's life it really is after all. How he has played his part, what have been his relations to his family, his friends, his work, these are what make a life worth while or not. It is these deeper things that make Captain Mathews' life remembered, not what he did, but what he was. Born into a family of four sisters and two brothers, throughout his life he was a loyal, affectionate, devoted son and brother. It is over twenty years now since he passed to the other side, and more of his family are there than here, but those remaining cherish his memory with an affection as fresh and abiding as if he were still here. During the war he served faithfully and unflinchingly through those dark years, earning not only mention of his bravery, but what is far better, the unswerving respect, admiration and friendship of all with whom he was connected, feelings that have survived in all the hearts which have outlived his. In business his sound judgment, practical good sense and unswerving honor made him a man of influence, respected and admired by all who knew him. What can be said of his family life? To do him justice in the family relation is beyond my pen, nor perhaps is it seemly that I should try. Almost twenty years ago, a devoted husband, a loving and beloved father, "went away," leaving a family to mourn and miss him, to long for him, and to hope unceasingly for reunion with him. But he left much more than sorrow and loneliness. He left precious memories of his selfless devoted life; of his loyalty and kindness to friends; of his devotion to children; of his love for his own family, and his joy in their love; of his many kindly deeds and noble thoughts. All these he left as a heritage to his wife, his children and his friends. It is a rich heritage and one that seems without limit, for it is the pride of his children, scattered now and far from his beloved home, that they never return to that home, but some one has a new and pleasant memory to give them of some old, unforgotten kindness of their father. It is difficult to analyze such a character, to say in what its charm consists, to explain why he should be remembered when men who made far more stir in the world are forgotten. He had an unfailing courtesy; he was often called a gentleman of the old school, rather he was a gentleman of the heart, which is, of course, a gentleman of every school and every time. He had the courage to face life cheerfully; at the close of the war, penniless himself he came home not only to take up his duties bravely and herocially, as every man did in that dreadful time, but to do it courageously without bitterness or repining. He had sympathy and understanding for all with whom he came in contact, wise advice for those that asked it, tolerance for those who differed with him, charity for those he did not understand. With all these noble and ennobling qualities, he was so quiet, so modest, so reserved and so self-effacing that few realized until he was gone, the breadth, the power, the influence that as brother, husband, father, friend, he had possessed; the realization of this is the birthright of his children; it has been an inspiration to them and perhaps to others. Many of his friends may say with them: Yet after he was dead and gone Earth seemed more sweet to live upon, More full of love because of him.