[p. 409] first vice-president of the National Bank of Lawrence County and a director of the same since 1903, is identified with a number of the leading business enterprises of New Castle, in which city he is regarded as a very important factor in commercial affairs. Mr. Matthews was born October 15, 1856, at New Castle, and is a son of Matthias and Anna (Brant) Matthews.
The Matthews family originated in Wales, from which country John Matthews, the grandfather, removed to Staffordshire, England, where his son, Matthias, was born. In 1828, when the latter came to America, he was a skilled iron worker who had been trained in the great iron works of his native land. He settled first in the city of New York and moved from there to New Castle, where he resided until 1858, when he went to Niles, Ohio, returning from there to New Castle in 1863. In the city of New York he was united in marriage with Anna Brant, who was a lady of gentle manner and superior education, and they had the following children: Joseph, John, Susan, Mary, Emma, James and Charles.
With the exception of the five years above mentioned, Mr. Matthews has practically spent his whole life at New Castle. From early boyhood he worked at intervals in the rolling mills, attending school in a rather desultory manner on this account, and when he was sixteen years old, he was regularly apprenticed as a roll turner in the iron mills. For a number of years he continued his connection with the mills, although not continuously, as, in the meanwhile, he again went to school and also engaged in other less exhausting lines of work. In the end, however, he returned to the industry in which he had become a skilled worker. His final retirement from mill work dates from November, 1894, at which time he became business manager and treasurer of the Lawrence Guardian, and in this capacity he had his first opportunity to display those business qualifications which have since made him conspicuous. As noted, from 1903 he has been officially connected with the National Bank of Lawrence County, and in 1906 he became its first vice-president. He is a director in the Lawrence Savings & Trust Company, of New Castle, is a director in the Penn Engineering Works, and is secretary of the American Car & Ship Hardware Manufacturing Company.
From early manhood Mr. Matthews has taken a deep interest in public matters and has been closely identified with the movements of the Republican party, representing local party sentiment at conventions and on many occasions has been honored by election to responsible positions. He has been sheriff of Lawrence County and has been a member of both boards of the city council. He has taken an active part in shaping public sentiment when the welfare of the city has been at stake and is an able representative of its best type of citizen.
On February 26, 1888, Mr. Matthews was married to Elizabeth Lutton, who was born at New Castle, and is a daughter of the late William B. Lutton, who was formerly county commissioner and city poor director. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews have had three children: Charles, Marlen and Helen. They enjoy a beautiful home at No. 215 North Jefferson Street, New Castle.
For many years Mr. Matthews has been one of the leading Masons of this section of Pennsylvania, was grand steward of the Grand Lodge of the state in 1895-96, and has filled many other elevated positions in the fraternity, at present being a director and president of the Masonic Association of New Castle. He also belongs to the Elks.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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