Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


REV. W. S. MATTHEW, D. D., 
 
was born in Cotton Hill, Sangamon County, Illinois. He grew up on his father's 
farm, having the best advantages for education furnished by the public schools, 
which he attended for about six months in each year. At the age of sixteen he 
began teaching, his object being to earn money to carry him through college. 
After five years of struggle and self-denial he was permitted to go to Evanston, 
Illinois, to enter the Northwestern University. Here he studied hard, and toiled 
from time to time to earn funds to carry him through. He took high rank as a 
student, carried off several prizes in oratory, and graduated in 1876 at the 
head of his class. When sixteen years of age he consecrated himself to the 
service of God and became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He now 
entered the ministry, and was stationed at Auburn, Illinois. Success attended 
his labors from the first. He was much loved by the people, and was especially 
influential among the young people of both sexes. After one year he was removed 
to Taylorville, Illinois. Here he had a larger and more difficult field, but 
succeeded in greatly increasing the membership of the church, and in giving it 
an advanced position among the churches of the city. During this time he was 
very active in his advocacy of the cause of temperance. Largely through the 
labors of his church the saloons were banished from the place, and Taylorville 
remains a temperance city to this day. The good results are patent. During Mr. 
Matthew's stay here another great event happened to him. This was his marriage 
to Miss Marion L. Pomeroy, of Evanston. This union has brought to him the most 
substantial joys of his life. His acquaintance with her began when they were 
both students in the university. Miss Pomeroy graduated in 1877 with a fine 
record as a student, and honored as a genuine, gracious, queenly woman. As a 
wife she has brought to her husband that help and comfort which only a true 
Christian woman can give. Let her husband praise her in the gates: "She has done 
him good and not evil all the days of her life." Mr. Matthew remained two years 
at Taylorville, and was then settled over the Second Methodist Episcopal Church 
in Springfield, the capital of the State. Here he remained three years, the full 
term allowed by the law of the church, and was very successful. But overwork 
resulted in a low malarial fever, and he was compelled to try a more northern 
climate. Removing to Minnesota, he was stationed at Red Wing one year; then at 
Clinton Avenue Church, St. Paul, for three years. From here he went to the First 
Church, Stillwater, where in the midst of a most successful year's work he 
received the news that he had been elected Dean of the College of Liberal Arts 
in the University of Southern California. This was to him a comparatively 
untried field; but from the first day his presence inspired confidence both 
among students and faculty. His work was especially helpful to young men, many 
of whom were led to become earnest Christians through his influence and labors. 
After two years at the head of the College of Liberal Arts, Dr. Matthew was 
elected vice-president of the University. While this was considered a step in 
advance, and he was urged to accept, yet he declined, not considering it an 
opportune time for such enlargement of plans as contemplated by the board of 
directors. His plan at this writing (September, 1889,) is to re-enter the 
pastorate. Mr. Matthew comes of Welsh stock, a parental ancestor from Wales 
having been one of the earliest Territorial Governors of Virginia. He is five 
feet, nine and one-half inches in height, weighs 140 pounds, is wiry and 
athletic, and capable of great endurance. He has remained a student ever since 
his graduation, and no doubt has many years of useful service yet before him. 
His Alma Mater, the Northwestern University, in June, 1889, conferred on him the 
honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 782
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler