California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


THOMAS B. MATTHEWS. Always a believer in the adage that "a rolling stone gathers 
no moss," Thomas B. Matthews is an illustration of its truth, for he presents an example of 
what steady and continuous effort in one channel of endeavor will accomplish, having devoted 
himself solely to farm pursuits and stock raising. He gave this business his best thought 
and energy, and as a reward for this singleness of purpose, capable management and business 
sagacity, he has acquired about one thousand acres of land in Fresno county, Cal., mostly in 
the vicinity of Selma, and has won an enviable reputation as a successful farmer and stock 
dealer. 

Being next to the youngest in a family of seven children and the only son, Mr. Matthews 
was born June 19, 1858, in Salem, Mo. His father. Ransom B. Matthews, a Kentuckian, 
took up his residence in Missouri when he was a very small child, and this continued to be his 
home until his death in early manhood. He was united in marriage with Miss Buchertt An- 
derson, who was born in Crawford county, Mo. She proved to be a worthy helpmeet, and to her 
lot fell the rearing and educating of their family, which duties she performed in an excep- 
tional manner. Her last days were spent at the home of her son, in Fresno county, Cal. 

The common school education of Mr. Matthews was supplemented by a more thorough 
course in the Salem Academy, and after leaving school he took up the occupation laid down 
by his father, and to this business the whole of the intervening years have been devoted. 
January 10, 1879, he arrived at Kingsburg, Cal., and very soon afterward engaged in farm pur- 
suits there, renting land for two years from the railroad company. In 1881 he purchased an 
eighty acre tract one mile northeast of Selma, which is now his place of residence. Here he 
carries on farming in connection with stock raising, and has made a decided success of both lines 
of business. He handles from six hundred to one thousand head of stock per year, and buys 
and sells cattle at all times. Having added to his possessions from time to time, he now owns 
one thousand acres of land near Selma, also a tract at Trimmer Springs, near Kings river. 
Mr. Matthews has one hundred acres in vines devoted to the raisin grape, and two hundred 
acres in alfalfa. 

By his marriage, in July, 1888, he was united with Annie Allari, who was born in San Fran- 
cisco, Cal. Two children were born of this union, one died in infancy, and the other, a son, 
Ransom, was born September 4, 1895. Mr. Matthews has devoted himself exclusively to 
business and abstained entirely from any participation in public life, yet he has been a sup- 
porter in a financial way of public movements tending toward the betterment of his community. 
As vice president of the Farmers' Bank, and a stockholder of the First National Bank, he holds 
an indisputable place of prominence among the worthy citizens of Selma. He is also a director 
of the Fresno Meat Company, and is largely interested in the development of the lumber in- 
dustry in Kings county. He is a Democrat in politics. Fraternally he affiliates with the 
Knights of Pythias.