File contributed for use on USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County Heritage Page by Beth Rengers Talken, 5 November 1998. Link change or update: 6 Nov 1998
Obituary for Richard C. Mathews (1830-?)
No. 085 - Uncited clippings from the "Neva Murphy Hubbard Collection" of
Beth Rengers Talken, 1998.
The heart of many an old friend and neighbor was saddened last Sunday when it was learned that this kindly old man had passed away. He died peacefully at his home three miles south of Troy at 10:30 Sunday morning, more from the infirmities of old age than any other cause.
His funeral took place Monday afternoon at his old home, Rev. M.A. WEST conducting the services, and the burial was at the CLARK graveyard. The large attendance in spite of the cold weather showed the esteem in which he was held in the neighborhood.
Richard C. MATHEWS was born near Dublin, Ireland, in 1830 and came to America in 1852, engaging in railroad work. He was engineer of a construction train when the old North Missouri railroad, now the Wabash, was built from St. Louis to Mexico. He later went to work on the farm of the late Samuel W. AVERY, south of Troy.
When the civil war broke out he enlisted in the Second Missouri Infantry of the Confederate army and served through the entire war, receiving two slight wounds. He was severely wounded near the close of the war, at New Hope, Ga., a bullet passing through his left breast. He was honorably discharged from the service at Mobile, Ala., on the 10th of May, 1865.
Returning home, he again went to the home of his old friend, Mr. AVERY; and Sept. 1, 1869, was married to Eliza Jane MCMAHAN, whose death occurred May 14, 1904. Of the four sons and one daughter born to this union the survivors are Mrs. Sarah MCNEALY, Tom C., William S. and James K. MATHEWS. The eldest, Robert E., met a tragic death by a dynamite explosion a few years ago.
"Uncle Dick," as we all called him during his later years, was an ardent Democrat, but never as such gave offense to his Republican neighbors; he was honest and conscientious; a good neighbor and a good friend-ever ready to help anyone in need, to the extent of his ability. His gentle life was a benediction to those who knew him.
-----H.H.T.
Note regarding clippings from the "Neva Murphy Hubbard Collection": Neva Murphy Hubbard (1886-1971) lived all of her life in Lincoln County, MO. She collected a large file of clippings of Lincoln County residents. The majority of the clippings were without citation. Beth Rengers Talken, beneficiary of the collection, has transcribed them for inclusion in our Lincoln County Heritage Records.
File contributed for use on USGenWeb/MOGenWeb Lincoln County Heritage Page by Beth Rengers Talken, 5 November 1998. Link change or update: 6 Nov 1998
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