Notes for Arthur H. MATTHEWS
Arthur was a Methodist Minister. He gave the land for the Shiloh Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery — a marker explaining about the land gift is also there. Arthur and Mary are buried in this cemetery, along with other family members. Arthur was killed by "bushwhackers" during the Civil War. According to the History of Benton County, Arthur was buried at night because it was not safe for men to be out during the daylight hours during those times.
Five of his sons and two son-in-laws served during the Civil War. Times were terrible and so bloody in that part of Missouri during the Civil War. Men were doomed to die no matter what side they were on. Arthur was killed by the "Jay Hawkers" during the Civil War because of the participation of his sons. Details of this come from the Turnbo Papers, which are very interesting reading. They are recorded stories of what happened in this part of Missouri during the Civil War. The are as follows:
From the Turbo Records "…Arthur Mathis lived 3 miles south of us. One morning a party of armed men rode up to this dwelling before the family had ate breakfast and compelled Mr. Mathis to go with them and After they had took him a quarter of a mile from the house they stopped and shot him to death. The Murderers would not permit the men of the neighbourhood to give burial to the body and the women had it to do. Both the body of this man and that of Mr. Sootens were buried in the grave yard at the Shiloh Church House .…"
601One of our Matthews cousins from the Elizabeth Matthews/Jacob Feaster marriage moved back down to the Warsaw, MO area a few years ago on Arthur and Mary’s old farm — which now belonged to her parents.
Notes for Arthur and his family1820 - They were in Hawkins CO, TN in 1820's and then moved down into Jackson Co., Alabama.
1823 - Their first child, Isom, was born in Alabama on 11 February 1823.
1830 - Arthur Matthews purchased 97 acres of land in Jackson C., AL.
602 Legal: NE 1/4 Fraction, Township 1 South, range 6 East. Dated 08 July 1830. This same book had numerous mention of people who had moved from Hawkins Co., TN during the 1820s into Jackson CO, AL and these were names Dee had seen who settled in the Iconium area of Benton/St. Clair Co., MO. This book reported that Arthur Matthews left AL and moved to MO.
1839 (late), or early 1840 - Sometime before the 1840,
603 Arthur moved his family up to Benton CO, MO where he lived until he met an untimely death in 1862. Arthur and Mary Matthews lived near a little town, which is no longer there except for a telephone pole with a sign on it, called Bentonville. The county seat of Benton CO, MO is today Warsaw, MO.
1840 - Greene County, Missouri census
MATTHEWS, Arthur
1 male under 5
1 male 5 under 10
2 males 10 under 15
1 male 30 under 40
1 female under 5
1 female 10 under 15
1 female 15 under 20
1 female 30 under 40
604
In 1840 Arthur Matthews was living in Greene Co., MO where he had purchased land from the US Government. He is listed on the 1840 Federal Census in Green Co., MO. In this same area of Greene Co., MO were also relatives as follows: Isam Looney, William Johnson, Isaac Looney, R. K. Paine, Joseph Looney, Larkin Paine, and William Looney.
6051844 - By 1844 Arthur Matthews had purchased land from the US government in Benton Co., MO where he resided until his untimely death on April 12, 1862. He purchased 80 acres of land on 15 February 1854 in Benton CO, MO. which was registered at the Clinton Land Office -- Land Patent Report Document No. 35150 (Document Order Form -- 1690_.194. He purchased the west half of the South East quarter of section twenty-eight in Township 39-N, of Range 23-N.
1850 — Alexander, Benton Ccounty, Missouri census
MATTHEWS, Arthur 45 m farmer TN
MATTHEWS, Mary Campbell 47 f TN
MATTHEWS, James C. 20 m miller AL
MATTHEWS, Lewis C. 19 m farmer AL
MATTHEWS, Nancy A. 16 f AL
MATTHEWS, William G. 12 m AL
MATTHEWS, Isaac A. 8 m MO
MATTHEWS, Mary Jane 5 f MO
596There is also an Isom Matthews and a Nancy Matthews shown on this census living next door. Both are from Alabama. He is 26 and she is 23 years-old.
5821854, February 15th - Arthur Matthews purchased 80 acres in a cash sale. Section 28, township 39-N, range 23-W, meridian 5th PM, of Benton County, Missouri [Accession MO1690_.194, land office was Clinton]
1855 - “The church ground of Shiloh was a gift to the trustees from Arthur Matthews in 1855. J. C. Handlin, a grandson, said Matthews also gave land for the school building. Handlin said his grandfather rode horseback from Bentonville in order to have the deed recorded by the government agent. Original name of the school district was Claybank. It was later changed to Shiloh. Mr. Matthews was killed by bushwhackers during the Civil War.”
606 (p. 574)
Reference to land given by Arthur and Mary Looney Matthews: "…On Wednesday of last week, C. R. Francis of the Warsaw Monument Works put up a metallic monument in the large and well known Shiloh church yard. On the east side of the monument, there is a recess with a very handsome ornamental frame and door and back of heavy plate glass and a clearly printed inscription as follows: Arthur Matthews, born August 28, 1804, died April 12, 1862, aged 57. Mary Matthews, wife of Arthur Matthews, born October 7, 1802, died September 5, 1884, aged 81. Both belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Were born in Tennessee. Were married in Alabama October 29, 1923. Moved to Missouri in 1841, where they lived until their death. Nine children were born to them: Elizabeth H., Sam L., Sara J., James C., Louis C., Nancy A., William G., Isaac A., and Mary J.”
606 (p.6n)
L. P. Union or Weaver school has an intriguing description which was deeded Oct 20, 1855, by Arthur Mathews and wife “to the inhabitants of school district, or twp. no. 1 (south)…commencing at the S.E. corner of section 9, twp. 30, rng. 23…thence north 34 poles to a rock, thence 80 poles west to a rock, thence south 34 poles to S. E. corner of 40 acres, then 80 poles to place of beginning…” Robert Drake, Sr., abstractor at Warsaw, explained that a “pole” was the length of pole used to drive oxen, 16 and 1/2 feet, and later became the standard measure for a rod.
607Arthur Matthes, who gave the land, was killed during the Civil War by bushwhackers. He was taken from his home and his wife and daughter found him not far from the house, shot in the back. His monument in the Shiloh Cemetery bears the date of his death as April 12, 1862. The daughter who helped find him later became Mrs. Joe Handlin, mother of Clate Handlin and Mr. Bertha James. Mr. Handlin and his wife, Pearl Cox Handlin, were members until their death. Pearl passed away in February 1965 and Clate in 1967. Miss Dimple James, great-granddaughter of Mr. Matthews, is a faithful member of Shiloh. Some of the trustees moved away after a time but some now sleep in the adjoining cemetery. Oldest monument in the cemetery is that of Joseph and George T. Curtis, seven and four year old sons of Mr. and Mrs. George Curtis. They died of typhoid fever the same day and were buried in the same casket. Date of their death was September 4, 1959. Several years later, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were laid to rest beside their sons. Many times the people of Shiloh have gathered at the river to watch their loved ones be baptized. As many as 28 have been baptized after a big revival or camp meeting. In fact, this spot is known as Methodist water. So--the fight against sin, started by our pioneer fathers and mothers, back when men and women worked with zeal in the service of God, is a challenge to us and to future generations to carry “onward and upward” the glory of Shiloh.
6071856, September 1st - Arthur Matthews - cash sale for land. Accession number MO1830_.465, Land office was Warsaw, Aughority was April 24, 1820: Sale-Cash entry (3 Stat. 566), Document 45115, Section 29, Township 39-N, Meridian 5th PM, Benton County, Missouri.
1857, September 1 - On Sept. 1, 1857 Arthur & Mary deeded 23 acre of land for the sum of $30.00 to 9 Trustees. This was the beginning of a House of Worship and a Tabernacle at The Shiloh Campgrounds, of which they had founded.
1860 — Warssaw, Benton County, Missouri
MATHEWS, Arthur 54 m farmer TN
MATHEWS, Mary 56 f TN
MATHEWS, William 20 m [F S - occupation. don't understand] AL
MATHEWS, Isaac 17 MO
MATHEWS, Nancy 23 f Domestic AL
MATHEWS, Isam 3 m MO
5931869 - Arthur Matthews died intestate. His estate was settled on October 18, 1869 by E. S. Drake, Administrator. Case No. 762, Microfilm Roll 10, Benton County Court House, Benton CO, MO. No genealogical information included other than the mention of some claims which were paid by J. S. (or could be I. S.) Feaster on October 24, 1865 and July 29, 1866. Dee examined this film on December 17, 1997.
John Taylor partial estate settlement - $4.00 to Arthur Matthews for labor on coffin for John Taylor.
6081870 - Quincy Post Office, Alexander Township, Benton County, Missouri
MATHEWS, William 30 m w farmer 200 271 AL
MATHEWS, Mary 68 f w keeping house TN
MATHEWS, Mary J. 25 f w house keeping MO
Loney, Tom G. 22, 23, or 29? farmer MO
609