L. C. MATTHEWS, Postmaster at Sandoval, was born May 25, 1848, in Jefferson County, near Walnut Hill, Marion County, ILL.
His parents, A. J. and Hulda (Swafford) Matthews, were natives respectively of Tennessee and South Carolina, the former being a descendant of an Irish family that has been represented in the United States since the old Colonial days. The parents were both brought to southern Illinois in infancy, and later went to Greene County, where they were reared to mature years. The families of which they were members being poor, they had few opportunities for gaining practical educations, but spent their childhood days on the wild and unsettled prairies of Illinois, by which experience they were fitted for the battles of pioneer existence in Marion County. They were married in Greene County when A. J. was but nineteen years old. After a short time spent in Greene County, the parents came to the vicinity of Walnut Hill, where success rewarded their efforts.
In 1848 they purchased two hundred acres lying six miles south of Salem, to which place they removed a few months after our subject's birth. Although the father attended the district schools, yet his thorough business knowledge and broad general information were mainly self-acquired. After having lived near Salem for about twelve years, he removed to a farm just east of Centralia, where he devoted his attention strictly to farming and accumulated several hundred acres of land.
The religious connections of A. J. Matthews and his good wife were from early years with the Christian Church. They reared eleven of the twelve children comprising their family, Absalom dying at the age of six. The others are,
The father of this family has always been a very enthusiastic Democrat, although not an aspirant for official positions. Since the death of his wife, in February, 1893, he has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Davis, near Centralia.
At the age of eighteen years the subject of this sketch became self-supporting, and utilized the education he had received in Centralia and Carbon dale by following the profession of a teacher. He was thus engaged in the winter, the summer seasons being devoted to farm work.
When twenty-six years old he married Miss Lizzie, daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Sugg) Lydick, natives respectively of Ohio and Marion County, III. Here Mrs. Matthews was born and in this vicinity her entire life has been passed. She is the mother of a daughter of ten years and a son of eight, bright and intelligent children, of whom the parents may be justly proud.
After his marriage Mr. Matthews received from his father a tract of land worth $1,200, and this he cultivated in the summer seasons, while during the three following winters he taught school. In 1883 he purchased a piece of land where the village of Fairman now stands. There he bought the store and small stock of goods, enlarging the latter until he had a large and complete assortment of all goods to be found in a first-class country store. He built and operated a blacksmith shop and grain elevator, and in three years sold five car-loads of Moline wagons. During the last four years he was thus engaged, his annual sales averaged $50,000.
In order to give his children better advantages, Mr. Matthews disposed of his interests at Fairman where he now conducts a large feed and grocery store as well as a livery stable. He is also interested in the real-estate business with Judge Charles F. Patterson, of this place, and owns valuable town property besides about three hundred acres of farming land under cultivation.
In May, 1893, he was appointed Postmaster at Sandoval, but did not take possession of the office until the following July.
Socially he is identified with the Knights of Pythias at Sandoval.
His political views bring him into connection with the Democratic party, and upon the ticket of that political organization he has been elected to many of the local offices of the township.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 464 - 465
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer