Alpheus Mathews is a native of the town of Hector, Tompkins county, New York,
and was born January 12, 1812. He lived at his old home until September 12,
1837, when he started for the West, and arrived in Whiteside county in October
of that year. In the spring of 1838 he commenced improving a small farm in
Garden Plain, which he sold in 1844 to Joseph Snyder, and purchased his
present farm on sections 2 and 11. On the 10th of November 1839, Mr. Mathews
married Miss Abyleen Bethea, in Lee County Illinois. Their children were: Mary,
born August 20, 1840; William, born March 3, 1842; Carrie, born May 27, 1843,
and one who died in infancy. Mrs Mathews died in October, 1844. Mary
married Samuel Montgomery, and died in May, 1872. Mr Mathews married his
second wife, Mrs. Louise Patrick. Mr. Mathews was Justice of the Peace of
Garden Plain township from 1864 to 1872.
Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County Page 215
Alpheus Mathews, a substantial farmer on section 11, Garden Plain Township, was born Jan. 14, 1812, in the town of Hector, Tompkins Co., N.Y. His parents, Stephen and Patience (Wightman) Mathews, were both nati ves of the Empire State, where they were farmers.
Mr. Mathews is their third son, and he was given the advantage of a practical education, which he made available in teaching. He began his first efforts in that vocation when he was 21. In the fall of 1835, on account of failing health, he went to New Orleans, where he passed the winter, returning to the place of his birth in the spring. In the fall of 1837, he came to Whiteside County. He was a single man, and traveled according to his circumstances and the facilities which the period afforded. He journeyed to Chicago on the lakes, and walked from that city to Whiteside Connty. He bought a timber claim, and also entered one on his own responsibility on the prairie located on section 13, township 21, range 3, as Garden Plain Township was then designated. He made some improvements on his property, which he sold in 1844. He made further purchases on sections 4 and 5 in the same towmhip, where he made considerable improvement, and built a log cabin. In 1846 he sold his prairie farm, but retained the timber for a time. He fixed his residence in Ustick Township, where he lived some years. In 1850 he bought the farm he now occupies, situated on sections 2 and 11.
Mr. Mathews was married Nov. 10, 1839, to Abylene Bethea. She was born Dec. 20, 1819, in Tennessee, and died Oct. 20, 1844. Mary, the first born child of this union, was the first white child born in the townshIp. Her birth occurred Aug. 20, 1840. She married Samuel Montgomery, and died in 1872. William, born March 3, 1842, died in February, 1879, in Missouri, where he was a farmer. He entered the military service during the War of the Rebellion, and was a soldier in the 8th Ill. Cav. three years. Carrie, born May 27, 1843, married Daniel George, and died in March, 1877, in Kansas. Another child died in infancy.
Mr. Mathews was a second time married Oct. 11, 1846, to Lois Ingham, widow of Thomas Patrick. They have had three children: Martha is the wife of G. B. Griswold, and they reside in Spink Co., D. T.; Ida is the wife of W. J. Malcom, of Garden Plain: Charles is deceased. The mother died May 23, 1863.
Mr. Mathews married for his third wife Sarah Portel. She was born March 31,1815, in Pennsylvania.
Although Mr. Mathews has suffered many years from precarious health, he has been enabled, solely through good management, to accumulate a fine property, and is rated among the valuable citizenship of the county. He has secured through reading and observation a well disciplined and well stored mind, and is esteemed among his associates by his social, genial nature.
Portraits & Biographical Pg 659
