Joshua W. Matthews

Joshua W. Matthews, Treasurer of Osceola County, was born Feb. 3, 1826, in the township of Troy, Oakland Co., Mich. His father Solomon J. Matthews, was born in Livonia, Livingston Co., N.Y., June 6, 1799. He was a farmer and removed to Oakland Co., Mich., in 1822. He died in Troy Township, aug. 14, 1850. Susan (Whitney) Matthews, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Livonia, in 1800, and died in Troy Township, in 1864. They had nine children, eight of whom lived to maturity and seven of whom still survivie: Almeron S. is Deputy U.S. Marshall at Pontiac, Oakland County; Jane (1st) is deceased; Jane Ann, Mrs. Nathaniel Voorheis, resides i Troy Township; Susan C. is the wife of F.C. Voorheis, of the same place; Enos R., is a produce merchant at Rochester, Oakland County; Solomon S. is U.S. Marshall at Pontiac; Cordelia, Mrs. Lewis Hickox, is deceased; Mary married James C. Voorheis, a carriage maker at Rochester, Oakland County.

Not long after the death of his father, Mr. Matthews purchased the family homestead, comprising 120 acres of well improved and cultivated land, of which he continued resident until 1866, when he removed to Pontiac to discharge the duties of Assistant Revenue Assessor, to which position he had been appointed, and in which he officiated more than five years. Associated with Henry Nichols and E.C. Martin, in 1879, he bought a half interest in a sash, door and blind factory at Pontiac, the firm styled becoming Martin, Matthews & Nichols. The relation existed actively about two years, when he interested himself in the manufacture of hoisting machines for building purposes, selling the products in Chicago. In the fall of 1872, he came to Evart, Osceola County, and bought a half interest in a steam saw-mill, forming the manufacturing firm of Lamd & Matthews, which esisted until January 1877. In the fall of 1876, Mr. Matthews was elected Sheriff of Osceola County, on the Republican ticket, and in the fall of 1878 received a re-election. He was elected County Treasurer in the fall of 1880, and in 1882 was re=elected. In 1861 he was elected Supervisor of Troy, Oakland Co., Mich., and he has served three years in succession in the same office in Osceola Township. In 1883 he was elected President of Hersey village. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to Evart Lodge, No, 320, located at Evart.

Mr. Matthews was married Oct. 22, 1848, in Bloomfield Township, this county, to Hannah E. Beach. Their children were three in number. The first born and youngest died in early infancy. Chloe Ann, born Aug. 17, 1850, is the wife of Justus H. Prall, a builder in Pontiac. Mrs. Matthews was born in Cayuga Co., N.Y., and is the daughter of Thomas C. and Lodema (Ford) Beach.

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