U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mathews, William Burdette (1866-1943) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 513-514 WILLIAM BURDETTE MATHEWS, clerk of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, a leading member of the bar, and a prominent citizen of Charleston, Kanawha County, was born in Marshall County, West Virginia, August 27, 1866, and is a son of C. C. and Esther J. (Scott) Mathews. W. B. Mathews received his education in the public schools of West Virginia, and at Waynesburg (Pennsylvania) College, from which he graduated in 1886. He then taught for several terms, and in 1890 entered the law department of the Columbian University, at Washington, D. C., taking both the bachelor's and master's degree in law, and two years later, in 1892, was admitted to the bar. After four years of successful practice in Washington, D. C, he returned to his native county, and opened a law office at Moundsville, but in 1897 he was appointed chief clerk in the State Auditor's office, under Auditor La Follette, and removed to Charleston, the capital of the State. Later he was re-appointed by Auditor Arnold C. Scherr, resigning the position in order to accept that of Assistant Attorney General under Attorney General Freer. In 1902, when the vacancy arose, by the resignation of Gen. J. A. Holley, clerk of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, Mr. Mathews was considered the best equipped man for this responsible position and he was immediately appointed to fill the vacancy. In this position he is making a most creditable record. He has long been an active and zealous supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and at various times has been honored with offices of trust, in all of which he has displayed excellent judgment, and in none more so than as a member of the finance committee, while a councilman from the Fifth Ward, in the Common Council of the city of Charleston. Mr. Mathews was president of the State League of Republican Clubs when it met at Parkersburg in 1900, and delivered the opening address at that large and enthusiastic meeting. On October 25, 1900, Mr. Mathews was united in marriage with Elizabeth Blundon, of Charleston, West Virginia, and a daughter, Sarah Esther, was born to this union, on December 29, 1902. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mathews are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He served as a lay delegate to the General Conference of that church, held in May, 1900 at Chicago, Illinois, and was on the program of the International Epworth League Convention held at San Francisco, California, in 1901. Mr. Mathews has been prominent in Masonry, and is a member of La Fayette Lodge, No. 19, A. F. & A. M., of Washington; of Tyrean Chapter, No. 19, R. A. M., of Charleston, and is also past captain of Gen. B. F. Kelly Camp, Sons of Veterans, of Moundsville, West Virginia. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Kanawha County, WV #9858 FULL-NAME: William Burdette Matthews BIRTH-DATE: August 27, 1866 BIRTH-PLACE: Marshall County, W.Va. DEATH-DATE: August 6, 1943 (at age 76y-11m-11d) DEATH-PLACE: 1501 Quarrier St., Charleston, Kanawha County, WV USUAL RESIDENCE: 1501 Quarrier St., Charleston, Kanawha County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married (Elizabeth B. Matthews) OCCUPATION: Clerk of Appeals in W.Va. FATHER: C. C. Matthews (born in W.Va.) MOTHER: Ester Scott (born in W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Auricular Fibrillation / Parkinsonian Disease INFORMANT: Carl K. Gilchrist (of 1510 Jackson St., City) BURIAL: Springhill Cemetery, Charleston, WV ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Kanawha County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/kanawha/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------