Governor Claude Matthews

Ex-Governor Claude Matthews of Indiana died at the Meharry homestead near Wingate, Ind. last Sunday. He was addressing the 28th annual session of Old Settlers at Meharry Grove when he was stricken. He was born in this county, near Bethel, Dec. 14, 1845. Went to Centre College at age 18 and graduated in 1867. Jan. 7, 1868, he married Martha R. Whitcomb, daughter of the late James Whitcomb who was Governor of Indiana from 1843 to 1849 and afterwards U.S. Senator from that State. Gov. Matthews left Ky. in 1868 and settled in Vermilion County, Ind. near Clinton. Elected to the Legislature in 1876, then Secretary of State in 1890 and Governor in 1892. After his term he retired to Hazel Bluf Farm, his home. Democratic Presidential candidate in 1896. He was son of Thomas A. and Eliza A. (Fletcher) Matthews. His maternal great-grandfather General Thomas Fletcher was an officer in the Army in the War of 1812. His grave is on the farm that S.S. Ralls recently purchased from Waller Sharp, 2-1/4 miles northeast of town. Gov. Matthews' step-mother lives at 519 Greenup Street, Covington. Left one brother, Lewis P. Matthews of Covington; three sisters, Mrs. Ralph Hemingray of Muncie, Ind., Mrs. D.M. Massie of Chillicothe, Ohio, and Miss Lyde Matthews of Covington. His wife and two daughters, Miss Helen Matthews of Clinton, Ind. and Mrs. Cortez Ewing of Greensburg, Ind., survive. His only son, Seymour, aged 21, died some two years ago.