Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-29
SPOKE ONLY ONE SHORT WORD
But That Word Brought Peace to the
Loving Wife'S Troubled Heart.

GOVERNOR CLAUDE MATTHEWS. OF
INDIANA, DEAD, AFTER MIRACU-
LOUsLY DECLARING HIS BELIEF
IN JESUS CHRIST-HIS FAITHFUL
WIFE HAD PRAYED AND HOPED
AGAINST HOPE THAT HE MIGHT
BE SPARED A MOMENTS con-
SCICUSNESS IN WHICH TO MANI
FEST HIS FAITH AND HER PRAY
ERS WERE ANSWERED-PREP
RATIONS FOR THE FUNERAL
ExERCISES--THEB BODY WILL NOT
BE TAKEN TO INDIANAPOLIS TO
LIE IN STATE
Wingate, Ind, August 2S.-At $50
O'Clock this morning at the quiet Me-
harry homestead, where he was taken
Immediately after his sudden affection,
Ex-Governor Claude Matthews passed
away peacefully, surrounded by his
wife and all the other members of his
immediate family.
There Was prayer service, accompa-
nied by the singing OF hymLs, at the
oedslde CT the dying Ex-Governor
Mrs. Matthews was very much af-
fected and stated that she would give
anything in the world if her husband
would manifest by a single word his
faith in Jesus.
About 3 o'clock the minister in the
course of the services, asked the dying
man if he believed in Jesus. The an
swer, as plainly as any one could ar
ticulate it, was: Yes
The three physicians regarded this
answer as miraculous, as all agreed
that the particular part of the brain
affected by the paralysis was that gov
efnlng speech. and that the eX-Gover-
nor would probably never have talked
had he lived. 1t was the only word
he spoke after he was stricken. He
Immediately lapsed into a profound
coma, from which he did not recover
before he passed away at 6: 80 o'clock
Mrs. Matthews will start from Win
gate tomorrow morning with the re-
mains of l.er husband, and will arrive
at Clinton, Ind, at 100 o'clock in the
afternoon.
From Clinton the party will go di-
rect to Hazel Bluff, the home of the
Cead Ex-Governor
Out of respect to the oft-expreSsed
wishes of Ex-Governor Matthews, the
body will not be taken to indianapolis
to lie in state in the Capto,. The fun
eral will occur Wednesday afternoon
al an hour to be hereafter determined
ara will be held in the beautiful grove
adjoining the cemetery, as there is no
church or other ediice in Clinton Of
sufficient size to accommodate TIE
immense crowds that will desire to at
tend the funeral
Mrs. Matthews received hundreds of
kilograms and messages Of coincidence
to-day. Governor Mount expressed the
sorrow of the State at the sudden death
of the ex-governor, and requested that
the remains be brought to indianapolis
to lie in state at the Capitol.
Governor Matthews was born in
Bath county, Kentucky, December IA.
1915. He left Kentucky in 1868 and
settled in Vermiilion county. Indiana,
where he had farm of 2,C3O acres. He
OF nized the Indiana Short Horn
Breeders Association, and was one Of
ton of Short Horn Cattle Breeders of
the United States and Canada. AL
though always having a strong predi-
lection for politics, Mr. Matthews rare
ly sought Office. He served a term in the
legislature in 1876. In 1890 he was
nominated and elected Secretary Of
State. and in 1892 he was chosen gov
eIncr
Governor Matthews was related
through his mother. to some Of the
best families Of Virginia and Ken
lucky He was the son Of Thomas A.
Matthews and Eliza A. Fletcher. His
maternal grandfather, General
Thomas Jefferson Fletcher. was an of
ficer in the United States army CT 1872
After is term as governor expired
Mr. Matthews retired to his lme in
Vermillion county.