Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-04-17
Captain j. c. rIathsuy

} made lust week, Highland count
has suffered an almost irreparabl
loss. No man has eyer filled hi
: mission 10 life or served his gener
atoms more faithfully. In think
; ing oyer career such as his, a
effort is made to point out IN
crow ming txce'lencies or virtues
for he SO nearl, attained to the ac
cepted ideal of true manhood as t.
battle criticism.
As a citizen, no man had q
stronger hold npon the affections
of bis fellows, and none more uni
versallv beloved. He had long
been identified with public affairs,
and to know his position on any
question ives simply to find the
right. He was modest and unas-
suming, but quick and ready to
espouse any good cause and oppose
evil. To say that he was temper
ate-in all things would be no exag.
geration, for he was one OF the
most prudent men We have ever
known. Guarded in speech and
bearing, he gave no offence. He
had the keenest regard for the
feelings and sensibilities of others,
and, although for fifty years he
had been intimately associated
with men in the varied relations Of
public and private life, at its close
he did not have a known enemy,
and the people Of his native county
mourned his death as one common
family.
As a christian, his life was above
reproach, aud his devotion to duty
along religious lines was such as to
subordinate everything else. He
had been an Office bearer in the
church for more than half a life
time, and for S5 years or more Sn.
perintendent of the Monterey
Methodist Sunday School. There
was no department of church work
In which he did not manifest the
keenest interest, often taxing his
physical strength in order to be at
his post of duty and prosecute the
work so dear to his heart.
Asa soldier, like many other
brave men Of the South, his record /
was unwritten, and most OF his
comrades who so often spoke of his
cool demeanor and self. possession
under the most trying circum-
stances, have answered the last
roll-call, and but few of his imme-
date command remain to tell of
their leaders part in the MANY bat
ties in which he participated,
1t was perhaps in his official ca
pacity as Clerk of the courts that
Captain Matheny was most widely
known, as in this relation he came
in contact, not only with those OF
bis own county, but many of the
more intelligent class throughout
the State. His reputation as
court official Is one of which he
and his family may be justly proud
and reflects credit upon the people
Of the county who entrusted the
office to his keeping for so long
time-more than forty years. The
late Judge Mclaughlin pronounc-
ed him the best Clerk in his dis
trict. and a prominent West Vir-
ginia lawyer, who recently had oc-
casion to thoroughly inspect his
Office, said that he had never seen
more perfect work or better system
in his experience and observation
as lawyer.
In addition to the positions OF
responsibility and trust above re-
ferred to, Captain Matheny, at the
time Of his death, was vice-presl-
dent Of the First National Bank of
Highland, having been elected
thereto at a meeting of the stock
holders held last fall.
His friendship was of that rare
type which knew no selfishness,and
men in all walks Of life, assured
of his accurate judgement and gen
uine sympathy, approached him
With freedom and sought counsel
and help. lie was as quick to re-
spond to calls of distress as to the
needs of the church, He seldom
failed to see an opportunity to DO
good or neglected to improve it.