Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1917-05-04
PULLMAN MOURNS
!. DEATH OF MAYOR
,obn ". Mathews Passed Peacefully
Away at His Home Tuesday
Evening After Brief
Illness

navor John w Mathews passed
peacefully away at his home in this
oitv Tuesday evening, after an illness
If several weeks.N He at first con
tracted a severe case Of grippe. Being
man of powerful physique, who had
always enjoyed the best of health, he
thought little of the attack and con
Timed to 90 to his office and made
two or three trips to ColfaX in the
interest of his clients. Instead OF i'm
proying he grew steadily worse. un-
iii he was unable to leave his home
bad cough developed and he had
difficulty in breathing. On April &c
he was taken to Lewiston, Idaho. in
the hope that the lower altitude
would prove beneficial. At first his
condition improved a little, but the
improvement did not continue and
he insisted on returning home He
was brought back Monday ana
seemed to be feeling a little better,
until Tuesday evening, when he be
gan to sink rapidly and it was APP
parent that the end was near. lie
was unconscious for about half an
hour before death ended his suffer
ing. His wife, three children and
several devoted friends were at his
bedside when his spirit passed
Deceased was born at Huntertown
Indiana, April 81, 1864. lie secured
his education in the common schools
and at the Methodist College at Fort
Wayne, Ind; at the Eastman Bust
ness College at Poughkeepsie. \. Y.
and at the University of Michigan.
from which institution he graduated
in the class Of 1889, He arrived in
Pullman and opened a law office in
1892 and on Novemb 80, 1894. was
united in marriage to Serena Wallis.
daughter OF Mr. and Mrs. w. A. Wal
lis, pioneer residents of this com
munty. He took an active part i'm
public affairs, was q prominent fig
ure in the old wet and dry fight
winch for so many years disrupted
Fallman, and served as prosecuting
attorney of Whitman county from
1876 to 1898. He also served sev-
efal terms as city attorney. In 1911
ne was employed by the county com
hlissoners of Ferry county to act as
prosecuting attorney to clean up the
laWless conditions existing in that
county Last December he was elect
ea mayor of Pullman on a platform
pedgmg the Improvement of the
. moral conditions of the city and a
Illumination of its previous progress
Sife program. Hhe was vigorously
carrying out his pledges when
stricken by his last illness.
ne was man Of strong personal
~ ana aggressive disposition and. as
result made many bitter enemies
anu equally loyal friends. 4 devot-
- husband and father, he found his
s'e"test happiness in his home and
oon much pride and pleasure in
, lining about and identifying his
@"n and garden and in growine
"oWefs to give to his friends
uheral services were held at the
az a. I. church yesterday afternoon al
-.oo O'clock. Rev. !. w Cangb1an
o,,'oiatlng' There was a very large
'enaance and the floral offerings
ere as numerous as they wore
"'llul' The members of the citv
~ s'iicii and the city officials attend
= III body and the services at the
gs a'e We're conducted by the local
~ sg sun" lodge for the Colfax lodge.
"nich deceased was a member
Large delegations of Masons and
NJ 'Ofneys We're present from coIfax
w pail bearers were Professors
Pm son' shedd and Steele and ]. N.
n,. 'on, W G. Reed and E. Ma
r1 The remains were inferred in
u o. F. cemetery.
drar saSed leaves a wife, three chill
m your sisters and two brothers.
Of = children are; Homer, a member
lesa. Junior class in the State Col
here. eatherine and Charlotte. The
yma a'ed family have the deepest
''"y OF the whole community.