Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1920-12-02
PASSING ON Of
MRS. MATTHEWS

In the death of Mrs. Michael Mat
thews, which occurred last Thursday,
November 25, 1920, the town of Sara
toga and the city of Wisconsin Rap
ids and Wood County loses one of her
highly respected citizens, who had
been a life long exemplary woman.
She had always been a devoted wife,
an excellent mother and devoted
friend and neighbor Her home had
always been the center of attraction
for citizens of town, city and county.
They often gathered at her home
where they were always welcome. She
was probably as we'll known and pop
ular as any woman Of her time She
lived to the ripe age of 90 years be-
cause she always took good care of
herself. She was the mother Of a
large family of children, most of whom
are living and were at her bedside dur
ing her last hours. She had so lived
that she did not fear death, but court
ed it when she arrived at that time
when she could be of no further ser
vice to mankind. She lived an ideal
life and one that was full of promise
She left the world better for her hav-
ing lived in it. She leaves five daugh-
ters and one son, who reflect her life
as she has radiated her exemplary
life through them. A good kind af- I
faatiopofo ,1o+bo,. bo Oeo,oo +o Lo,. ,.o
ward after well spent life.
Mrs. Michael Matthews was born in +
Ireland. She came to this country |
when child of II years of age, set
ting in New York. She was married
to Mr.. Michael Matthews in 1850, and |
soon thereafter came to Wisconsin, /
settling in what was then known as
Southport, later called Kenosha They
resided there for five years when they
moved to the town of Saratoga, this
county, in 1855.
Mrs. Matthews became well known
in the community and as advancing
years brought the silver threads of
gray hair her friends called her
Grandma" a name which she liked
and became we'll known under. The
trip to Wood county was made in the
early days in company with the
Christopher Keough family, the
method of transportation being with |
oX-teams. They resided in Saratoga !
until 1916 when she moved to this
city, making her home with her
daughter, Mrs John McTavish, until |
her death on Thursday.
There is left to mourn her passing
five daughters and one son. The I
daughters are: Mrs. William Slattery,
Mrs. John McTavish, Mrs. c.. E. Daily, /
Mrs. Louis Akey and Mrs Geo. Ere
chette, all of this city, and one son,
Mike Matthews, Of Port Edwards An I
adopted son, Frank Matthews, of
Spring Lake, Mimi, also survives, as
well as sixteen grandchildren and
thirty-one great grandchildren.
The funeral services were held at
SIS. Peter & Paul Catholic church at .
900 o'clock, Monday morning, Novem-
ber %, 1920, Rev. H. A Leuther Off
ciating. The floral offerings were many
and beautiful. A beautiful tribute
was paid the deceased by Rev. H. A +
Leuther
A large number of her old time
neighbors, friends and associates, were
present to pay their respects to one
whom they had respected and loved in
life. Burial took place in the family
lot in the Catholic cemetery Old
time friends of the family acted as
pallbearers. They were: Messrs Mike
and Patrick Mcdonald John Keough,
Thomas Chrystall, James Case, and
John Mclaughlin.