Gustavus Mathews

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

 

Photos from the Past

Gustavus Heman Matthews

Gustavus Heman Matthews enlisted when he was 18 years old on November 16, 1863 at Canton, New York as a Private. One December 12, 1863, he was mustered into Company H, 14th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery. He was listed as wounded June 17, 1864 at Pe-tersburg, Virginia. He was later transferred to Company B, 18th Regiment, Veterans Reserve Corps. He was mustered out of federal service November 28, 1865 at Washington, DC.

Obituary.
St Lawrence Plain Dealer, Canton, New York, Tuesday, November 12, 1929

 

Civil War Veteran Passes Away

Gustavus Heman Matthews of Canton, Aged 84 years, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Herbert Clark of Russell, N.Y., Monday Nov. 4th after a long and painful illness through which he was tenderly cared for by his daughter Margaret Clar, and during which he was a cheerful and patient sufferer,

Born July 26 1845 in the town of Russell, the eldest of ten children of Margaret Crandall and Calvin Page Matthews, he spent the early part of his life in Russell and Pierrepont. Upon reaching the age of 18 he ran away from home and joined the army. He enrolled as a private in Company H. 14th Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, and Company B 18th Regiment of Veteran Reserve Corps Volunteers. He served two years and twenty days, during which time he was three times wounded, at the battle of Cold Harbor, at Petersburg on the 17th of June near the old Weldon Railroad. He was in the 7-days fight in the wilderness and also in the battle of Spotsylvania Court House. He saw Lincoln and Grant and many were the interesting stories which he told of those stirring times in the development of our country. A personal experience of which he was very proud happened while he was serving n the army, when he was awarded a 30-day pass to New York City for having had the neatest equipment and the finest bearing of any man in his company. Thus his first glimmer of New York. In 1863 on the 28th of November he was honorably discharged from service at Washington D.C.

He returned to Pierrepont and on August 15 1869 he married Rosanna Wright who lived only ten years thereafter and left five children, Mable, Margaret, Harvey, Forrest and Warren Matthews. In the year 1882 he married Fanzory Reed of Hermon who passed away fifteen days previous to his own death. Of this union two children were born, Irma and William Matthews.

The last years of Mr. Matthews life were spent in Michigan where he bought a modern home in 1918, moving from Hermon to Petoskey. Here he and his wife resided until a year ago when ill health of both forced them to sell their home and return to Russell. Surviving are his children Harvey and Forrest Matthew of Pierrepont, Mrs. O B Thompson, Visalia Calif., Mrs. Herbert Clark, Russell, NY., Mrs. Chas. Van Akin, Petoskey, Mich., and Wm Matthews, Carthage. Also surviving are twelve grandchildren and six great grandchildren and three Sisters Mrs. Isabell Gotham f Potsdam, Mrs. Harriet Burdick of Brick chapel, and Mrs. Adelia Perston of Lyden Wash., all of whom appreciated the Military service so beautifully performed by the American Legion of Canton, at the grave at Beech Plains Cemetery, the fine words spoken by Rev. Rundell of Russell, and music by Mrs. Coon, the lovely flowers sent by Hermon GAR, the service of nephews who were bearers as follows: G Stanley Gotham, Leslie Matthews, Cyrus Gorban and Harold Matthews and many other tributes to this, one of our nations last soldiers of the great civil war as he responded to the Last Call.

Photograph and information submitted by Gustavus Heman Matthews' great great granddaughter, Erinne Kennedy-Dock .


Gustavus Heman Matthews