Methews, Joseph Revill

Submitted by Mike Miller

Joseph Revill Matthews. Because of the extent and importance of his activities, Hon. Joseph Revill Matthews may be accounted one of the leading citizens of West Feliciana Parish. For some years he has been prominent in business affairs, particularly in connection with the automobile business, and more recently has been placed favorably before the public in official capacities in which he has displayed his executive ability and fidelity to community interests.

Mayor Matthews, of St. Francisville, who is also treasurer of West Feliciana. Parish, was born at Livonia, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, November 15, 1869, a son of J. Lafayette and Olivia (VanWickle) Matthews. The family of which he is a member originated in Scotland and Ireland, whence the original American progenitor immigrated to America, settling at an early date in North Carolina. William Matthews, the grand father of Joseph R. Matthews, was born in Sampson County, North Carolina, and in about middle life moved to Greensburg, Louisiana, where he became an extensive cotton Planter, spending the remainder of his life in St. Helena Parish. He married Jeanette Core, whose death occurred at Dallas, Texas.

J. Lafayette Matthews was born February 15, 1826, at Jackson Mississippi, and was still a young man When he arrived in Pointe Coupee Parish. A graduate of the Bardstown ( Kentucky ) College, he was a man of intelligence and ability and owned large Plantations which he operated with slave labor prior to the War between the states. During that struggle he Served as a member of the staff of Governor Hebert, with the rank of captain. A democrat in politics, Mr. Matthews served as a member of the house of Representatives representing Pointe Coupee Parish for one term, and for many years was a member of the parish school board.

His religious faith was that of the Episcopal Church, and fraternally he was affiliated with Livonia (now New Roads) Lodge No. 220, A. F. and A. M. Mr. Matthews married Olivia VanWickle, who was born December 17, 1834, and died at Lakeland, Louisiana, in May, 1896, Mr. Matthews having passed away in 1884, at Hermitage, and was buried in Grace Church Cemetery, St. Francisville, this state. They were the parents of the following children: Stephen VanWickle, a farmer and levee and road contractor, who died aged thirty-one years in Pointe Coupee Parish; Dr. William W., a physician and surgeon of Lakeland; Belle, of Dallas, Texas, the widow of Charles A. Williams, a farmer who died in Tensas Parish, Louisiana; Joseph Revill; Corinne, of Baton Rouge, the widow of Roger A. Bourgeois, a sugar planter who died at New Roads; and Dr. Edgar Stanley, a physician and surgeon residing at Bunkie, Avoyelles Parish.

Joseph Revill Matthews attended public and private schools in Pointe Coupee Parish and was reared on his father's plantation until reaching the age of fifteen years, at which time he became clerk in a store in the sugar district of West Baton Rouge Parish, and continued in the same capacity for three years.
He went then to Port Hickey, East Baton Rouge Parish, where he held a similar position for five years, and in 1892 removed to St. Francisville. At this place he became a clerk for J. Freyhan & Company, general merchants, in whose employ he remained five years, following which he entered the Batik of West Feliciana, St. Francisville, as cashier, a position which he retained for some fifteen years. In August, 1913, Mr. Matthews embarked in a general tire and life insurance business, supplemented by the automobile and real estate business, which he has followed with great success to the present time. He is the owner of the leading public garage in his section of the state, located on Ferdinand Street, and holds the Ford and Fordson agencies. His business reputation. both as to character and ability, is of the highest, and the success which he has achieved is the direct result of his own efforts.

A democrat in politics. Mr. Matthews has shown an interest in public affairs since his youth. He is at present serving his third consecutive term as mayor of St. Francisville, and during his several administrations has done much to advance the interests of the community and its people. In 1909 he was appointed treasurer of West Feliciana Parish, and has been reappointed every four years since, his most recent appointment, for four years, coming in 1924. During the last eight years he has served as clerk of the police jury of the parish. Mr. Matthews' religious connection is with Grace Episcopal Church of St. Francisville. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, and belongs to Feliciana Lodge No. 31, A. F. and A. M., of St. Francisville, of which he is a past master; Feliciana Chapter No. 11, R. A. M., St. Francisville, of which he is a past high priest : Kenneth Commandery No. 9, K. T., Hammond; the Grand Consistory of Louisiana ; and Jerusalem Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S., New Orleans; belonging also to St. Francisville Lodge No. 15, K. of P., of which he is a past chancellor; and Bayou Sara Lodge No. 50. I. 0. 0. F., St. Francisville, of which he is a past grand master. He is a director of the Mutual Building and Loan Association of St. Francisville. During the World war Mr. Matthews did everything in his power to assist the government and the fighting forces and was a prominent figure in all the big drives, in addition to which he acted in the capacity of food administrator of West Feliciana Parish.

On June 16, 1899, at St. Francisville, Mr. Matthews was united in marriage with Miss Eudolie Brooks, a graduate of the Silliman Collegiate Institute of Clinton, who died May 10, 1923. She was a daughter of Oran D. and Anastasia (Buist) Brooks, who reside at St. Francisville, where Mr. Brooks is a retired druggist. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Matthews: Eudolie Olivia, a teacher in a public school in Bossier Parish, this state; Joseph Lafayette, a student in the Louisiana State University, specializing in sugar chemistry; and Lawrence Revill, a student in the Louisiana State University, taking a premedical course.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 89-90, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.