From HISTORY OF THE PAN-HANDLE, West Virginia, 1879, by J. H. Newton, 
G. G. Nichols, and A. G. Sprankle. Page 272.  

Contributed by Linda Cunningham Fluharty.


JAMES E. MATTHEWS. This gentleman, living retired at 723 Main street, is 
brother- in-law to the late William Irwin's family. His father, Charles 
Matthews, was a regimental captain in the war of 1812, and a native of 
Pittsburgh, but died in 1815, aged fourteen years. His mother's maiden name was 
Rebecca Clelland, also of Pittsburgh, and died in 1825, forty-seven years of 
age. James E. Matthews was born in Allegheny county, in 1811, received only a 
plain education, and learned the trade of a moulder, with Kingsland & Lightner, 
after which he arrived here, from the Iron city, a practical mechanic, in 1830. 
After engaging himself at his trade, for a short time, as a journeyman, he 
became a partner in the firm of Sweeney, Matthews & Grey, who conducted the 
first foundry of any pretensions in this city, on Main street, though there was 
a second one of far humbler pretensions, had an earlier existence over the 
creek, being run by one Thomas Pollack. Mr. Matthews continued to hold his 
interest from 1836 to 1848 when he sold out, and simply filled the capacity of 
manager at that and other foundries, down to within a year ago, when he retired 
from active life. He was married in 1836 to Amanda, third daughter of the late 
William Irwin, by whom he has had a family of five sons and two daughters - 
three of whom, however, are deceased.