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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Union County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Hon. Benjamin R. Matthews, an old citizen, a prominent farmer, and at present proprietor of Matthew’s livery stable at El Dorado, Ark., was born in Georgia, in 1821, and was the second child in a family of ten children born to Loderick and Mary (Harrell) Matthews, the parents natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. A number of the relatives of the father’s side were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. The grandfather and two brothers came to America in the middle of the eighteenth century, and are the origin of all the Matthews who spell their name in a similar manner in this country. The mother’s parents were wealthy and influential citizens of Twiggs County, Ga. The parents of our subject left Georgia in 1833, emigrated to Alabama, and settled in Russell County, where the father cultivated the soil for eleven years. They then moved to Arkansas, settled in Union County and became the owners of 1,200 acres of land situated three miles north of El Dorado. Mr. Matthews cleared 1,000 acres of this land and was one of the most extensive planters of that time. He was deeply interested in religious matters and was a generous contributor to all public work. In politics he was an able adviser and counselor in his party and held the patronage of the Democratic party. In 1851 he went to the Lone Star State and there died in 1858. Benjamin R. Matthews’ early youth was passed in Georgia, but he finished his growth in Alabama. On account of an injury to his right eye and that his father was a frontiersman, he received but a limited education in youth, but when about twenty-one years of age he determined to improve his mind, and by dint of hard work and application, he succeeded in securing an amply able education for all practicable purposes. In 1843, at the request of his father, he came to Arkansas and brought hands to open a large farm. In this he was successful, and the next year he was joined by his father. In 1846 he was elected clerk of Union County, and held this office for seven years, as principal and deputy, and for many years was called upon by various clerks to assist them during term time. After this he returned to his farm, and for two years managed his father’s estate after which he sent his hands to Texas and carried on agricultural pursuits on his own farm. In 1854 he was elected to the General Assembly from Union County, and was an influential member there. In 1861 he was appointed county judge to fill a vacancy. Previous to this, in 1855, he, in partnership with E. W. Wright and A. I. Morgan, engaged in merchandising at El Dorado, under the firm title of Matthews, Morgan & Co., and they first purchased a stock of goods in New York, which amounted to $20,000, all cash. Until the outbreak of the war they did the most extensive business in El Dorado. Mr. Morgan and our subject raised the first company of soldiers for the Confederate army from Union County, and Mr. Morgan went out as captain of the same. Mr. Matthews remained, at the desire of all, to close the business and control their slaves. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company I, Nineteenth Arkansas Infantry, and was elected captain on organization. He was at Fort Pillow, then at Farmington, where he was so sick that he was carried off the field and taken to a hospital in Mississippi. At the reorganization of the command he was reported dead and his office was filled. On his return he was assigned to the quartermaster department, and at the organization of the Trans-Mississippi, Department, served in that for some time. In 1864 he went to Texas in charge of cattle, and remained in that State until the surrender. On his return he found his wife about to harvest twenty acres of wheat, and this he ground in his own mill, selling all the surplus for 10 cents a pound. At this time he took a great interest in free schools, was one of the first directors of El Dorado, and did much to advance the cause. In 1883 he started his present livery and feed stable which is now well stocked and supplied. Mr. Matthews was married in March, 1852, to Miss Sarah E. Wright, daughter of Maj. Ed W. Wright [see sketch]. Mrs. Matthews was a noble woman, a true Christian, and worked faithfully and energetically in all church matters. She died on December 10, 1884, at Camden, where she was buried. To this union were born eight children, five of whom are living at the present time: Martha W. (wife of E. L. Greening, a cotton buyer at Camden), Loderick (a commercial merchant), Edward W. (married and resides in Texas, is a drummer), Henry C. (deceased), Benjamin Rush (deceased), George Wright (died at the age of fourteen years), Catherine Crowell (wife of Lord Harleston, and resides on the old farm). Mr. Harleston is a postal clerk on the Cotton Belt, and Hugh D. resides at home. Mr. Matthews joined the Baptist Church in 1833, and has held membership ever since. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1842, and is now a member of El Dorado Lodge No. 13, in which he has held the office of secretary. He is also a member of Chapter No. 35. He was elected mayor of El Dorado in April, 1890, enforces the laws and makes a good officer. He is a worthy citizen and a much esteemed one.

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This family biography is one of 84 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Union County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Union County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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