Charles W Matheny (1820 - 1879)

Born 27 Sep 1820 in St. Clair, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 16 Apr 1879 at age 58 in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois, United States

Biography

Birth: Sep. 27, 1820 St. Clair County Illinois, USA Death: Apr. 16, 1879 Sangamon County Illinois, USA

Died at age 59 of diabetes.

Born in St. Clair County, Ill., on September 27, 1820. He was educated in the village schools of Springfield and at an early age entered mercantile life as Clerk in the store of B. C. Webster and Company. His rise was rapid, and after being a member of several partnerships, in 1861 he established the firm of C. W. Matheny & Company, dealers in dry goods and general merchandise, purchasing and occupying the well known Matheny Building, at the southwest corner of Sixth and Adams Streets, Springfield. His partners in this venture were his brothers-in-law, B. C. McQuesten and John Bressmer. In 1866 the firm was dissolved, Mr. McQuesten removing to Kansas, Mr. Matheny retiring from mercantile lines, and Mr. Bressmer continued the business.

Mr. Matheny then engaged successfully in the buying and selling of lands and in large contract work, chiefly in railway construction. With various associates he built large parts of several of the more important railroads in central and eastern Illinois.

He was for many years a Director of the First National Bank of Springfield, and upon the death of his brother, Noah W. Matheny, he became President and devoted himself to the banking business, when his health would permit, until his death, which occurred April 16, 1879.

He was one of the commissioners who established and put in operation the Springfield Water Works System, but otherwise held no public office.

He was married to Margaret Condell, who survived him and died September 25, 1889. His two sons, Charles O. Matheny, of Springfield, Ill., and George H Matheny, of Sarasota, Fla., are still living.

Mr. Matheny was a man of large business interests and accumulated a handsome fortune for those times. He was a man of liberal and charitable spirit and broad business views. He was prominently identified with the First Methodist Church of Springfield.

~Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Sangamon County, Vol. II, Munsell Publishing Company, 1912

Family links: Parents: Charles R. Matheny (1786 - 1839) Jemima Ogle Matheny (1787 - 1858)

Spouse: Margaret Condell Matheny (1821 - 1889)*

Children: Charles O. Matheny (____ - 1918)*

Siblings: Matilda Matheny Keyes (1809 - 1840)* Lucy Matheny Saunders (1811 - 1836)* Lorenzo Dow Matheny (1813 - 1837)* Noah W. Matheny (1815 - 1877)* James Harvey Matheny (1818 - 1890)* Charles W. Matheny (1820 - 1879) Elizabeth A. Matheny (1823 - 1901)* Elijah Cook Matheny (1826 - 1905)* Maria Matheny Whitehurst (1829 - 1908)*

• Calculated relationship

Sources

Findagrave Burial: Oak Ridge Cemetery Springfield Sangamon County Illinois, USA Plot: Block 10, 158

Created by: Tony Cannon Record added: Aug 25, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 41137188 Charles W. Matheny Added by: Tony Cannon

Charles W. Matheny Added by: Tony Cannon

Charles W. Matheny Cemetery Photo Added by: BjJ