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Thomas J. Matthews

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Birth	:	unknown
Death	:	2 Jul 1869 Hamilton, White Pine County, Nevada, USA
Burial	:	Mourners Point Cemetery, Hamilton, White Pine County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.2529984, -115.4850006
Description	:	Note: A cenotaph for Thomas J. Matthews exists at Fairview Cemetery, Earlville,Iowa. See full details below. Sacramento Daily Union, 7/7/1869: Tragedy at White Pine (Nev.) – The Inland Empire of July 3d gives these particulars of a homicide at White Pine: About seven o’clock yesterday evening, a terrible tragedy was enacted in the eastern portion of this city, a short distance beyond the Court House. A man by the name of Thomas Mathews was stabbed in the heart and instantly killed by a young man named Charles Jones, who, after the commission of the deed, escaped on horseback. The affair created... Read More	Note: A cenotaph for Thomas J. Matthews exists at Fairview Cemetery, Earlville,Iowa. See full details below. Sacramento Daily Union, 7/7/1869: Tragedy at White Pine (Nev.) – The Inland Empire of July 3d gives these particulars of a homicide at White Pine: About seven o’clock yesterday evening, a terrible tragedy was enacted in the eastern portion of this city, a short distance beyond the Court House. A man by the name of Thomas Mathews was stabbed in the heart and instantly killed by a young man named Charles Jones, who, after the commission of the deed, escaped on horseback. The affair created intense excitement, and hundreds of men visited the scene of the tragedy. There were many flying rumors in circulation concerning the cause and the manner of the killing, but the following are the facts in the case, so far as we have been able to glean them from reliable eye-witnesses: There were three men present at the time the difficulty occurred, viz.: Thomas Mathews, Charles Jones and Edward Clark with some others camped at the point designated; Jones arrived yesterday from Owen’s river, and being intimately acquainted with Clark and slightly with Mathews, called upon them at their camp. Clark and Jones had been drinking freely and both were considerably intoxicated. Mathews seldom drank intoxicating liquors, and at the time of the fatal affray was duly sober. It seems that there was some bantering about riding a “bucking” horse near at hand, between Mathews and Clark. Clark finally rode the horse for some distance, and, returning, contended in a boisterous manner that Mathews could not perform the same feat. Harsh and threatening language was then indulged in by the parties, and at this juncture Jones became a participator in the general wrangle which ensued. Some of those who witnessed the whole affair from convenient houses assert that Clark and Mathews were in the act of exchanging blows, when Jones rush in and dealt the fatal blow; while others contend that the fight appeared to be between Jones and Clark, and that Mathews was killed in attempting to quell the disturbance. In either event, the killing appears to have been wholly unprovoked by Mathews, who is represented as having been a quiet, industrious and peaceable man. All the witnesses, however, agree in saying that Jones did the cutting. Mathews, on being struck, immediately fell, and before the neighbors nearby could get to his assistance he breathed his last. Jones, meantime, hurriedly saddled a horse and rode off, passing through one of the principal streets of the city, pursued by a few persons on foot, who had witnessed the difficulty. There were hundreds of men on the street at the time, and the cry of “Stop him, stop him!” was heard in all directions; but Jones succeeded in diverting the attention of those who might have captured him by assuming to be himself one of the pursuing party, and in this manner passed out of town, getting a considerable start before he was identified as the fleeing fugitive. Some of the officers and many citizens joined in the chase, going down the main road to Elko. The last we heard of the escaping murderer, he was a mile down the road, closely followed by a citizen riding a gray horse. Deceased was about 38 years of age, and unmarried. He was formerly, so we are told, Sheriff of Mohave county, Arizona, and universally esteemed by all who knew him. His nativity we failed to get,but understand that he has a brother residing in either Gold Hill or Virginia. Coroner Henley was telegraphed for, but answering he could not come down from Treasure Hill before eight o’clock to-day. Justice Hetzel proceeded to hold an inquest on the body, the result of which we did not learn, owing to the lateness of the hour, but presume it was mainly in accordance with the facts narrated above. Clark was arrested immediately after the cutting and placed in the County Jail. We have been told that he is held as an accessory after the fact for assisting Jones to saddle the horse on which he made his escape,but for the truth of this we cannot vouch. Jones is represented as being but 22 years of age, of rather boyish appearance, light complexion, spare made, and of medium height. Weekly Journal Miner (Prescott, AZ), 8/14/1869: Death and Burial of Thos. Mathews. – We have received, from Frank S. Alling, an old Arizonian, now of White Pine, clippings from the Inland Empire, detailing the recent murder at Hamilton, White Pine County, Nevada, of Thos. Mathews, who was formerly Sheriff of Mojave County, this Territory, by Charles Jones, who is represented as being but 22 years of age, rather of boyish appearance, light complexion, spare made and medium hight (sic). Mr. Alling says the funeral cortege that accompanied the remains of Mr. Mathews to the grave was very large. Six Arizonians acted as pall bearers. The ladies decorated the coffin with beautiful wild flowers; the hearse was covered with wreaths of evergreens. Weekly Journal Miner (Prescott, AZ), 4/9/1870: Chas. Jones, who killed Thomas Matthews at Hamilton, Nevada, some time last summer [of 1869], was tried there during February last, and convicted of murder in the second degree. The murdered man was formerly a resident of this Territory. ___________________________________________________________ A cenotaph for Thomas J. Matthews exists at Fairview Cemetery Earlville [Find A Grave Memorial# 107010366] The stone is quite worn, but reads: THOMAS J. MATTHEWS KILLED AT HAMILTON, NEVADA July 2, 1869 AGED 41 YEARS 9 MO'S. & 13 DAYS Links to Mr. Matthews' parents are as per the cenotaph information. The cenotaph memorial was created by Find a Grave contributor Cheryl Locher Moonen [#47601076] Thanks to Find a Grave Contributor Stephen Stewart[#47217191] for his contribution in making this record complete. This cemetery is properly known as the Hamilton Cemetery, serving the city and town of Hamilton. As Sue Silver, who has done extensive research on this cemetery, notes, "'Mourner's Point' appears to be a romanticized name used by the article writers and has not been found in use in the period of time that it was used." According to Silver's research, the tract of land for this cemetery was formally conveyed to the City by J. M. Parker on July 8, and an ordinance for the car and maintenance of this cemetery was enacted August 16, 1869. [see further The Inland Empire (Hamilton),September 21, 1869]

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Thomas J. Matthews's memorial?
Thomas J. Matthews's memorial is located at: Mourners Point Cemetery, Hamilton, White Pine County, USA.
When did Thomas J. Matthews death?
Thomas J. Matthews death on 2 Jul 1869 in Hamilton, White Pine County, Nevada, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Thomas J. Matthews's memorial?
Latitude: 39.2529984
Longitude: -115.4850006

Family Members:

Parent

Thomas Matthews

(1793 - 1855)

Nancy Matthews

(1790 - 1870)

Siblings

SGT John Coleman Matthews

(1822 - 1863)

William Wallace Matthews

(1825 - 1905)

Thomas J. Matthews

(1826 - 1869)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Mourners Point Cemetery
Hamilton, White Pine County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2529984, -115.4850006

2. Treasure City Cemetery
Warm Springs, White Pine County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2330500, -115.4816100

3. Eberhardt Cemetery
Eberhardt, White Pine County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1943400, -115.4801330

4. Duckwater Shoshone Tribal Cemetery
Duckwater, Nye County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9430740, -115.6896950

5. White River Cemetery
White Pine County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9265100, -115.1864200

6. Duckwater Cemetery
Duckwater, Nye County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8760000, -115.6611500

7. Bradshaw Ranch Cemetery
Duckwater, Nye County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8376200, -115.6506700

8. Jewish Cemetery
Eureka, Eureka County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4957000, -115.9565400

9. Saint Brendans Catholic Cemetery
Eureka, Eureka County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5080300, -115.9659500

10. Masonic Cemetery
Eureka, Eureka County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5090900, -115.9678390

11. Schwamb Cemetery
Eureka, Eureka County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5096700, -115.9704900

12. Chinese Cemetery
Eureka, Eureka County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5135600, -115.9679900

13. Eureka County Cemetery
Eureka, Eureka County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5099200, -115.9721100

14. Cedar Hills Cemetery
Eureka, Eureka County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5137000, -115.9716700

15. Saint Bartholomews Memorial Garden
Ely, White Pine County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2492500, -114.8911300

16. Preston Cemetery
Preston, White Pine County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9193880, -115.0602000

17. Ely City Cemetery
Ely, White Pine County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2500000, -114.8779984

18. Ward Cemetery
Ely, White Pine County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0768100, -114.8475600

19. Lund Cemetery
Lund, White Pine County, USA
Coordinate: 38.8467600, -115.0141400

20. Taylor Cemetery
White Pine County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0760002, -114.6884995

21. Blue Eagle Ranch Cemetery
Lockes, Nye County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5635463, -115.5261394

22. Locke Family Cemetery
Lockes, Nye County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5500640, -115.7602010

23. Egan Cemetery
Cherry Creek, White Pine County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8640594, -114.9418564

24. Fort Pearce Cemetery
White Pine County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8640594, -114.9418564