http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c84q811w No online items Isaac Newton Mathews papers Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Manuscripts Department The Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, California 91108 Phone: (626) 405-2191 Email: reference@huntington.org URL: http://www.huntington.org 2017 The Huntington Library. All rights reserved. Isaac Newton Mathews papers mssmathews 1
Descriptive Summary Title: Isaac Newton Mathews papers Dates: after 1841-1865 Collection Number: mssmathews Creator OR Collector: Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923 Extent: 108 items in 3 boxes Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, California 91108 Phone: (626) 405-2191 Email: reference@huntington.org URL: http://www.huntington.org Abstract: The correspondence between Isaac Newton Mathews and various family members in Indiana and Ohio; chiefly about the American Civil War. Also includes copies of poems and several essays. Language of Material: The records are in English. Access Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services. Publication Rights The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Isaac Newton Mathews papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California. Acquisition Information Gift of Mary Jean Odano, April 2016. Biographical Note Isaac Newton Mathews was a farmer from White County, Indiana and a Civil War soldier. The Mathews (or Matthews) family descended from Ezekiel and Letitia (Meredith) Mathews, who came to America from Ireland in the early 1800s, to settle in Western Pennsylvania. John Mathews (1798-1881), Isaac N. Mathews' father was born in Allegheny County. In the 1830s, he moved to Pike County, Ohio; there in 1833 he married Rhuama Chenoweth Mathews (1812-1873). They soon moved to Northwestern Indiana and in the fall of 1833 settled in Tippecanoe County. Isaac N. Mathews was born in Laramie Township of Tippecanoe County December 26, 1841. In 1845, John Mathews purchased forty acres of public land in White County; by the time of his death, he owned 360 acres of land. Isaac Newton Mathews attended various schools and farmed. On July 25, 1863, he enlisted in the 116th Regiment of Indiana Infantry. The regiment was mustered for 6 months' service in August 1863. Until September 16, the men guarded the U.S. Arsenal in Dearborn, Michigan, and then were ordered to Nicholasville, Kentucky. They marched to Cumberland Gap and then to Morristown, arriving there at the beginning of October, and then on to Greenville where they were posted on duty. In November and December 1863, the regiment was ordered to Clinch River, and stationed on duty at Tazewell, Tennessee until mustered out in early March. The regiment was attached to the Department of the Ohio. He then returned home to resume farming. In 1865, he married Margaret Keziah Lister (1844-1909), daughter of James W. and Rhoda (Mowbray) Lister of Carroll County. They had nine children. Mathews was a prominent Republican; he belonged to the Christian Church at Spring Creek and was a member of the Post No. 171 of the Grand Army of the Republic at Brookston. Arrangement The collection is arranged chronologically. Scope and Content This collection contains correspondence with Isaac Newton Mathews' parents, siblings, many cousins, aunts, uncles, and his future wife and her family, including friends and relatives who served in other Indiana regiments; correspondents include brother Ezekiel Mathews, sister Elizabeth Price and her husband James K. Price, John Harness Alkire, Elza W. Lister, Lucinda Chenoweth Boyles (1838-1918), and others. The letters discuss the life of an extended family of Indiana farmers; local news; schools; prayer meetings; festival; celebrations, and other diversions (which included visits to photographers); Isaac Newton Mathews papers mssmathews 2
courtship; gossip, etc.; Civil War in Indiana, including local politics and the Copperhead movement; and war news (including an account of execution of Union prisoners of war, encounters with Unionists, Lincoln's assassination, etc.) This collection also includes Mathews' school compositions titled "Washington" and "Slavery," poems composed by him and a copy of the popular ballad "The Song of Creation" (William H. Bozarth, 1818), which was often attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Many of the items have damage to them and there is loss of text. Personal Names Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923 Corporate Names United States. Army. Indiana Infantry Regiment, 116th (1863-1864) Subjects Farmers -- Indiana -- Archives Schools -- Indiana -- History -- Sources Women -- Indiana -- Correspondence Geographic Areas Indiana -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources Ohio -- History -- 19th century -- Sources United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental histories -- Indiana -- Sources Genre Essays -- United States -- 19th century Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century Box 1 after 1841-1863, August Folder 1 Bozarth, William H. The Song of Creation: poem [after 1841] Probably in the hand of Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923. Folder 2 Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923. Farming: essay (1860, Oct. 4) Transcript only. "Battle Ground City." Folder 3 Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923. Washington: essay (1860, Nov. 2) On verso: Slavery: essay Folder 4 Scowden, Nancy Jane. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1861, Mar. 2) Folder 5 Jackson, A. J. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1861, Mar. 17) Folder 6 [Scowden, Nancy Jane?]. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1861, July 24) Folder 7 McCoy, Quinton. Letter to "Dear Brother" (1861, Nov. 26) Lebanon, Ky. Folder 8 Envelope to "Newton Mathews" ([1861], Dec. 3) White County, Ind. Folder 9 Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923. Letter to "Much Respected Cousin" (1862, Jan. 17) Grand Junction, Tenn. Folder 10 [Scoot?], Eliza Jane. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1862, Mar. 31) Isaac Newton Mathews papers mssmathews 3
after 1841-1863, August Folder 11 Carr, Joseph H. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1862, June 14) Memphis, Tenn. Folder 12 Barnes, Albert H. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1862, June 20) Pittsburgh, Ind. Folder 13 Lister, William. Letter to "Dear uncle, aunt, and cousins" (1862, July 4) Camp near Reynolds Station, Tenn. Folder 14 [Unidentified author]. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1862, July 14) Folder 15 Carr, Joseph H. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1862, July 31) Helena, Ark. Folder 16 Boyles, Lucinda. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1862, Oct. 23) Culver Station. Folder 17 Scowden, Nancy Jane. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [1862, Oct.] Folder 18 Parker, Rebecca A. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1862, Nov. 24) Includes drawings. Folder 19 Boyles, G. W. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1862, Dec. 8) Folder 20 Taylor, Joseph. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1862, Dec. 10) Helena, Ark. Folder 21 Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923. Dear Sister: poem (1862) Brookston, Ind. On verso: "Song Ballad 1862." Folder 22 Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923. Letter to John Mathews, Rhuama Mathews, Elizabeth Price, and Ellon Buntin [before 1863] Folder 23 Harrison, James D. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [1863, Jan.] Folder 24 Scowden, Nancy Jane. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, Feb. 9) Folder 25 Davis, J. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 and Ezekiel Mathews (1863, Mar. 4) Folder 26 Parker, Cyrus. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, Mar. 19) Folder 27 Hurtt, Thomas B. Letter to Margaret Lister Mathews (1863, Mar. 31 Murfreesboro, Tenn. Folder 28 Scowden, Elizabeth. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, Mar. 31-Apr. 1) Folder 29 Scowden, Nancy Jane. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, May 12) Folder 30 Scowden, Elizabeth. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, May 20) Folder 31 Boyles, G. W. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, Apr. 8) Folder 32 Boyles, G. W. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, May 23) Isaac Newton Mathews papers mssmathews 4
after 1841-1863, August Folder 33 Harrison, John. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, July 27) Indianapolis, Ind. Folder 34 Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923. Letter to Elizabeth Price (1863, Aug. 30) Dearborn Arsenal, Mich. Folder 35 Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923. Letter to "Dear Parents, brother and sister" (1863, Aug. 30) Dearborn Arsenal, Mich. Box 2 1863, September - before 1865 Folder 1 Price, James K. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, Sep. 6) Hickory Ridge, Ind. Folder 2 [Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923.] Letter to John Mathews and Rhuama Mathews ([1863], Sep. 13) U.S. Arsenal, Dearborn, Mich. Folder 3 Lister, E. W. Letter to "Dear Sister" (1863, Sep. 15) U.S. Arsenal, Mich. Folder 4 Lister, E. W. Letter to "Dear Sister" (1863, Sep. 22) Camp near Nicholasville, Ky. Folder 5 Scowden, Elizabeth. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, Oct. 13) Folder 6 Mathews, John and Rhuama Mathews. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, Oct. 15) Folder 7 [Unidentified author]. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, Oct. 20) Folder 8 Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923. Letter to "Dear Parents, sisters and brother" (1863, Oct. 30) Camp near Greenville, Tenn. Folder 9 Mathews, Ezekiel. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, Nov. 19) Following: letter by Rhuama Mathews and Elizabeth Price to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1863, Nov. 21) Folder 10 Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923. Letter to Ezekiel Mathews (1863, Dec. 24) Tazewell, Tenn. Folder 11 Mahoy, G. H. Letter to [Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923] [1863] Folder 12 Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923. Letter to John Mathews and Rhuama Mathews [1863] Eight miles from Tazewell, Tenn. Folder 13 "Mother and family." Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [1863] Folder 14 Price, Elizabeth and Rhuama Mathews. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [1863] Folder 15 Mathews, Isaac Newton, 1841-1923. Letter to "Father and Mother and family" (1864, Jan. 16) Isaac Newton Mathews papers mssmathews 5
1863, September - before 1865 Folder 16 [Mathews, Ezekiel?]. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1864, Feb. 21) Folder 17 Mathews, Ezekiel. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1864, Mar. 16) Folder 18 Hurtt, Thomas B. Letter to Margaret Lister Mathews (1864, Apr. 17) Chattanooga, Tenn. Folder 19 [Hurtt, Thomas B.?] Letter to Margaret Lister Mathews (1864, May 31) Algers, La. Folder 20 Taylor, Joseph. Letter to [John Mathews?] (1864, Sep. 3) Prestonsburg, Ky. Folder 21 Mowbray, Nannie B. Letter to Margaret Lister Mathews (1864, Sep. 18) Roxabell, Ohio. Folder 22 Taylor, Joseph. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1864, Sep. 24) Prestonsburg, Ky. Folder 23 Scowden, Alexander. Letter to John Mathews (1864, Oct. 4) Following: letter by "Nancy" to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1864, Oct. 4). Folder 24 Taylor, Joseph. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 (1864, Oct. 28) Catlettsburg, Ky. Folder 25 Scowden, Nancy J. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [1864] Folder 26 Bellz, Marion and John Alkire. Letter to [unidentified addressee] [before 1865] Folder 27 Carr, Joseph H. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [before 1865] Folder 28 Davis, Elizabeth Jane. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [before 1865] Folder 29 Lister, William? Letter to Margaret Lister Mathews [before 1865] Folder 30 Harrison, James D. Letter to [Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923] [before 1865] Folder 31 Lister, E. W. Letter to Margaret Lister Mathews [before 1865] Folder 32 McCoy?, John H. Letter to [Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923] [before 1865] Folder 33 McCoy, Quinton. Letter to [unidentified addressee] [before 1865] Folder 34 McCoy, Quinton. Letter to "Cousin" [before 1865] Folder 35 McCoy, Quinton. Letter to [unidentified addressee] [before 1865] Folder 36 Price, James R. Letter to [Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923] [before 1865] Folder 37 Sayre, John. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [before 1865] Incomplete? Folder 38 Scowden, Nancy J. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [before 1865] Folder 39 Scowden, Nancy J. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [before 1865] Isaac Newton Mathews papers mssmathews 6
1863, September - before 1865 Folder 40 Scowden, Nancy J. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [before 1865] Folder 41 Taylor, Joseph. Letter to [Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923] [before 1865] Folder 42 Sigars, Matilda M. Letter to Margaret Lister Mathews [before 1865] Box 3 1865 - undated Folder 1 Mowbray, Nannie B. Letter to Margaret Lister Mathews (1865, Mar. 26) New Holland, Ohio. Folder 2 Hurtt, Thomas B. Letter to [Margaret Lister Mathews?] [1865, After Apr. 26] Folder 3 Sigars, Matilda M. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 and Margaret Lister Mathews (1865, May 7) Folder 4 Mowbray, Nannie B. Letter to Margaret Lister Mathews (1865, May 31) Roxabell, Ohio. Folder 5 Mathews, Margaret Lister. Letter to Matilda M. Sigars (1865, June 18) Fountain Green, Ill. Folder 6 M----, Jenie? Letter to Elizabeth Scowden (1865, June 27) Folder 7 Mowbray, Nannie B. Letter to Margaret Lister Mathews [1865, July] Folder 8 Mowbray, Nannie B. Letter to Margaret Lister Mathews [1865] Folder 9 Boyles, Lucinda. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Tippecanoe, Ind. Folder 10 Boyles, Lucinda. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 11 Buntin, Eleanor. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 12 Davis, Elizabeth Jane. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 13 Dazey, James H. H. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Attica, Ind. Folder 14 Dazey, James H. H. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Attica, Ind. Folder 15 Harrison, John J. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Includes drawings. Folder 16 Lister, E. J. Letter to "Dear Cousin" [undated] Folder 17 Lister, Elizabeth? Letter to [unidentified addressee] [undated] Folder 18 McCoy, Wilson. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 19 Moore(?), Nan. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 20 Parker, Cyrus. Letter to [unidentified addressee] [undated] Isaac Newton Mathews papers mssmathews 7
1865 - undated Folder 21 Parker, Cyrus. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 22 Parker, Rebecca A. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 23 Parker, Rebecca A. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 24 Price, Elizabeth? Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 25 Scowden, Elizabeth. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 26 Scowden, Nancy J. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 27 [Taylor, Joseph?] Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 28 Vanscoy, Rhuamah. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] Folder 29 Folder 30 Folder 31 [unidentified author]. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] [unidentified author]. Letter to Isaac Newton Mathews, 1841-1923 [undated] [unidentified author]. Letter to "Betsey" [undated] Isaac Newton Mathews papers mssmathews 8