JUDGE JAMES H. MATHENY. The best eulogy that can be pronounced regarding the deceased, is a plain statement of the deeds they have done and the character they have formed. We shall, therefore, tell the story of the life of the late Judge Matheny, of Springfield, in simple language and let those who knew him best speak of his personal qualities. He was elected Judge in November, 1873, and held the office continuously until his death. Which took place September 7, 1890. At that time he was the oldest resident of the city, having made it his home for sixty-eight years and he was, therefore, well known to its citizens and to those living round about.

The father of our subject was Charles R. Matheny, a native of Loudoun County, Va., who came to the Northwest Territory in 1803, and is therefore numbered among the very earliest settlers. He located in what is now St. Clair County, Ill., and there married Jemima Ogle, one of the first American children born in that section. Ogle County was named in honor of Jacob Ogle, the father of this lady. Charles Matheny was a member of the Territorial Legislature that met at Kaskaskia, and was also a member during the first session after the State was admitted to the Union, representing St. Clair County. During one of the early sessions of the State Legislature he was Clerk of the House of Representatives. IN May, 1821, he came to Sangamon County, settling on the present site of Springfield, which was not then laid out. He was appointed Clerk of the Circuit Court and of the Sangamon County Court and held both offices until 1835, when he resigned the former. He continued to act as Clerk of the County Court until his death, in 1838, at the age of fifty-three years. He acted as Clerk during the first Circuit Court held in this county. Mrs. Jemima Matheny survived her husband many years, dying in Springfield. She reared a large family, of whom our subject was the sixth in order of birth.

Judge Matheny was born in St. Clair County, October 30, 1818, thirty-five days before the State was admitted to the Union. He was scarcely more than an infant when brought to this county, in which his education was received. When but fourteen years old he was appointed Deputy Postmaster under Edward Mitchell and held the position until the death of his superior. At that time all the mail came from Kaskaskia and was brought by a mounted carrier. There were but one or two mails per month and the arrival of the carrier made a great day for the citizens and a busy one for the postal clerk.

We next find young Matheny serving as deputy in the County Clerk's office under his father, and when the seat of Government was removed to Springfield, he received the appointment of Deputy Clerk of the Supreme Court. His next official station was that of Deputy Circuit Clerk, which position he held until the Constitutional Convention of 1848 to which he was elected the preceding year. When the convention adjourned he again went into the Circuit Clerk's office and continued his work as a deputy until November, 1852, when he was elected Circuit Clerk. He held the office four years, declining to be a candidate for re-election, in order to practice law, which he had been studying. He began his legal work in the spring of 1857 and labored assiduously in his profession until the breaking out of the Rebellion, building up a good practice.

The war record of our subject was a creditable one. He enlisted at the beginning of hostilities and was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Infantry. He served with distinction, displaying much personal courage and ability to command. At Edwards Cross Roads the regiment was cut to pieces and the remnant was consolidated with those of two other regiments which had likewise suffered great loss. When the siege of Vicksburg ended in the capitulation of Gen. Pemberton, Col. Matheny was made Judge Advocate and held military courts until the latter part of 1864, when he resigned, as his command was then consolidated with others.

The rapid promotion of our subject during the late war, is attributed by him to the schooling he received while soldiering for fun in the ranks of the Lowell Phalanx.

Upon returning home Judge Matheny resumed the practice of law, in which he secured a large clientage by reason of his strength as a pleader and his personal popularity. He continued in active practice until he was elected to the judgeship. For a number of years he was interested in real estate to quite an extent. During the palmy days of the Whig party he was an ardent member, his first vote having been cast for William Henry Harrison in 1840. During that campaign, in company with nine other young men, he went to Nashville to hear Henry Clay speak. The round trip took about five weeks and the young men sang glee songs at all their stopping places, camped out at night and did their own cooking. They arrived in Nashville in time to hear Clay's speech and were invited on the platform, where they sang seven songs. When the Whig part went down Judge Matheny cast his fortunes with the American party and later with the Republican party, which was then in its infancy. Becoming dissatisfied with its principles, he joined the Democratic party just before the war began. So great has been his popularity that in two campaigns the Republicans made no nomination for County Judge against him. Last spring he declined to have his name go before the Democratic primaries, and was subsequently endorsed by the Republican County Central Committee as an Independent candidate.

Judge Matheny has been a member of the Masonic order since 1842 and with the exception of the Rev. Francis Springer, was the oldest Mason living in Springfield. He belonged to Springfield Lodge No. 4; Springfield Chapter, NO. 1; Elwood commandery NO. 6, and the Carson Consistory of Chicago, having reached the highest degree possible. He assisted in the initiation of Stephen A. Douglas as a Royal Arch Mason. He became a member of Washington Lodge, No. 2, I.O.O.F., when it was instituted in 1838 or 1839 and after its charger was surrendered he joined the Sangamon Lodge, NO. 5. He was always a prominent Odd Fellow, had filled the various Chairs and represented the lodge several times in the Grand Lodge of Illinois. In the Masonic fraternity he had also an official rank. He was a charter member of Springfield Lodge, No. 158, B.&P.O.E., and but a few days before his death had presided at a meeting of the society. Besides these orders he belonged to Mozart Lodge, No. 106, A.O.U.W. and to Stephenson Post, No. 30, G.A.R. He was one of the most valued and esteemed comrades in the post and one of the most vigorous defenders of the order.

February 11, 1845, in this city, Mr. Matheny was married to Maria L. Lee. The bride was born in Greene County, Ill., in 1827, to Samuel and Mary Lee. Her father died when she was quite young and her mother subsequently married Senator E. D. Baker, removing to Springfield, where out subject made the acquaintance of the daughter. The happy union was blest by the birth of five sons and two daughters, namely: Lee, for many years a clerk in the post office and now engaged in the real estate business; Edward Dow, Deputy County Clerk; Lucy and Norah, both of whom live at home; James H. Jr., an attorney-at-law; Ralph C., a medical student, and Robert, an attorney.

The Old Settlers Association of Sangamon County held its first meeting in October, 1852. Judge Matheny was one of the originators and delivered the oration at the first reunion. For years he was Secretary of the society and had recently been its President. A ready speaker, his addresses were replete with rumor and incident, and he was therefore frequently in demand at gatherings of other organizations, as well as that of the society. A few years ago he delivered the address in behalf of Illinois at the Tri-State Old Settler's Reunion, of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, held at Keokuk, Iowa, and the week before his death delivered addresses before the old settlers at Farmers City and Decatur, and before the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois in Champaign. The first regular Old Settlers Association that ever met is that of Sangamon County, although similar organizations are now known everywhere.

Judge Matheny was a warm friend of both Lincoln and Douglas and was intimately acquainted with Logan, Baker and other men prominent in the early history of the city and State, as well as numbers of those well known at the present time. His funeral was attended by the Governor and other men of note, as well as by prominent business men and those in the lower walks of life who laid aside the implements of their various occupations to show to the world that there was truth in the reputation given Judge Matheny of having more friends than any man in the community. No other testimonial could have indicated as did this, the respect and esteem in which he was held. The various societies of which he had been a member attended the funeral in a body, as well as the surviving members of his old regiment and the courthouse employees, and resolutions expressive of their feelings were passed by each.

It is said by those who knew him long and intimately that in him were combined all the attributes of patriotism, friendship and citizenship, and that when his heart was stilled the country lost a valiant soldier, a sound jurist, and eloquent lawyer and a faithful friend. Although he had received large sums of money for public and private services he did leave a large fortune as he was generous to an extreme and an appeal to his charity never proved unavailing. Although gone from earth.

"The light he leaves behind him
Shines upon the heart of man."