William Henry Matthews

Background

Matthews, William Henry was born on July 23, 1868 in McHenry, Illinois, United States. Son of Joseph Jay and Cornelia Maria (Talbot) Matthews.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Lake Forest (Illinois) College, 1892, Master of Arts, 1894, Bachelor of Laws, Lake Forest University, 1894. Student Columbia University Law School. Graduate McCormick Theological Seminary, 1898.

Graduate work, University of Chicago and Chicago Theological Seminary.

Doctor of Divinity, Jamestown (North Dakota) College, 1912, Fargo College, 1912.

Career

Ordained Presbyterian ministry, 1898. Pastor Marengo, Illinois, 1898-1901, Central Church, Chicago, 1901-1906, First Church, Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1907-1917, Greenwich Church, New York City, 1918-1922. General secretary American Tract Society since 1922-1944.

Now General Secretary Emeritus.

Admitted to Illinois bar, 1894. Built churches at Marengo, Chicago and Grand Forks.

Exchange preacher, London, England, three summers, on Carnegie Church Peace Union Foundation. Chairman Committee on Publication and Sabbath School Work, General Assembly, 1912.

Appointed by General Assembly to attend Pan-Presbyterian Council, Aberdeen, Scotland, 1913.

Made special visit to Bedford and Elstow, England, summer, 1927, to secure material for celebration of John Bunyan Tercentenary by Evangelical churches in the United States in 1928. Contributor to many church periodicals on life, and works of John Bunyan, the place of Christian literature in modern life, and home mission work in the northwest. Recorded Pilgrims’ Progress as a talking book for the blind, 1935.

Achievements

• William Henry Matthews has been listed as a noteworthy clergyman. by Marquis Who's Who.

Connections

Married Eva Chandler, July 9, 1895. Children: Paul Chandler, Ruth Elizabeth (Mistress Carl J. A. Olsen), William Henry, Edward Talbot, Eva Standish (Mistress Allen H. Seed, Junior.

Father:

Joseph Jay Matthews

Mother:

Cornelia Maria (Talbot) Matthews

Spouse:

Eva Chandler

child:

Ruth Elizabeth Matthews (Mistress Carl J. A. Olsen)

child:

Paul Chandler Matthews

child:

Eva Standish (Mistress Allen H. Seed Matthews

child:

Edward Talbot Matthews

child:

Junior Matthews

child:

William Henry Matthews