My Genealogy Hound

Gen. Salmon S. Matthews, president of the Pontiac Savings Bank, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, is one of the most prominent and influential business men of Oakland County, where he has spent nearly his entire life. He was born September 5, 1837, in Troy township, Oakland County, Michigan, and is the youngest son of Salmon J. and Susan (Whitney) Matthews, and grandson of Salmon Matthews, who came to Michigan late in life and died in Oakland County.

Salmon J. Matthews, father of our subject, was born in Livingston County, New York, in 1799, and in 1822 moved to Oakland County, Michigan, purchasing a farm of 120 acres in Troy township. He erected good substantial buildings thereon and carried on general fanning very successfully. A public spirited man, he was widely known and universally respected. His death occurred in 1850 and was considered a great loss to the community. He married Susan Whitney, who was born in New York State and was a daughter of Parker Whitney. She died in 1864 in Troy township, having given birth to nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity.

At the age of 15 years Salmon S. Matthews began clerking in the store of Joel P. Toms, at Oxford, and later served in a similar capacity for G. H. Emmons, with whom he formed a partnership two years later. In 1859, our subject disposed of his interest to his partner and the following winter was employed in the store of Isaac Butterfield at Pontiac. In April,1861, he enlisted in the Union service, and in June of the same year was commissioned 1st lieutenant of the 5th Reg., Mich. Vol. Inf., under Col. H. D. Terry, the regiment joining the Army of the Potomac in September. The regiment participated in the battles of Pohick Church, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Strawberry Plains, Boydton, Plank Roads, Hatch’s Run, Petersburg, and Sailor’s Creek. In all of these engagements Lieutenant Matthews took part except those fought when he was incarcerated in Libby Prison or was disabled by wounds or illness. At the battle of the Wilderness he was shot through the right shoulder, and at Gettysburg received a flesh wound in his left leg. June 30, 1862, he was wounded at Glendale by a shot in the left leg below the knee. He lay for two weeks on the battlefield as a prisoner, then was sent to Libby Prison on July 14th. He was shortly after paroled and in September was exchanged. He was in bad physical condition and was sent to Baltimore where he spent some time, he went home but recuperation was slow, as the bone of the leg was badly shattered. In December, 1862, he rejoined his regiment near Bell Plain, Virginia, and assumed command of his company. For his brave conduct during the two succeeding years he was promoted to major, and in 1863 was made lieutenant-colonel. He was mustered out of service December 21, 1864, on surgeon’s certificate of disability, and March 13, 1865, for meritorious conduct in the battles of Glendale and the Wilderness was breveted colonel and brigadier-general. The 5th Regiment sustained the heaviest losses of any Michigan regiment, and the fourth heaviest of any regiments in the United States.

After the war, General Matthews returned to Pontiac, but it was years before he recovered his health sufficiently to engage in business. In June,1866, he was appointed postmaster by President Johnson, and served as such for nine consecutive years. He then engaged in business at Detroit, although he continued to reside at Pontiac, and was then appointed quartermaster general on the staff of Gov. J. J. Bagley for a term of two years, also occupying that office during the administration of Governor Croswell. He resigned when appointed United States marshal for the Eastern District of Michigan by President Hayes, and held that office for a period of nine years. In 1886 he was elected sheriff of Oakland county, in which capacity he served with credit from January 1, 1887, to January 1, 1889, but declined a renomination. His official life was marked by a high order of executive ability, and his sterling honesty gave him the confidence of the people and an extended popularity. His first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. He is recognized as one of the stanch and representative Republicans of the State, and was tendered the nomination of his district for Congress, but declined owing to a pressure of other duties. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention, held in Minneapolis in 1892, which nominated Benjamin Harrison for a second term. He was for a term of six years a member of the Board of Education of Pontiac. Owing to an attack of nervous prostration, he has not actively engaged in business recently, although he is still president of the Pontiac Savings Bank, one of the strongest financial institutions of the city. He is also a large owner of real estate in the city and vicinity.

On May 29, 1877, General Matthews was joined in marriage with Anne E. Hill, a daughter of Harvey N. Hill, of Pontiac, and they have one son, Charles W., who is now preparing for the practice of law. General Matthews was grand commander of the Knights Templar of Michigan, and first commander of the Dick Richardson Post No. 147, G. A. R., which he named in honor of Gen. Isaac B. Richardson. He is also a member of the Michigan Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He, with his wife and son, is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and for two and a half years he served as superintendent of the Sunday-school. Our subject is very fond of travel and spends most of the winter months in that way, having visited nearly all parts of this country.