There were 15 Matthews families listed in the Illinois State Census Collection, 1825-1865; specifically the 1830 Morgan Co census. I have attached a jpg image of my transcription to make it easy for those interested. I can Identify a few of them and their relationships. I am sure that most are probably related to some extent. Benjamin on page 29 is a match to my 4th gr grandfather, his brother John is on page 27 and is a match as well. It should be noted that all members of these families had a double t in the spelling of their last name. It appears that the elders of the clan are Andrew on page 35 (between 50-60 yrs) Mary on page 11 (between 50-60 yrs) & Rich'd on page 22 (between 50-60 yrs). No 40-50 yr old head of house appear and there are numerous 30-40 yr old head of house listed. Richard on page 22 has been well documented as the father of the following persons (Richard jr.page 28, Samuel T. page 3, & Cyrus Matthews who doesn't appear. If you have any information on the other lines not listed, please assist in figuring out how they fit together.

Are these Matthews families connected to John B. (Black?) Matthews who was in Pike Co., IL in 1830? He came to the area of Pike County ca 1825 (via Christian Co., KY and White Co., IL) from Rowan Co., NC where a son was born in 1806.

John B. Black (b ca 1776 VA) died 1857 in Schuyler Co., MO where he had gone to live with a daughter, Alvira, who had married Leven Tucker.

According to my research John B Matthews of Pike Co., IL was born in Rockingham Co., VA abt 1780. He had two sons Benjamin Leech Matthews and Robert Matthews. Benjamin L was the father of Asa C Matthews who became the first comptroller of the United States. John B was indeed in Hopkinsville, KY during the 1820 census and was in Pike Co., IL by 1830. He continued to reside in Pike Co., IL until 1850 per the US Federal Census. I believe that John B Matthews name was John Benjmain Matthews but have no hard evedence to that effect. I have been unable to make a connection to this line and the lines who were in Morgan Co., IL during the 1830 Census.

That's apparently my family. Rolland Kaser's genealogy lists a number of other sons for John B., including John, James, Austin and Albert. Plus daughters Clarissa, Nancy, and Alvira. My line is through John, who died young, via John's daughter Alice Adelaide Matthews. Family history says that Alice may've lived for a while with her cousins, the Asa Carrington Matthews family you mentioned.


Rolland felt that John B. Matthews was likely a son of Robert Jr. Has a Matthews descendant of John B. Matthews had a DNA test? I believe that some other Matthews lines descending from Robert Sr. have been tested. It would be nice to confirm Rolland's conjecture - unless someone has already done it by conventional means.

The children listed in Rolland Kaser's genealogy agree with that found in the 1880 History of Pike County: "Capt. B. L. Matthews, the son of John B. and Margaret (Leach) Matthews, was born Dec. 15, 1806, in Rouen (sic) county, N.C. His father was a native of Rockingham county, Va., his mother of North Carolina. She was a daughter of Benj. Leach, who was of Welsh descent. Her ancestors emigrated to North Carolina long before the Revolution, in which they took an active part on the side of the Colonies. Their direct paternity also took part in the war of 1812. The father of John B. Matthews was a native of the county of Tyrone, Ireland, and came to NC in a very early day, where he died. John B. Matthews was among the very earliest settlers in Pike county, having located here in 1825. Crossing Phillips' ferry over the Illinois river, he settled on land in Flint tp., where he engaged in farming. When he arrived many remnants of once powerful Indian tribes yet remained on their favorite hunting-ground. He said that 500 Indians seen in one gang was not an uncommon sight. They brought with them a family of 6 children: Benj. L., who was born in N.C.; Alvira and John, born in Ky., James, Nancy and Robert, born in White County, Ill., where the elder Matthews emigrated about 1818; two more children, Austin and Albert were born to them in this county. All of these are living except John and James. After one year's residence in Flint tp., Mr. M moved to sec. 12, Griggsville tp., where he resided for several years; then to New Salem tp., where he lived two or three years; and then to Perry tp. His wife, Margaret (Leach) Matthews, died on sec. 32, Perry tp., in 1851 or '52. John B. went to Missouri in 1856 and resided with his daughter, Mrs. Alvira Tucker, where he died in 1857."
I assume you know that his son John (your ancestor) was buried on the Bradshaw Farm near Perry, Pike Co., IL? At least I am pretty sure it is he because the only others noted as buried there are Ruth Bradbury Wadsworth (my ancestor) and her infant, as well as two of her grandchildren (children of Cephas & Lucy Bradbury Simmons). Benjamin L. Matthews (brother of John) was in business with Cephas Simmons.
The stone reads: "Sacred to the Memory of John Matthews" and shows that he died 29 Jun 1849 at age 35-4-19. I tried to find this graveyard a couple of years ago, but after walking through a cornfield (with owner's permission) and then thigh-high grass... about a mile in... I couldn't find it.

Thank you. I believe that the 1880 history mentioned may be the source of Rolland's list.

His genealogy includes a photograph, taken in 1968 as part of a 6-volume set of cemetery records of Pike County, of the headstone you mention. When he wrote in 1987 he said, "Since 1968 the small cemetery has been obliterated to permit the site to be farmed and the headstones may have been destroyed." I don't know the source of this information. Maybe he tried to find the site too.

In any event, it seems likely that your ancestor's stone must also have been photographed in 1968.

I believe you source is mistaken about the site having been 'obliterated.' I met with the man whose family has owned the land for years... He said his grandfather often talked about the graves and so he knows they are there. They are on the side of a mountain - NOT farmed! However, he's not been there in years and years so thought they may have fallen over and been buried by debris.
I was there in the middle of a busy farming season so he could not take the time to 'escort' me to the site, but gave directions, as best he could, from a spot on the road where the hike in would be shortest. I just ran out of time before it started getting dark. I do think they are still there -somewhere. I would be VERY interested in a photo of the stones.

Nice to know the stones might still be there. This is in Section 33 of Perry Township, on the old Matthews farm?

Rolland's genealogy included a picture of John Matthews' stone. Since the genealogy was just distributed by photocopying, I can see the outline of the stone, but I cannot read the writing (which he reproduced in the text and which includes a 4-line poem, in addition to the information that was mentioned earlier). In the photograph, the stone appears to be flat on the ground - hence, likely to get buried by debris, as you said. Rolland says "The photograph shown here was taken in June 1968 for use in the 6 volume set of cemetery records of Pike County". However, he does NOT say where the photograph came from. Apparently, the 6-volume set is available from the Pike Co. Historical Society. Maybe someone from that society would know whether the set includes photos, or whether the Society itself has an archive of 1968-era photos of all the old stones in the county.