Edwin P. Matthews

JUDGE EDWIN P. MATTHEWS.

Judge Edwin P. Matthews, whose services on the common pleas bench and connection with the professional interests has been characterized by signal and faithful performance of duty combined with marked ability in the profession which he has chosen as a life work, was born in Dayton, March 22, 1858, a son of Judge Fitch-James and Frances A. (Parrott) Matthews, the latter a daughter of Thomas Parrott, one of Dayton’s prominent pioneer settlers. The father, long distinguished as a member of the Ohio bar, served on the bench of the superior court at Columbus.

Environment, inherited tendency and natural predilection may have constituted forces in Judge Edwin P. Matthews’ choice of a profession. At all events, that the choice was a wise one is indicated in the success which he has achieved and by the prominent position accorded him by the consensus of public opinion. When he had mastered the branches of learning that constituted the public-school curriculum in Dayton in his youthful days, he entered Kenyon College as a member of the class of 1879. When he ceased to pursue his studies along literary lines he began reading law in the office of Warren Munger of Dayton, and since his admission to the bar on the 5th of May, 1880, has given close and unremitting attention to the duties of his profession and has made continuous progress until for some years he has been recognized as a representative in the front rank of his calling.

Following his admission he became a partner of George O. Warrington and on the dissolution of the partnership five years later Mr. Matthews began practicing alone. An excellent presence, earnest manner, marked strength of character and thorough grasp of the law and the ability to correctly apply its principles, make him an effective and successful advocate. He is a vigilant, attentive observer of men and measures and this enables him to correctly determine the motive springs of human conduct and to reason from effect back to cause — always an essential of successful law practice. The great care with which he associates all of the facts bearing upon every case and the clearness with which he presents these before the court, are conspicuous elements in his success.

At different times Mr. Matthews has been called from private practice for the performance of official duties, being first elected to office in 1888 when he was chosen to represent the first ward in the city council. He received endorsement of his work during his first term of two years when in 1890 he was reelected. In 1889 he was president of the council and in this connection proved himself an unbiased parliamentarian while his influence and support were always given for the advancement of measures and interests calculated to promote municipal progress. In 1892 lie was a member of the board of deputy supervisors of elections of Montgomery county and on the ist of May, 1895, was appointed city solicitor, in which position he served for more than ten years or until November, 1905, when he was elected judge of the common pleas court. On the 31st of December of the same year, because of ill health, he resigned his position on the bench, to which he had been elected without opposition. On the 5th of October, 1894, he was appointed United States commissioner for the southern district of Ohio and in that office continued until he resigned on being elected to the bench. On the 20th of February, 1886, he had been admitted to practice in the United States courts. On his retirement from office at the close of the year 1905 he resumed the private practice of law and on the ist of April, 1907, became a member of the firm of Rowe, Shuey, Matthews & James. Aside from professional interests he is known in business circles of this city as president of the Dayton Lighting Company, to which he was elected in February, 1906.

Pleasantly situated in his home life, Judge Matthews was married October 12, 1883, to Miss Edna M. Mills, a daughter of William M. Mills of Dayton. They have five sons and a daughter: William Mills, Margaret A., Fitch-James, Edwin P., Jr., David T. and George T.

Judge Matthews has spent his entire life in this city and his record stands in contradistinction to the old adage that “a prophet is never without honor save in his own country,” for here, where he has been known from his boyhood he has attained prominence in municipal affairs, while his professional ability has made him known even beyond the city of his residence.

As printed in History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.