William Davenport Matthews

William Davenport Matthews
Commissioner Charities and Correction
Chairman Pension Commission

Private

Company F, 2nd Kentucky Regiment
Morgan's Cavalry

Born Jan 11, 1846 in Marshall County, Mississippi

Died April 18, 1930 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

William Matthews married Nannie Denson Conway in LaFayette County, Mississippi on August 4, 1868. 

They were in Atkins, Pope County, Arkansas in 1882, in Dardanelle, Yell County, Arkansas in 1886 and came to Indian Territory in 1900 living in the Wynnewood area at one time. Their children were born from 1869 to 1880 in Mississippi, and from 1882 to 1888 in Arkansas.  A daughter, Mattie Freeman Matthews, married John Horn Cooper in 1908 in Wynnewood.  She died in 1920 in Pauls Valley.   Nannie Maud Matthews, born Oct 18, 1882 in Arkansas may have never been married but may be buried at Oaklawn Cemetery in Wynnewood

In 1913, his daughter, Nannie Maud Matthews applied to the UDC, stating that his current address was Wynnewood.  Another daughter, Mattie T. Cooper applied to the UDC in 1912 giving his address as Davis.   He may have lived south of Wynnewood just in Murray County.

Oklahoma state archives list hims as Private, 3rd Mississippi State Troops.  His granddaughter Margaret Sacra Brewer said he started out in a Mississippi unit, was captured and paroled under promise never to take up arms again.  He then joined General John Hunt Morgan's Cavalry as a Chaplain and never fired another shot. 

A letter to William from a Mr. Cochran in 1915 from Wynnewood indicate that he knew a J.A. McDaniel and was well acquainted with Mr. McDaniel's blacksmith shop on the east side of Wynnewood

William was chairman of theBoard of Pension Commissioners

He became a Methodist minister and lived in both the Pauls Valley and Wynnewood areas

Complied & Contributed by:
Michael Andrew Grissom

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