Thomas MATHEWS was born c1827 in TN. His wife, Mary Jane TODD, born c1844. They had 10 or 11 children. Some descendants are known for four of the sons. The family appears to have resided in Cannon Co., TN in 1872 as records indicate Horace, the fifth child, was born there. The family was residing in Warren Co., TN at the time of the 1880 Census.

The 1880 Census indicates that Thomas MATHEWS was able to both read and write. The name of the census taker was Thomas MATHEWS so this may have been him or possibly another relative.

Most branches of this MATHEWS family spelled MATHEWS with a single "T", however at least one son, Lemual MATTHEWS, spelled the surname with a double "T".

• Lemual A. MATTHEWS, b. c1863; one known son (Everett MATTHEWS)
• Thomas C. MATHEWS, b. c1866
• James N. MATHEWS, b. c1868; two known children (Doyle MATHEWS and Minnie MATHEWS)
• Jesse MATHEWS, b. c1870
• Horace Maynard MATHEWS, b. 1872; m1. Neva THROWER, m2. Lola Elizabeth CHILDRESS,
  m3. Bertie Mae "Dot" CHILDRESS; Seven children, all with third wife.
• John MATHEWS, b. c1875
• Lena MATHEWS, b. c1878
• Zula MATHEWS
• Alfred MATHEWS; one known daughter (Violet MATHEWS)
• Richard MATHEWS
• Calvin MATHEWS (Is he the same person as Thomas C. MATHEWS?)

I have considerable information on the descendants of Horace, and minimal information on the descendants of Lemual, James, and Alfred. I am looking for more information on these families, plus descendants of the others.