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History
in a Cotton Boll
John Matthews is the community's namesake. Arriving
in 1827, Matthews bought land from one of Stephen
F. Austin's original colonists and established a plantation.
The 140-slave plantation prospered prior to the Civil War and following
the war, Matthews' freed slaves and those of other nearby former plantations
created a market for goods and services. The community formed around
the former plantation and by 1880 the town had a gin, blacksmith and
general store. The town briefly had a post office in operation from
1895 to 1905. Thereafter it was routed through nearby Eagle
Lake. By 1900 Matthews had a population of 100 with a school and
four businesses in operation. The same population was given for the
next six decades.
Matthews appears on detailed county maps - but no population figures
are available. The two nearest cemeteries to Matthews are the Union
Hill cemetery and the Mt. Zion cemetery - both on county roads within
two miles of town. |
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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