WILLIAM FRANK (Sharp) MATTHEWS
April 15, 1900 - March 31, 1972
William (Sharp) was married briefly to Catherine Elizabeth Agnew (born November 27, 1902 in Yates Center, KS and died in Smithville, MO on March 27, 1986 ). They had two children.
Found by Jan McCormack, in her mother’s belongings after she passed
Dad's Social Security No., according to a postcard to Mother, in 1938, is 652-10-2775. He served in the Army the first enlistment, from Aug. 29, 1916 until Jan. 21, 1920. He enlisted at Jefferson Barracks, MO.
He was a bugler with Company F, 52nd Infantry and 11th Infantry. He sailed to France on July 16, 1918 and served in Meuse-Argonne; Gerardmer. He was discharged Jan 21, 1920.
He reenlisted Dec 9, 1924 at Vancouver Barracks, WA and served with the 59th Coast Guard Artillery in the Personnel Section and was discharged June 27, 1927. Service number, R-741619.
Found by Jan McCormack, in her mother’s belongings after she passed
Dad's Social Security No., according to a postcard to Mother, in 1938, is 652-10-2775. He served in the Army the first enlistment, from Aug. 29, 1916 until Jan. 21, 1920. He enlisted at Jefferson Barracks, MO.
He was a bugler with Company F, 52nd Infantry and 11th Infantry. He sailed to France on July 16, 1918 and served in Meuse-Argonne; Gerardmer. He was discharged Jan 21, 1920.
He reenlisted Dec 9, 1924 at Vancouver Barracks, WA and served with the 59th Coast Guard Artillery in the Personnel Section and was discharged June 27, 1927. Service number, R-741619.
William Frank Matthews – His elusive childhood
I've been so intrigued about his early life that I've spent countless hours in research hoping to pull together glimpses of William Frank MATTHEWS' early childhood for our family history. As a youth growing up in two households in the early 1900s, it may have been more intimidating for him than we've realized. The truth is so elusive that I can only give you clues to contemplate. I've heard him referred to as “Sharp” or “Bill.”
Sharp
1898 – 1972
Sharp began visiting the MATTHEWS family in the early 1900s; perhaps sometime after Huston married Nannie FARRIS in 1904. He may have moved in with the MATTHEWS on a permanent basis; or lived back and forth between the two households for a while.
We do know that Sharp, age twelve; was in the John Huston MATTHEWS household by 1910. This, I believe; affirms him as a son of JHM. But who is his birth mother? And why was he called “Sharp”?
Roy MATTHEWS said he remembered that they always enjoyed Sharp's visits with the family. [Of course that had to be prior to Nannie's death in 1912.]
Sharp's niece, Mary COATS said he went by the name of MARTIN in his youth. At some point in time, he assumed the MATTHEWS surname. (The only two marriage licenses found for Huston are for VENABLE and FARRIS.)
Family stories that Mary heard most of her life were that Sharp and Ethel WATERS were brother and sister; children of Mary's grandfather Huston MATTHEWS and Eliza “Doad” WATERS. Ethel and Sharp were born during the years Huston was a widower. Mary says Sharp lived in Ethridge with MARTINS who were related to the Waters.
In their latter years together; Sharp and Geneva MATTHEWS lived near Virgie PERRY [Mary's mother] in Lawrenceburg TN. Mary and Pat COATS would stop by to visit the MATTHEWS; and occasionally take them a meal.
William Frank MATTHEWS died March 31, 1972 shortly before his 72nd (or 74th?) birthday. Elmer and John MARTIN were listed as his surviving half-brothers. Roy and Floyd MATTHEWS were not. Sharp and Geneva are buried in the Masonic John Lay Cemetery in Ethridge TN.
Some military documents show that Sharp listed his birth date as April 15, 1898; and his mother as Callie DAY. She was listed in his obituary; which has his birth year as 1900.
Callie Day
February 16, 1878 – September 16, 1954
Information abstracted from census records and marriage certificates reveal some events of her life.
Caldoney DAY married W.A. THOMAS in Lawrence Co. TN, Oct. 9, 1899. A witness was John FLEISHMAN from Loretto. That may indicate that Callie also lived in the Loretto area. She and W.A. THOMAS had one son Earnest THOMAS; born October 2, 1905 (SS Death Index has 1900). He died January 22, 1971 and was buried in the Mars Hill Cemetery in Lawrenceburg. His wife's name was Annie Mae WINFRED.
A marriage license for Callie DESON and Alfred D. MARTIN [1884-1963] was issued on March 22, 1908, in Lawrenceburg. Her names are confusing; perhaps she married again before marrying Mr. MARTIN? Although no other marriage record was located for her; this is indeed, our girl. Alfred and Callie had three sons; Johnnie Amos, born May 1909 and son Ben MARTIN, born Dec. 1912. (PFC MARTIN; 17th Inf. Div., died May 7, 1945.) He is buried with his parents in the John Lay Cemetery in Ethridge TN. Callie's son Elmer MARTIN was born about 1910. He died in 1979.
In the 1910 Census for Ethridge, Callie stated that she had five children, but only three still living. Unless she was counting her unborn child; there were only two children in her household. Her third child is most likely William Frank who was documented in the MATTHEWS household that year.
In 1920 in Ethridge, Callie was 40 years old. Alfred was 34 and a sawmill laborer.
Callie's obituary was printed in the Democrat Union Newspaper September 24, 1954. The transcript is in Book 7, page 232, at the Lawrence County TN Archives and reads as follows:
“Mrs. Alfred Martin died September 16, 1954 at her home in Ethridge, age 76. Funeral services were held Saturday at 2:00pm in the Ethridge Church of Christ with Stanley Brewer, Minister. North Funeral Home officiated with burial in John Lay Cemetery. Callie Day Martin was a native of this county. Survived by husband Alfred Martin, three sons: “Earn” Thomas of Hohenwald TN, a son by a former marriage; and John Martin and Elmer Martin. Also survived by two sisters: Mrs. Lizzie Henson and Mrs. Mandy Tease, and six grandchildren.”
Research By Jane Harlan
27 February 2010
I've been so intrigued about his early life that I've spent countless hours in research hoping to pull together glimpses of William Frank MATTHEWS' early childhood for our family history. As a youth growing up in two households in the early 1900s, it may have been more intimidating for him than we've realized. The truth is so elusive that I can only give you clues to contemplate. I've heard him referred to as “Sharp” or “Bill.”
Sharp
1898 – 1972
Sharp began visiting the MATTHEWS family in the early 1900s; perhaps sometime after Huston married Nannie FARRIS in 1904. He may have moved in with the MATTHEWS on a permanent basis; or lived back and forth between the two households for a while.
We do know that Sharp, age twelve; was in the John Huston MATTHEWS household by 1910. This, I believe; affirms him as a son of JHM. But who is his birth mother? And why was he called “Sharp”?
Roy MATTHEWS said he remembered that they always enjoyed Sharp's visits with the family. [Of course that had to be prior to Nannie's death in 1912.]
Sharp's niece, Mary COATS said he went by the name of MARTIN in his youth. At some point in time, he assumed the MATTHEWS surname. (The only two marriage licenses found for Huston are for VENABLE and FARRIS.)
Family stories that Mary heard most of her life were that Sharp and Ethel WATERS were brother and sister; children of Mary's grandfather Huston MATTHEWS and Eliza “Doad” WATERS. Ethel and Sharp were born during the years Huston was a widower. Mary says Sharp lived in Ethridge with MARTINS who were related to the Waters.
In their latter years together; Sharp and Geneva MATTHEWS lived near Virgie PERRY [Mary's mother] in Lawrenceburg TN. Mary and Pat COATS would stop by to visit the MATTHEWS; and occasionally take them a meal.
William Frank MATTHEWS died March 31, 1972 shortly before his 72nd (or 74th?) birthday. Elmer and John MARTIN were listed as his surviving half-brothers. Roy and Floyd MATTHEWS were not. Sharp and Geneva are buried in the Masonic John Lay Cemetery in Ethridge TN.
Some military documents show that Sharp listed his birth date as April 15, 1898; and his mother as Callie DAY. She was listed in his obituary; which has his birth year as 1900.
Callie Day
February 16, 1878 – September 16, 1954
Information abstracted from census records and marriage certificates reveal some events of her life.
Caldoney DAY married W.A. THOMAS in Lawrence Co. TN, Oct. 9, 1899. A witness was John FLEISHMAN from Loretto. That may indicate that Callie also lived in the Loretto area. She and W.A. THOMAS had one son Earnest THOMAS; born October 2, 1905 (SS Death Index has 1900). He died January 22, 1971 and was buried in the Mars Hill Cemetery in Lawrenceburg. His wife's name was Annie Mae WINFRED.
A marriage license for Callie DESON and Alfred D. MARTIN [1884-1963] was issued on March 22, 1908, in Lawrenceburg. Her names are confusing; perhaps she married again before marrying Mr. MARTIN? Although no other marriage record was located for her; this is indeed, our girl. Alfred and Callie had three sons; Johnnie Amos, born May 1909 and son Ben MARTIN, born Dec. 1912. (PFC MARTIN; 17th Inf. Div., died May 7, 1945.) He is buried with his parents in the John Lay Cemetery in Ethridge TN. Callie's son Elmer MARTIN was born about 1910. He died in 1979.
In the 1910 Census for Ethridge, Callie stated that she had five children, but only three still living. Unless she was counting her unborn child; there were only two children in her household. Her third child is most likely William Frank who was documented in the MATTHEWS household that year.
In 1920 in Ethridge, Callie was 40 years old. Alfred was 34 and a sawmill laborer.
Callie's obituary was printed in the Democrat Union Newspaper September 24, 1954. The transcript is in Book 7, page 232, at the Lawrence County TN Archives and reads as follows:
“Mrs. Alfred Martin died September 16, 1954 at her home in Ethridge, age 76. Funeral services were held Saturday at 2:00pm in the Ethridge Church of Christ with Stanley Brewer, Minister. North Funeral Home officiated with burial in John Lay Cemetery. Callie Day Martin was a native of this county. Survived by husband Alfred Martin, three sons: “Earn” Thomas of Hohenwald TN, a son by a former marriage; and John Martin and Elmer Martin. Also survived by two sisters: Mrs. Lizzie Henson and Mrs. Mandy Tease, and six grandchildren.”
Research By Jane Harlan
27 February 2010
