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the same business was followed; in 1862 the father
bought a tract of land near Ellettsville where he
opened a quarry on his own account. The subject of
this sketch in common with thousands of other young
men of the country felt impelled to go into the Union
army, and accordingly he enlisted in the Fifteenth
Indiana Infantry. After being mustered out in the
spring of 1864 he took service with his father in the
stone business; but in the fall of the same year he
found service again in the army, this time in the
Quartermaster's Department with headquarters at
Nashville, Tennessee. Upon returning home he took
a short course in Wabash College, including book-
keeping. Not long afterwards he engaged in the stone
business with his father, and upon the death of the
latter there was formed the firm of Matthews Broth-
ers. In 1872 he united with the Ellettsville Baptist
church and was made a deacon in that body in 1875.
Upon moving to Bedford he at once became identified
with the Baptist church there, and has been an active
member in both work and gifts; he gave over $5,000
towards the new building, and was equally generous
in his gifts for other objects. He became a life mem-
ber of all the national denominational societies, and
was a liberal contributor to the funds of Franklin
College; and in his benevolence his wife was his
cheerful supporter. He was a member of the Board
of Directors of Franklin College at the time of his
death; he was elected State Senator from his district
in 1892 and served with ability and fidelity. The stone
business in which he was engaged grew to large pro-
Page 235
portions; the "Bedford stone" found a market from
Massachusetts to Minnesota. In later years, owing in
part to his strenuous life, he was in poor health. After
a lingering illness he died on June 29, 1907, at his
home in Bedford. His children are all respected and
prosperous, and his wife, now moved to Franklin, is
a recognized leader in the benevolent and missionary
work being done by the Baptist women of Indiana.
SAND CREEK ASSOCIATION--(COUNTIES OF JENNINGS,
DECATUR, RIPLEY AND BARTHOLOMEW).
This Association was constituted in 1843--some
records name 1842--with Elder William T. Stott
moderator and Elder John Vawter clerk. Neither of
these ministers belonged to churches in the Associa-
tion, but some of the constituent churches came out
of the Madison Association to which they both be-
longed, and so it was not unnatural that they should
be chosen. Eight churches went into the organiza-
tion, and three ministers--Elders William Vawter,
Benjamin Tucker and Chesley Woodward. The As-
sociation early put itself on record as favorable to
missions in a resolution offered by the Rev. John Stott;
the body is composed mostly of country churches,
North Vernon being the only city in the territory;
and this church was first begun in the country four
miles northeast of North Vernon, then it was moved
to a location two and a half miles northeast, and dur-
ing all the time it was located in the country it was
called Zoar. The oldest church in the body was
Geneva (Queensville), organized in 1824; it has now
