This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Matthews, Steele, Stearns Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Hi.2ADE/1105 Message Board Post: This book has no cover, and no index, I bought it on Ebay, it just has the insides, but it full of Indiana biographies. I am not researching this family, just thought I would share. I do not know anymore about these families or these surnames. Typed by Lora Radiches: Surnames in this biography are: Matthews, Steele, Stearns, WILLIAM S. MATTHEWS An old and honorably conspicuous family long known in the United States bears the name of Matthews, a nomenclature held in high esteem in Jennings County, Indiana, where it is borne by William Matthews, educator, lawyer and postmaster of North Vernon. The founders of his family in America were early Colonial settlers In Virginia, where they became extensive planters, men of affairs and of social importance. In the early struggles with the Indians and later, in the Revolutionary war, the name of Matthews became prominent in national history, and since then, not only in public life, but in the professions and in business also, each community in which they have settled has been benefited through their loyal public spirit and enterprising activities. During his seven years as postmaster of North Vernon Mr. Matthews has greatly improved the service and has set an example of upright faithful attention to public duty. William S. Matthews, sometimes affectionately tailed “H! ill” by his hosts of friend, was born on a farm in Jennings County, Indiana, and is a son of Lemuel J. and Diana (Steele) Matthews. The family was founded in America by two brothers, John and Will Matthews, who came from England during the Colonial period and settled in the Virginia plantations. One of these brothers, John Matthews, was a soldier of the War of the Revolution, following the close of which he was awarded a tract of bounty land, which lies in what is now the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. His son, William Matthews, resided near Roanoke, Virginia, where he owned a plantation and was one of the prominent men of his locality. His son, Edward Matthews, the grandfather of William S. Matthews, was an adventurous youth who, after securing a good education in his native State of Virginia, traveled into the new country of Kentucky, and then made his way to Indiana, where he settled on a tract of land in Jennings County, married, and became one of the prominent a! nd substantial men of his community. Lemuel J. Matthews was born on his father’s farm in Jennings County, in which community he was reared and educated, and there passed his entire life in farming and raising fine livestock. He was a man of ability and character, and one who had and deserved the respect of his fellow-citizens. He married Miss Diana Steele, of Indiana, and they became the parents of seven children. William S. Matthews attended the public schools of Jennings County, following which he pursued a course in the normal school at Terre Haute and during the next ten years was a teacher in the rural schools of Jennings County. During this period he farmed during the summer months and in his spare time applied himself to the study of law, being admitted to the bar in 1892. Settling at North Vernon, he built up an excellent practice and served a term in the office of county attorney, and in 1922 was appointed postmaster, during the administration of President H! arding. He still carries on an extensive law practice and is justly accounted one of the thorough and reliable attorneys of Jennings County, where he occupies a high place in the profession and is a valued member of the Fourth District Bar Association, the Jennings County Bar Association, the Indian, State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He still occupies the position of postmaster and is giving his fellow-citizens excellent service. He has been active in the Republican Party since 1886, and for eight years was county chairman of the organization. During the World war Mr. Matthews was made chairman of the last four Liberty Loan committees for Jennings County, which he assisted materially in putting over the top. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and his religious connection is with the Methodist Church at North Vernon. Mr. Matthews married. Miss Phoebe E. Stearns, a member of an old and honore! d Indiana family, and they became the parents of three children: Homer L., Fred S. and one who is deceased. Mrs. Matthews is active in the work of the Methodist Church.