Henry Mathews (politician)

Henry M. Mathews

Henry Mason Mathews (born March 29, 1834 in Frankford , Greenbrier County , Virginia , †  April 28, 1884 in Lewisburg , West Virginia ) was an American politician and from 1877 to 1881 the 5th governor of the state of West Virginia.

Early years and political advancement

Born in what is now West Virginia, Henry Mathews attended the University of Virginia until 1856 . After studying law and being admitted to the bar in 1857, he opened a law firm in Lewisburg. He has also taught language and literature at Allegheny College , Blue Sulfur Springs . During the Civil War he fought in the Confederation Army , where he made it to major.

After the war he returned to work as a lawyer. In the meantime, his home region had separated from Virginia and established as a new state under the name West Virginia. Mathews was elected to the West Virginia Senate in 1865 , but could not take office because former Confederate supporters were prohibited from holding public office at the time. In addition, he had refused the required oath of loyalty. After the laws regarding the former supporters of the southern states were liberalized around 1870 , Mathews was also able to participate in the political life of his state. In 1872 he was a delegate at a conference on the revision of the West Virginia constitution. Between 1873 and 1877 he was Attorney General of his state. In 1876 he was elected as a Democratic Party candidate for governor of West Virginia.

West Virginia Governor

Henry Mathews' four-year term began on March 4, 1877. During his tenure, he faced economic and social problems. Because West Virginia was a poor state, it was hit particularly hard by the general economic crisis of the time. Citizens became dissatisfied with the social conditions and rising unemployment. As a consequence of this situation there were riots and riots. In July 1877, the governor deployed the National Guard in Martinsburg against striking railway workers. They protested against cuts in salaries. After many members of the National Guard refused to carry out their orders out of sympathy for the workers, the governor asked US President Rutherford B. Hayes for help. This sent federal troops to end the strike by force. Then, in 1880, the Fayette County's coal miners went on strike . The governor reacted again with military force by summoning the National Guard there to end the strike.

Regardless of these events, the governor encouraged immigration to West Virginia; He campaigned for a better infrastructure, whereby the transport routes in particular should be expanded. He also campaigned for the interests of the coal and oil industries. In addition, a nationwide geological survey to explore the mineral resources was commissioned. At the end of his term on March 4, 1881, Mathews became President of the White Sulfur Springs Company . He died in April 1884 at the age of 50. Mathews was married to Lucy Clayton, with whom he had three children.

Web links

• Henry Mathews in the database of the National Governors Association (English)
• The governors of West Virginia (English)
• Henry Mathews in the database of Find a Grave (English)