James Mathews was a member of the United States House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

 from Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

.

Matthews was born at Liberty, Trumbull County, Ohio

Trumbull County, Ohio

As of the census of 2000, there were 225,116 people, 89,020 households, and 61,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 365 people per square mile . There were 95,117 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...

. After studying law he was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1830. He then moved to Coshocton, Ohio

Coshocton, Ohio

Coshocton is a city in and the county seat of Coshocton County, Ohio, United States. The population of the city was 11,682 at the 2000 census. The Walhonding River and the Tuscarawas River meet in Coshocton to form the Muskingum River....

, where he practiced law. From 1832-1837 Mathews was a member of the Ohio State senate.

In 1841 he was elected a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 13th congressional district

Ohio's 13th congressional district

The 13th congressional district of Ohio is represented by Representative Betty Sutton, who defeated Republican Craig L. Foltin on Nov. 7, 2006. It was formerly represented by Sherrod Brown...

 which then covered Knox County, Ohio

Knox County, Ohio

Knox County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 60,921. Its county seat is Mount Vernon and is named for Henry Knox, an officer in the American Revolutionary War who was later the first Secretary of War....

, Coshocton County, Ohio

Coshocton County, Ohio

Coshocton County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 36,901. Its county seat is Coshocton. Its name comes from the Delaware Indian language and has been translated as "union of waters" or "black bear crossing".The Coshocton...

, Holmes County, Ohio

Holmes County, Ohio

As of the census of 2000, there were 38,943 people, 11,337 households, and 9,194 families residing in the county. The population density was 92 people per square mile . There were 12,280 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...

 and Tuscarawas County, Ohio

Tuscarawas County, Ohio

Tuscarawas County is a county located in the eastern part of the state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 92,582. Its county seat is New Philadelphia...

.

In 1842 Mathews was re-elected from Ohio's 16th congressional district

Ohio's 16th congressional district

The 16th congressional district of Ohio is currently represented by Representative Jim Renacci . The district is based in Stark County and the Canton area and also includes Wayne County and most of Medina and Ashland counties.On Nov...

 which only differed from the old 13th in that it did not include Knox County. In 1844 Mathews did not run for re-election.

In 1855 Mathews moved to Knoxville

Knoxville, Iowa

Knoxville is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County. Knoxville is home of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum located next to the famous dirt track known as Knoxville Raceway.-History:The site for...

, Marion County, Iowa

Marion County, Iowa

-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 33,309 in the county, with a population density of . There were 13,914 housing units, of which 12,723 were occupied.-2000 census:...

. From 1857-1859 he served as prosecuting attorney for this county. He also latter served as a professor at Iowa State College (now Iowa State University

Iowa State University

Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...

) and Knoxville's postmaster.

Sources

• Congressional biography
• Parsons, Stanley B., William W. Beach and Dan Hermann. United States Congressional Districts, 1788-1841. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1978.
• Parsons, Stanley B., William W. Beach and Michael J. Dubin. United States Congressional Districts and Data, 1843-1883. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1986.