Edward S. Matthias
Encyclopedia
Edward Shiloh Matthias was a Republican lawyer from the U. S. State of Ohio
who served the longest term in state history as a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court, more than 38 years.
to Albert Coates and Eleanor P. Harris Matthias. He attended the local schools of Gilboa, and the Crawfis College of Putnam County, Ohio
. He received bachelor's and doctor of laws degrees from Ohio Northern University College of Law. He served during the Spanish-American War
with the Van Wert Company of the 2nd O. U. S. V. I., and was state and national commander of the United Spanish War Veterans
.
Matthias was admitted to the bar in 1895, and was a member of the firm Blachly & Matthias in Van Wert, Ohio
until 1904. He was City Solicitor of Van Wert 1896-1900. He was elected Judge of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas
of the third judicial circuit in 1904, and re-elected in 1910. He was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1914, and re-elected in 1920, 1926, 1932, 1938, 1944 and 1950. Matthias heard more than 30,000 cases as a judge, and wrote more than 1000 opinions as a member of the Supreme Court.
Matthias was a Knight of Pythias
, Mason
and member of B.P.O.E. He married Mary F. Crouch of Van Wert April 23, 1898, and had five children. He was on the Board of Trustees of Ohio Northern University
, and a member of the Broad Street Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio
, and Delta Theta Phi
fraternity.
Edward S. Matthias died November 2, 1953 in an accidental fall at his Columbus home while doing home repairs, and was buried at Greenlawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio
. John H. Lamneck was appointed to the court until the next election, November, 1954. John M. Matthias, Edward's son, won election over Lamneck in 1954 to the remaining two years of his fathers term, and was re-elected in 1956, 1962 and 1968.
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...
who served the longest term in state history as a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court, more than 38 years.
Biography
Edward S. Matthias was born in Gilboa, OhioGilboa, Ohio
Gilboa is a village in Putnam County, Ohio, United States. The population was 184 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Gilboa is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
to Albert Coates and Eleanor P. Harris Matthias. He attended the local schools of Gilboa, and the Crawfis College of Putnam County, Ohio
Putnam County, Ohio
Putnam County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,499. The name is in honor of Israel Putnam, who was a hero in the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War. Its county seat is...
. He received bachelor's and doctor of laws degrees from Ohio Northern University College of Law. He served during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
with the Van Wert Company of the 2nd O. U. S. V. I., and was state and national commander of the United Spanish War Veterans
United Spanish War Veterans
Soon after the Spanish-American War ended, in early 1899, discharged veterans rushed to form fraternal societies. Among these were the Spanish War Veterans, the Spanish-American War Veterans, the Servicemen of the Spanish War, American Veterans of Foreign Service, the Army of the Philippines, the...
.
Matthias was admitted to the bar in 1895, and was a member of the firm Blachly & Matthias in Van Wert, Ohio
Van Wert, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,690 people, 4,556 households, and 2,947 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,803.8 people per square mile . There were 4,927 housing units at an average density of 831.4 per square mile...
until 1904. He was City Solicitor of Van Wert 1896-1900. He was elected Judge of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas
Ohio Courts of Common Pleas
The Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of the state court system of Ohio.The courts of common pleas are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state. They are the only trial courts created by the Ohio Constitution . The duties of the courts are outlined in Article IV, Section...
of the third judicial circuit in 1904, and re-elected in 1910. He was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1914, and re-elected in 1920, 1926, 1932, 1938, 1944 and 1950. Matthias heard more than 30,000 cases as a judge, and wrote more than 1000 opinions as a member of the Supreme Court.
Matthias was a Knight of Pythias
Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
, Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and member of B.P.O.E. He married Mary F. Crouch of Van Wert April 23, 1898, and had five children. He was on the Board of Trustees of Ohio Northern University
Ohio Northern University
Ohio Northern University is a private, United Methodist Church-affiliated university located in the United States in Ada, Ohio, founded by Henry Solomon Lehr in 1871. ONU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. ONU is a sister...
, and a member of the Broad Street Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, and Delta Theta Phi
Delta Theta Phi
Delta Theta Phi is a professional law fraternity and a member of the Professional Fraternity Association. The smallest of the three internationally recognized law fraternities , Delta Theta Phi is the only one of the three major law fraternities to charter chapters in the United States at...
fraternity.
Edward S. Matthias died November 2, 1953 in an accidental fall at his Columbus home while doing home repairs, and was buried at Greenlawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio
Greenlawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio
Green Lawn Cemetery is a large and historically significant burial ground in Central Ohio, United States. Located in the southern section of Columbus, Ohio , it is the final resting place for many local notables and well-known figures from national history...
. John H. Lamneck was appointed to the court until the next election, November, 1954. John M. Matthias, Edward's son, won election over Lamneck in 1954 to the remaining two years of his fathers term, and was re-elected in 1956, 1962 and 1968.