[1] Mathews was born April 16, 1819, in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee.
Mathews came south to arrive in the Mormon colony of San Bernardino, on March 30, 1852.
Here he was at various times a teamster, miller, Justice of the Peace and finally sheriff.
Mathews won a close race on September 14, 1863, for sheriff of San Bernardino County which included much of what is (northern and western Riverside County today).
[3][4] Mathews had led the posse out on election day but lost to his successor George T. Fulgham (1865-1869).