He attended the local schools of Gilboa, and Crawfis College of Putnam County, Ohio.

Edward Matthias served during the Spanish–American War as Captain of Company D (Van Wert) of the 2nd Ohio U.S. Volunteer Infantry, serving with the regiment at Camp George H. Thomas at Chickamauga, and was very active in the United Spanish War Veterans, being State Commander of Ohio from 1928 to 1929, and National Commander from 1930 to 1931.

[2] He was elected Judge of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas of the third judicial circuit in 1904, and re-elected in 1910.

[3] Matthias heard more than 30,000 cases as a judge, and wrote more than 1000 opinions as a member of the Supreme Court.

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.