In 1888, Matthews edited and published the Lake Weir Independent. In 1891, following the discovery of phosphateinDunnellon, Florida and the subsequent mining boom, Matthews founded the Dunnellon News and served as town clerk.[1][2][3] After writing about poor treatment of convicts leased to work in phosphate mines, the resulting pressure and threats from mine owners led Matthews to sell the News and move to Ocala, Florida for work with the Daily Capitol.[4]
In January 1893, Matthews moved to Starke, Florida.[1][2] With Ben J. Farmer, Matthews purchased the Bradford County Telegraph, a newspaper founded in 1879 by William Wyatt Moore. After five years, Farmer sold his interest to Matthews, who edited the Telegraph for forty years.[5] Starting in 1933, his son, Eugene L. Matthews, edited the newspaper for another forty years until retiring and selling the newspaper in 1973. The newspaper is still published today.[5]
Matthews was Alderman of Starke from 1897 to 1898. From 1897 to 1898, he was Captain of the Bradford County Guards, which served as Company M of the 1st Florida Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish–American War, but the regiment ventured no further from Florida than Alabama. In 1899, he was promoted to Major and commanded the 2nd battalion of the 2nd Regiment of the Florida State Troops.[1][2][6]
^ abcdRerick, Rowland H. (1902). Memoirs of Florida: embracing a general history of the province, territory and state, and special chapters devoted to finances and banking, the bench and bar, medical profession, railways and navigation, and industrial interests: Volume 1 embracing a general history of the province, territory and state, and special chapters devoted to finances and banking, the bench and bar, medical profession, railways and navigation, and industrial interests. Southern Historical Association. pp. 620–621.
