Edward S. Matthias

Edward Shiloh Matthias
c. 1914
Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
In office January 1, 1915 – November 2, 1953
Preceded by	John Allen Shauck
Succeeded by	John H. Lamneck
Personal details
Born	April 6, 1873 Gilboa, Ohio
Died	November 2, 1953 (aged 80) Columbus, Ohio
Resting place	Green Lawn Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Mary F. Crouch
Children	five
Alma mater	Crawfis College Ohio Northern University College of Law
Religion	Presbyterian Church
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Unit	2nd Ohio Infantry
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War

Edward Shiloh Matthias (April 6, 1873 – November 2, 1953) 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.

Biography

Edward S. Matthias was born in Gilboa, Ohio 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.^[1]

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.^[2] He was elected Judge of the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas of the third judicial circuit in 1904, and re-elected in 1910.^[1] He was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1914, and re-elected in 1920, 1926, 1932, 1938, 1944 and 1950.^[3] Matthias heard more than 30,000 cases as a judge, and wrote more than 1000 opinions as a member of the Supreme Court.^[1]

Matthias was a Knight of Pythias, Mason and member of B.P.O.E.^[2] He married Mary F. Crouch of Van Wert April 23, 1898, and had five children.^[1][2] 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.^[1]

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.^[1] 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.^[3]

References

1. The Supreme Court of Ohio and The Ohio Judicial System – Edward Shiloh Matthias
2. Neff, William B, ed. (1921). Bench and Bar of Northern Ohio History and Biography. Cleveland: The Historical Publishing Company. p. 537.
3. Justices of the Supreme Court of Ohio 1787 – Present Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted