Repository: UIHistories Project: Illio - 1896 [PAGE 71]

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James Newton Matthews was born in 1852 near Greencastle, Ind. On his fnih.-r'i side be isa descendant from one of the first families of Virginia, Thomas Matthews, a Colonial Governor of the Old I >ominion, being a direct ancestor. He entered the University of Illinois at the age of sixteen in the lirst class, and was tin- first matriculated student of em- IHiversity. He graduated in 1872, ami was for a time a newspaper reporter. In 1875 he entered the Missouri Medical College at 8t. Louis, and graduated in 1878, with the highest bom >rg of the largest class of medical si mlents ever assembled west of the

Mississippi. In I87S he was married t«» Miss Loiiella lirow n, of Madison. I ml., whose death occurred in IN'.»4, leaving a family of two c h i l d r e n . He has written verse ever since he can remember, and has been a contributor to many of the leading newspapers, the Ladies' Home Journal, Youth's Companion and o t h e r equally prominent publications. Several times he is represented in Oscar Fay Adams' series of books, " T h r o u g h the Year with the Poets," also in the magnificent volume entitled " R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Sonnets by American Poets." In 1888 h< published a volume of verse entitled, " T e m p l e Vale," which was well received. lie has recently been greatly honored by being represented in a book published by the Harpers. It is a collection of the finest poetic tributes to the genius of Shakespeare ever issued, from the poem of Hen Jon SOD to the present time.

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James K. Mann, '76, is one of Chicago's most prominent members of the bar. As alderman from the Thirty-second Ward he has won marked distinction. The Evening Journal speaks of him as " o n e of the leaders of t h e Council, * * * * * * a fearless fighter, a powerful d e b a t e r . " He was reelected to a second term in the Council by the largest majority ever obtained by an alderman in the history of the city. In 1894 Mr. Mann was chosen chairman of the Reimblican ^tate Convention, and made a speech which won him great praise. It was largely owing to his influence in the last Legislature that the big appropriation for the University of Illinois was obtained. As a reward for his efforts in this behalf, the University Alumni in J u n e , '95, elected him President of the Alumni Association. While in the University Mr. Mann was distinguished as the best all-round athlete, as a leader in the student government movement, and a scholar of high standing. lie was captain of a military pany for two years, and graduated as valedictorian lie married Mies Emma Columbia, of paivrn. also a graduate of the Univei

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