Wallace B. Matthews, M. D., of Nos. 406 and 407 Widdicomb building, Grand Rapids, Mich., was born in St. Joseph county. Ind., April 22, 1863, a son of Oscar and Diana (Hutchinson) Matthews, the former a native-born American and the latter a native of England. To the marriage of these parents were born four sons and six daughters, and of these ten children nine grew to maturity, viz: John W., a teacher in Grand Rapids; Etta, wife of Paul N. Bump, of Hastings, Mich.; Nora A., a teacher also in Grand Rapids; Myrtle, who died at the age of twenty-three years; Lillian M. and Louis J. (twins)—the former a teacher and the latter a raiser of and dealer in live stock in Barry county; Minnie B., bookkeeper for her brother, Dr. Wallace B.; Eva L., cashier for Beach & Booth, restaurateurs, and James R., a teacher in Barry county and also a student of dentistry.

Dr. Wallace B. Matthews received his elementary education in Hastings, Mich., to which point his parents had removed when he was a child. His boyhood was passed on his father’s farm in Barry county, as well as the earlier years of his manhood. In the fall of 1888 he became a student in the Homeopathic college at Ann Arbor, where for two years he studied this school of medicine, and then entered the office of Dr. R. M. Luton, of Grand Rapids, under whose preceptorship he studied some months, and then passed one year at the Chicago Homeopathic college, from which he graduated March 24, 1891. On his return to Grand Rapids he practiced six months alone, making a fine reputation for one so young in the profession, and then succeeded to the practice and occupied the office of his former tutor, Dr. Luton, who was obliged to relinquish active work on account of impaired health.

Dr. Matthews was married in Grand Rapids, December 27, 1893, with Miss Emma E. Rosenberg, a native of Lisbon, Mich., and a lady of many accomplishments. For three years she was a school-teacher in Muskegon, Mich., where she established so high a reputation that she was secured by the Grand Rapids authorities, and for the seven years previous to her marriage taught in the public schools of this city. The doctor and Mrs. Matthews worship at the Church of Christ, and the doctor in politics is a democrat.

The doctor is a member of the State Homeopathic society and of the Homeopathic society of Grand Rapids; also of the K. of P., I. O. O. F., I. O. F., K. of H., M. W. of A., F. M. C. and the Royal Neighbors, is medical examiner for the five last named of these orders, and is also physician for court Rescue, No. 445, Independent Order of Foresters. He stands in the foremost rank of the practitioners of medicine of his school in the state, and is favored with a large share of patronage, in general practice, by persons who as a rule believe in the Homeopathic method of treatment. Socially, he and wife enjoy the esteem of the best residents of the city, and their home is always found to be a pleasant resort by those who enjoy a congenial hospitality.