George M. Matthews p.332 - Geo. M. Matthews, druggist at 740 Broadway avenue, has been in that business longer than anyone else in his line in Grand Rapids. He was born September 7, 1850, in Ontario, Canada. He received his preliminary education in the schools of Paris, Ontario, Canada. His maternal grandfather, William Shackleton, was a pioneer of Grand Rapids and had taken up land from the government at a very early day and became owner of considerable property. Mr. Matthews came to Detroit in 1872 and was there employed in a drug store. He later went to East Saginaw, Michigan, where he worked in a drug store. He then came to Grand Rapids and here engaged in the same line of work, but after a certain time he returned to Detroit and was in the drug business with William Woodbridge Abbott, for about three years, from 1875 to 1878. On the latter date he came to Grand Rapids and remained in business for about three years and then went to Chase, Lake county, Michigan, and there was in the drug business for about seven years. He returned to Grand Rapids and engaged in that business, and in the ensuing forty years has not only become the dean of this business in a course of time, but achieved a very creditable and lucrative success with his thorough knowledge of this business and his winning personality. Mr. Matthews was joined in wedlock in 1878 in Detroit, Michigan, with Miss Hannah Heffernan, of that city. They have two children, Lillian, who was born in 1880 in Grand Rapids and received her education at St. Mary’s Catholic school, and married James Roney, of Grand Rapids; and George A., born at Chase, Lake county, in 1884. George is a graduate of the pharmacy course of Ferris Institute of Big Rapids, Michigan, and now is a partner with his father in the drug business. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was married in 1909 to Henrietta Druke, of Grand Rapids, and they have four children, John, George W., James and Thomas.

Transcriber: John Miller
Created: 4 March 2003