BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Mathes, John A.
John A. Mathes, merchant, was born at Washington College, Tenn., August 20, 1861, the son of Ezekiel S. and Mary J. (Bovell) Mathes. Our subject was educated at Washington College and Jonesboro, and then entered his brother's store, at the latter place. After clerking a year there, he became a merchant at Telford. He then went to California, and remained two years, but in 1885 returned, and became a partner of his brother, W. G., at Johnson City. The following year he traveled for A. J. Patterson's mills, of Bluff City, and in 1887 became a partner of Mr. Patterson in a wholesale grocery, grain, and provision store, at Johnson City, the first wholesale store of the place. January 6, 1886, he married Lillie L., a daughter of James M. Gentry, deceased. She was born in Ashe County, N. C., September 6, 1868. Her father was a prominent merchant of Johnson City from 1869 until 1880. Our subject is a Presbyterian, while his wife is a Methodist. Source: History of Tennessee from the Earliest Times to the Present (Chicago, IL, Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1887), 1278.