Stanley Matthews (judge) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stanley Matthews
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
In office May 17, 1881 – March 22, 1889
Nominated by	James Garfield
Preceded by	Noah Haynes Swayne
Succeeded by	David J. Brewer
United States Senator from Ohio
In office March 21, 1877 – March 3, 1879
Preceded by	John Sherman
Succeeded by	George H. Pendleton
Personal details
Born	Thomas Stanley Matthews (1824-07-21)July 21, 1824 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Died	March 22, 1889(1889-03-22) (aged 64) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Mary Ann Black ​ ​ (m. 1843; died 1885)​ Mary K. Theaker ​ ​ (m. 1886)​
Children	10, including Paul
Relatives	T. S. Matthews (grandson)
Education	Kenyon College (BA)
Signature

Thomas Stanley Matthews (July 21, 1824 – March 22, 1889) was an American attorney, soldier, and judge. He was a Republican senator from Ohio. Later, he became an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. He served on the Supreme Court from May 1881 until his death in 1889. Justice Matthews was known for being a progressive judge. He wrote the important decision in the case Yick Wo v. Hopkins.

Early Life and Education

Stanley Matthews was born on July 21, 1824, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was the oldest of 11 children. His parents were Thomas J. Matthews and Isabella Brown Matthews.

He finished college at Kenyon College in 1840. While there, he met Rutherford B. Hayes, who would later become a president of the United States. He also became close friends with John Celivergos Zachos. Matthews and Zachos moved back to Cincinnati and were roommates. In Cincinnati, Matthews studied law. He then moved to Columbia, Tennessee, where he practiced law and worked as a newspaper editor. Matthews returned to Cincinnati in 1844. He was allowed to practice law the next year. In Cincinnati, he edited an anti-slavery newspaper called Cincinnati Morning Herald and continued his law practice.

In 1849, Stanley Matthews, John Celivergos Zachos, and others started the Literary Club of Cincinnati. One year later, Rutherford B. Hayes joined the club. Other famous members included future President William Howard Taft. Well-known guests like Mark Twain and Charles Dickens also visited the club.

Early Legal and Political Career

Matthews started his public service in 1848. He was chosen to be the clerk for the Ohio House of Representatives. After that, he worked as a county judge in Hamilton County, Ohio. He was then elected to the Ohio State Senate. He served there from 1856 to 1858. Next, he was appointed as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. He held this position from 1858 to 1861.

Service in the Civil War

When the Civil War began, Matthews left his job as U.S. Attorney. He joined the Union Army as a lieutenant colonel. He was part of the 23rd Ohio Infantry regiment. His commander was future president Rutherford B. Hayes. Another future president, William McKinley, also served in this regiment. Matthews and the 23rd Ohio Regiment fought in the battle of Carnifex Ferry. In October 1861, he became a colonel of the 51st Ohio Infantry Regiment. He commanded a group of soldiers in the Army of the Ohio and later in the Army of the Cumberland.

Judge, Lawyer, and Politician Again

In 1863, Matthews was elected as a judge for the Superior Court of Cincinnati. He then resigned from the Union Army. Two years later, he went back to working as a private lawyer. After the war, during the Reconstruction era, Matthews represented railroad companies.

He ran for the United States House of Representatives in 1876 but did not win. In early 1877, he represented Rutherford B. Hayes. This was during a time when the 1876 presidential election results were being debated. Later that same year, Matthews won a special election to the United States Senate. He filled a spot that became open when John Sherman resigned. Matthews did not run for re-election after this term.

Becoming a Supreme Court Justice

President Hayes first nominated Matthews to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on January 26, 1881. This was in the last weeks of Hayes's time as president. However, some people in the U.S. Senate did not want Matthews to be a justice. They were concerned because he had close ties to railroad companies. Also, he was a very close friend of President Hayes. Because of these concerns, the Senate committee did not approve his nomination at that time.

On March 14, 1881, President James A. Garfield re-nominated Matthews for the Supreme Court. This was just 10 days after Garfield became president. Even with a new president, the concerns about Matthews remained. Many people criticized Garfield for nominating him again. Despite the opposition, the Senate voted on May 12. Matthews was confirmed by a very close vote of 24 to 23. This was the closest vote for any Supreme Court justice who was successfully confirmed in U.S. history.

Matthews officially started his job on the Supreme Court on May 17, 1881. He served until his death on March 22, 1889. He was seen as one of the more progressive justices on the Court during his time.

Yick Wo v. Hopkins

One of Justice Matthews's most important decisions was in the case of Yick Wo v. Hopkins. In 1880, the city of San Francisco, California, made a rule. It said that people could not run a laundry in a wooden building without a special permit. The city's Board of Supervisors could choose who got these permits.

At that time, about 95% of San Francisco's 320 laundries were in wooden buildings. About two-thirds of these laundries were owned by Chinese people. Most laundry owners in wooden buildings asked for a permit. However, no permits were given to any Chinese owners. Almost all non-Chinese applicants received a permit.

Yick Wo was a Chinese man who had run his laundry in the same wooden building for many years. He had a valid license. He kept operating his laundry and was fined $10 for breaking the new rule. He refused to pay the fine and was put in jail. He then sued, saying his rights were violated.

The Supreme Court, with Justice Matthews writing the decision, ruled that the way the law was used was unfair. The Court said it was discriminatory. Even though most Chinese laundry owners were not American citizens, the Court ruled they still had the right to equal protection. This right comes from the Fourteenth Amendment. Justice Matthews also pointed out that courts had previously said that officials could be held responsible if they misused their power. He said the law was a clear attempt to stop Chinese people from working in the laundry business in San Francisco. The Court struck down the law. It also ordered that all charges against other jailed laundry owners be dropped.

Personal Life

In 1843, Matthews married Mary Ann "Minnie" Black. They had 10 children. Sadly, four of their children died in 1859 during an outbreak of scarlet fever. Their three oldest sons and a younger daughter passed away. Their oldest daughter and baby son survived the illness. Their daughter Isabella later died at age sixteen. Four more children were born after this difficult time.

Mary Ann, his first wife, died in Washington D.C. in 1885. Matthews then married Mary K. Theaker in New York in 1886.

Death and Legacy

Matthews's health became very poor in 1888. He died in Washington D.C. on March 22, 1889. He was survived by his second wife, Mary, and five of his children from his first marriage. He is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

His daughter Jane Matthews married Horace Gray, who was also a Supreme Court Justice. Another daughter, Eva Lee Matthews, became a teacher and founded a charity group. His son, Paul Clement, became a bishop in the Episcopal Church. Justice Matthews's grandson, Thomas Stanley, was an editor for Time magazine.

Some of Justice Matthews's letters and papers are kept at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center library in Fremont, Ohio. Other papers are in various historical societies and libraries across the country.

See also

• List of United States Supreme Court Justices who also served in Congress
• Waite Court
• Fuller Court