Adelia and Andrew J. Mathewson

Andrew Jackson Mathewson was born December 6, 1830 in New York, the son of James and Eliza Thompson Mathewson. He married Abelia Caulkins on May 27, 1854. She was born in Nashua, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Harvey and Lucy Hall Caulkins.

He came to the Port Hope area before 1859, another one of Port Hope's earliest settlers. In the 1860 census, he was listed as a laborer, but on November 24, 1860 President James Buchanan awarded him a land grant for 165 acres in the NE Quarter of Section 3 in Rubican Twp. The 1870 census he was listed as a "farmer", but in the 1880 census this changed to "sawyer."

He was admitted to the Port Hope Masonic Lodge #138 from another state. On 2/28/1874 he was made Worshipful Master.

The following is from "Portrait of a Village: Port Hope" by Dean Smith and Jim Hunter.

"He was in Port Hope's early development and owned a home on Portland Avenue.

The home of Andrew Mathewson, located on Portland Avenue, Port Hope, Michigan.

When Port Hope was incorporated as a town in 1887, he was appointed to the board of registration for voters."

There were three sons from the marriage; George, born September 1858; Frank, born 1864: and Cecil Raymond Mathewson, born April 26, 1868, who was a member of the Coast Guard.

On August 23, 1888 Andrew was appointed assistant keeper for a yearly sum of $400. On September 1, 1895 he was promoted to Chief Lighthouse Keeper with a salary increase of $200 to $600. He served in this capacity until near his death.

He died at his home on Portland April, 1905. The funeral services were conducted by the Port Hope Lodge of the F. A. M. Also, he was a member of the Stafford Chapter, R.A.M. Harbor Beach. Adelia died March, 1906.