Santa
Clara County
Biographies
MRS.
PAULINE O. MATTHIAS
MRS. PAULINE O. MATTHIAS. Prominent among the successful business women
of Gilroy is Mrs. Pauline O. Matthias, who is conducting the business
of her late husband with marked ability.
A native of New York City, she was a daughter of George and Louise
(Becker) Scheffmeyer, the former of whom was also a
native of that place, while the latter came from Germany. Her father was a Mason of high degree and a
man of prominence in his native locality.
Pauline O. Scheffmeyer was reared and
educated in New York City and made that her home until 1878, when she came to
California with an uncle and aunt, Prof. John G. Otto and his wife,
both widely known in Santa Clara county and held in the highest esteem for
their many qualities of heart and mind.
Five years later Miss Scheffmayer
returned to the east and in New York City married Frederick William Matthias,
who was her brother-in-law, he having been the husband of her sister
Louise. For the following thirteen years
their home remained in the east, where, at No. 157-1/2 Bowery,
Mr. Matthias had conducted the manufacture of cigars for thirty-six years;
but on account of the close confinement his health became impaired and they
decided to come to California.
Accordingly they located in Gilroy, where Mr. Matthias purchased
the cigar store and factory belonging to Mr. Wolfram, and conducted the
business until his death, April 5, 1901, at the age of fifty years. Two sons were born of this union, Edward
William and John, both enterprising and energetic young men, who are gifted
with considerable musical talent.
Mrs. Matthias has exercised
judgment and ability in the management of her business and has won the respect
and confidence of all who know her.
Socially she occupies an enviable position. She is a member of the Episcopal Church and
affiliates with the Eastern Star and Rebekahs.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 644. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Donna Toole.