James Matthews born 5 January 1852, DeKalb County, Missouri, and died 5 August 1944, North Salem, Marion County, Oregon, at the home of his granddaughter, Dorothy (Stafford) Walker. His marriage license issued on 13 April 1870, Nemaha County, Kansas stated "To any person authorized by law to perform the marriage ceremony – Greetings: You are hereby authorized to join in marriage James Matthews of Nemaha County aged 18 years and Rhoda Ann Simon of Nemaha County aged 16 years and of this license you will make due return to my office within thirty days." Signed H.H. Sanham, Probate Judge. The return stated: "I, a Justice of the peace do hereby certify that in accordance with the authorization of the within License I did on the 17th day of April A.D. 1870, 1 o'clock P.M. in the said County, join and Unite in Marriage the Within named James Matthews and Rhoda Ann Simons." Witnessed and signed by A. Chilson. Rhoda Ann Simon was the daughter of Adam Simon and Mary Jane Powell, a descendant of the noted, early Oregon Circuit Rider, Joab Powell. She was born 2 August 1853, according to a descendant although two other sources said she was born 10 August or 12 August. These varying dates were from different descendants. She died 14 October 1896, 22nd and Mill Street, Salem, Marion County, Oregon. They were both buried in the Jennings Cemetery, Spring Valley, Polk County, Oregon, which is near Zena.
There is some confusion as to whether they migrated to Oregon in 1879, returned to Seneca, Kansas in 1880 and then again migrated to Oregon in either 1886 or 1888. However, all of his children were born in Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas, with the last one born in August 1886. The 1880 census Valley Township, Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas, 9 June 1880, recorded the twins as one month old; so it is unlikely the first migration was made. When they came to Oregon, they settled on a farm in Spring Valley, Polk County. Later, they moved to Eagle Creek, Clackamas County, Oregon, where his children attended school in 1893. He returned to 22nd and Mill Street, Salem, before his wife died in 1896. He then lived on his parents Spring Valley farm until 1900. At that time, he purchased a homestead near Sherar's Bridge in the Bake Oven Country, Eastern Oregon. This was a sheep raising location in Wasco County and he remained there until the early 1940's when he returned to Salem, living first with his daughter Mae Cochran's family then her twin. Dae Stafford's daughter, Dorothy (Stafford) Walker, where he died in his sleep in 1944. His nephew, Gene Matthews, wrote:
"How much easier [to] … close their eyes in peaceful sleep as Uncle Jim did… your cheerful, good-natured Daddy is the subject of some of my happiest boyhood memories. His summertime visit to us in Oklahoma makes him the last Matthews, outside of my own immediate family, that I have seen. His jolly songs and always happy nature cheered us all through a dreadfully dry and hot spell… and the good effect of his visit remained with us long after he returned to Oregon."
The children (fourth generation) of James Matthews and Rhoda Ann Simons were:
1. Clem(ent) Erastus Matthews born 20 January 1871, Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas, died 5 November 1954, Bakersfield, Kerns County, California, and never married.

2. Will(iam) Adam Matthews born 24 March 1872, Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas, died 23 March 1951, Hamilton, Ravalli county, Montana and buried there in Riverview Cemetery.

3. Albert (Bert) Bertram Matthews born 26 January 1874, Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas, died 28 November 1937, Tygh Valley, Wasco County, Oregon

4. John David Matthews born 6 October 1877, Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas, died 7 June 1964,

5. Rosie Mae Matthews born 15 April 1880,Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas, died 16 September 1966, Salem, Marion County, Oregon & buried Spring Valley Cemetery, Zena, Polk County, Oregon.

6. Lillie Dae Matthews, the twin of Rosie Mae, was born 15 April 1880, Seneca, Nemaha County, Kansas, died 24 May 1956, north Salem,Marion County, Oregon.

7. Neoma I Matthews, born August 1886