William D. Matthews - Pioneer of Freedom
Soldier and Activist
Born: October 25, 1829, Maryland, U.S.A.
Died: March 2, 1906, Leavenworth, Kansas, U.S.A.
William D. Matthews was a fearless abolitionist, Civil War officer, and community leader dedicated to creating freedom and equality for African Americans.
Matthews was born a free African American on October 25, 1827, in Maryland, a slave state. Even though free Black people had more rights than enslaved people, they still faced discrimination, few opportunities, and little access to education. Despite these challenges, Matthews became a leader, businessman, soldier, and advocate for African Americans, leaving a lasting impact on Kansas and the United States.
In the late 1840s, Matthews moved to Baltimore and worked on ships. By 1854, he had his own commercial vessel, sailing on the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. Even with his skills, laws in Maryland made it hard for him to earn enough money. Looking for better opportunities, he moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1856. There, he became a successful businessman, opening the Waverly House, a hotel and restaurant, and a store. Matthews earned respect from both white abolitionists and wealthy citizens.
The Waverly House became an important stop on the Underground Railroad. While serving white customers in the front of the building, Matthews secretly helped hundreds of enslaved African Americans escape through the back. He worked with abolitionists like Daniel R. Anthony, teaching reading and writing, protecting escapees from slave hunters, and guiding them north, sometimes all the way to Canada. Even though he risked arrest, violence, or death, Matthews worked tirelessly to help others gain freedom.
When the Civil War began in 1861, Matthews tried to enlist his men in the Union Army, but Black soldiers were not allowed at first. Not giving up, he formed the Kansas Emancipation League in 1862 and recruited 200 men to fight. He became captain of the First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry, making him the highest-ranking Black officer in the Union Army at that time. His troops won the Battle of Island Mound in Missouri on October 29, 1862, the first known battle where Black soldiers fought in the Civil War.

After the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, Black soldiers were officially accepted into the Union Army. Matthews lost his captaincy and was replaced by a white officer, but he continued to serve with honor. In 1865, he was promoted to first lieutenant in the Independent Colored Kansas Battery, U.S. Colored Light Artillery, led by fellow Black Kansan H. Ford Douglas.
After the war, Matthews returned to Leavenworth and focused on his family and community. He and his wife Fanny raised four children. He also became active in politics, serving on the Kansas State Republican Central Committee. Matthews worked to organize Masonic lodges for African Americans and served for fifteen years as grand master of all York Rite Masons for Black men in the United States. He traveled often to strengthen these organizations and help improve opportunities for African Americans.
Throughout his life, Matthews worked to advance and protect African Americans. He helped many people gain freedom, led soldiers in battle, and created chances for others to succeed. When he died on March 2, 1906, at age 78 in Leavenworth, many of the people he had helped visited him in his final days. He was buried in Leavenworth National Cemetery, leaving behind a legacy of courage, service, and determination.
William D. Matthews’ life is a powerful example of bravery and leadership. From the Underground Railroad to the Civil War and his work in politics and organizations, Matthews worked tirelessly to create freedom and opportunity for African Americans and build a more fair and just society.
SOURCES:
“William D. Matthews and Leavenworth’s Underground Railroad.” Visit Leavenworth Kansas, www.leavenworthks.gov/visitors/page/william-d-matthews-and-leavenworths-underground-railroad.
“William Dominick Matthews (1827-1906) .” Black Past, www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/matthews-william-dominick-ca-1833-ca-1910/.
Keywords: Civil Rights, Wartime, Courage, Perseverance, Freedom, Responsibility, Take Risks for Others, Stand Up for Your Beliefs