Biographical Information: Cordie Owens Mathis

Cordelia "Cordie" Owens Mathis was born in March of 1881 to Whit and Mallie Owens. She married Will Mathis in November 1898 and they had two children: Baxter Clelon Mathis, born August 24, 1899, and Daniel E. Mathis, born in February 1901. Tragically, the Mathises woke one morning in March 1901 to find seven-week old Daniel dead in his bed.

By all accounts, Cordie Mathis was a Christian woman and had spent much time trying to reform her husband of distilling and illegal activities. She even offered to work in the field herself if her husband would give up whiskey, but Will Mathis would not consider allowing his wife to do that kind of work.

Though held briefly for questioning in the murders of the U.S. Marshals, Cordie Mathis was never implicated or charged. She was called as a witness during the trial and corroborated her husband's testimony that Orlando Lester was motivated to shoot the marshals and did pull the trigger.

It is said that after Will Mathis' death, Cordie Mathis was grief-stricken for many years to come. At aged 23, she was a widow, had lost a son and had a toddler to raise on her own. She later remarried and had another son. Cordie Owens Mathis Week died in 1954.