Matthew Smith was born on November 9, 1856, at Kilmore, Parish of Thornhill, County of Tyrone, Province of Ulster, Ireland. He attended the National Public School of that locality until sixteen years of age.
He then came to the United States, He entered the service of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, remaining in the New York office from 1872 to 1875, He was manager of one of their stores in New Brunswick, New Jersey, from 1875 to 1880. In 1880 he became general manager of their business in Cleveland. In 1913 he incorporated the Matthew Smith Tea, Coffee and Grocery Company, purchasing the seventeen stores of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company operating in Cleveland and vicinity, and increasing the number to more than one hundred at the time of his retirement.
He was married to Irene May French in 1887, and had four children two sons and two daughters.
For more than twenty years he was a vestryman and junior warden of Emmanuel Protestant Episcopal Church of Cleveland. His love and zeal for the church were evident from his punctual attendance and faithful devotion to duties.
M. W. Brother Smith was initiated an Entered Apprentice in Woodward Lodge, No, 508, F. & A. M October 10, 1883; passed to the degree of Fellow Craft October 24, 1883; and. was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason November 23, 1883. He dimitted November 23, 1887, and affiliated with Iris Lodge, No, 229, February 13, 1888. He became a Charter member of Emmanuel Lodge, No. 605, October 21, 1909, serving as its first Junior Warden, and as Worshipful Master in 1912.
He was an honorary member of Iris Lodge, No. 229 and Forest Hill Lodge, No. 644.
In the Grand Lodge of Ohio he was appointed Grand Marshal in October, 1912; Senior Grand Deacon, 1913 and 1914; Grand Orator in 1915; was elected Junior Grand Warden, 1916; Senior Grand Warden, 1917; Deputy Grand Master, 1918; and became M… W Grand Master on October 16, 1919.
He received the Capitular Degrees in Cleveland Chapter, No. 148, R. A. M., having been exalted to the degree of Royal Arch Mason on February I, 1884, and serving as High Priest in 1893.
He received the Cryptic Degrees in Cleveland Council R. and S. M. on March 11, 1884.
He was knighted in Holyrood Commandery, No. 32, April 2, 1884. He served his Commandery as Warder, Junior Warden, Senior Warden, Generalissimo, and was Eminent Commander in 1894-95.
The degrees in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite were conferred in Eliadah Lodge of Perfection, November 8, 1884; and Ariel Chapter, Valley of Cleveland, November 29, 1884; and Ohio Consistory, Valley of Cincinnati, February 26, 1885. He was a Charter member of Northern Ohio, now Lake Erie, Consistory. He was crowned a Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33°, and honorary member of the Supreme Council, September 15, 1908.
He was a life member of Al Koran Temple, A. A.N. O. M. S., and AI Sirat Grotto, of Cleveland, Ohio.
M. W. Brother Smith died from injuries received when struck by an automobile in front of his home in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 6, 1934. Funeral services were held at Emmanuel Protestant Episcopal Church, interment was in the Lake View Cemetery, Section 11, Lot 32, Cleveland, Ohio.