Martin Alexander Matheson was the second son of Daniel McKenzie Matheson and Martha Jane Monteith. He was born in Cherokee County, North Carolina in 1872. His father, Daniel Matheson was a Methodist-Episcopal minister. His mother's parents were George Alexander and Livinia Garrison Monteith both originally from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Martin married Ura Delia Blackwell from Henderson County, NC on February 12, 1892. Ura was the daughter of William Pickney and Nancy King Stepp Blackwell.

Monteith/Garrison

George Alexander Monteith was the son of John and Leah Hargrove Monteith. Livinia was the daughter of James and Hannah Alexander Garrison Both families were from Mecklenburg County, NC.

George and Livinia moved from Mecklenburg County to Catawba County in the late 1830s and then moved to Cherokee County, NC in 1851. They settled in what is today called the Martin's Creek Community. They had four daughter's; Hannah who married Jonathan Hampton; Sarah who married Davis Henry Ricks; Martha Jane who married Daniel McKenzie Matheson, Matilda who married George Young Stalcup.

Like his father, Martin A. Matheson was a Methodist-Episcopal minister. He rode circuits in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Eventually, he ministered at churches in Gastonia, Newton and Casar, NC. Due to the poor heath of his wife Ura, Martin retired from the ministry and was the Principal at Maiden High School in Maiden, NC. He continued his ministry on a voluntary basis.