Louise Newman was born on January 15, 1883, in Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin. She was the only daughter of Frank Albert Newman and Anna Hurth. Her mother died in 1892, when Louise was only nine years old, and being the only daughter, Louise took over the housekeeping.

In 1903 Louise took a break from caring for her family, and came to Minneapolis. She got a job as a cashier, and rented a room at 622 Hennepin. Living in the same rooming hotel was a well traveled, older man, John Mathews. He had come to Minneapolis around 1901, and was a barber in a downtown shop. Louise tamed the traveling man in John and they were married on June 17, 1903, in Minneapolis.

Soon John and Louise were living on Nicollet Island and raising a family. John Jr., Donald and Violet were born on Nicollet Island. In 1909, John began working for the Minneapolis Mill Company, which became Northern States Power, as a watchman. Then the family moved to a home on Washington Street NE. Evelyn, Lloyd, Albert & Muriel were born between 1910 and 1916. Around 1918, John and Louise moved to the near south side of Minneapolis and bought a home at 2213-16th Avenue South. Louis, Douglas & Robert were born between 1918 and 1925, completing the Mathews family at ten children. During the Second World War, four of her sons served in the United States Army; Lloyd, Albert, Louis and Robert. Fortunately, they all returned.

Louise and John celebrated their golden aniversary in 1953, and John died in 1954. Louise continued to live in their home on 16th Avenue until she was near 90. Her oldest son, John, who was also known as "Lefty", lived with her most of the time. When Louise became more fragile, her family moved her to a nursing home in Edina, where she was visited regularly by family members who lived in the Metro area. Louise died on March 15, 1975, and is buried next to her Husband of 51 years at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.