Mathias Shryock
Encyclopedia
Mathias or Matthias Shryock (born near Frederick, Maryland
, 1774 – died in Lexington, Kentucky
, 1833) was an early American architect
and building contractor.
, where he married in 1798, but moved to Kentucky
, eventually settling in Lexington. He built his family's home on the site of what is now Transylvania University
.
In 1814 Shryock designed the first Episcopal church in Lexington, and later designed the home of Mary Todd Lincoln
on West Main Street, among many other homes in Lexington.
He was the father of two other American architects: Gideon
(1802 – 1880) and Cincinnatus
(1816 – 1888), both of whom were born in Lexington and achieved fame in their own right, particularly within Kentucky.
According to one Kentucky Department of Highways plaque, the "[b]est known surname in Kentucky architecture is Shryock." In all, Mathias Shryock fathered a total of ten children.
Shryock died of cholera
and is buried in Lexington, Kentucky
.
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
, 1774 – died in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, 1833) was an early American architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and building contractor.
Life and career
Shryock was born in MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, where he married in 1798, but moved to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, eventually settling in Lexington. He built his family's home on the site of what is now Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
.
In 1814 Shryock designed the first Episcopal church in Lexington, and later designed the home of Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Ann Lincoln was the wife of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, and was First Lady of the United States from 1861 to 1865.-Life before the White House:...
on West Main Street, among many other homes in Lexington.
He was the father of two other American architects: Gideon
Gideon Shryock
Gideon Shryock was an American Greek Revival architect.Shryock was a native of Lexington, Kentucky, the son of a housebuilder and contractor, Mathias Shryock, who had moved to Kentucky from Maryland and who would father 10 other children in Kentucky besides Gideon...
(1802 – 1880) and Cincinnatus
Cincinnatus Shryock
Cincinnatus Shryock was an American architect.-Life and career:Shryock was born into a famous American architectural family...
(1816 – 1888), both of whom were born in Lexington and achieved fame in their own right, particularly within Kentucky.
According to one Kentucky Department of Highways plaque, the "[b]est known surname in Kentucky architecture is Shryock." In all, Mathias Shryock fathered a total of ten children.
Shryock died of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
and is buried in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
.