James Mathews (1805 – 1887) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.
Matthews was born at Liberty, Trumbull County, Ohio. After studying law he was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1830. He then moved to Coshocton, Ohio, where he practiced law. From 1832-1837 Mathews was a member of the Ohio State senate.
In 1841 he was elected a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 13th congressional district which then covered Knox County, Ohio, Coshocton County, Ohio, Holmes County, Ohio and Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
In 1842 Mathews was re-elected from Ohio's 16th congressional district which only differed from the old 13th in that it did not include Knox County. In 1844 Mathews did not run for re-election.
In 1855 Mathews moved to Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa. From 1857-1859 he served as prosecuting attorney for this county. He also latter served as a professor at Iowa State College (now Iowa State University) and Knoxville's postmaster.