Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 363-364; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Martin B. Mason. The world is crowded with men and women
trying each to gain success through the different avenues of
money-making, and day after day the ceaseless round of duty goes on;
some giving attention to professional callings, some "buying and
selling" in commercial headquarters, and still others cultivating the
soil. It is a pretty generally conceded fact that the agriculturist
leads the freest and easiest life, since his time is his own through
much of each year. And certainly to no class of "bread winners" are we
indebted for more beneficial results than to the farmer.
Our subject at the present time is identified with the
latter-named class, and it would be difficult to find a more genial,
intellectual, or courteous gentleman than Mr. Mason. At one time he was
in the hotel business at Farmington, and made a good "mine host." But
after continuing in that business for several years in connection with
his brother James, our subject moved to a farm in Knox County, about
two miles from Yates City, and there became an extensive land owner.
However, he returned to this county, settling on a small farm one mile
form Farmington, where he owns a nice residence and fifteen acres of
ground.
Mr. Mason was born in Fayette County, Pa., on the sixth day of
May, 1808, his parents being Jacob and Catherine (Biddinger) Mason,
natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively. His earliest
recollections are of life in Ohio, where he attended school in a little
log house for three months during the winter. The father moved with his
family to this place in 1837, going into the hotel business. In 1842
the subject of our sketch married Miss Mary A. Slosson, who was born in
Troy, New York, and is a daughter of Dutcher and Sarah (Sampson)
Slosson, natives of New York and Massachusetts respectively. Mrs. Mason
reached maidenhood at Troy, coming with her parents to Illinois in the
year 1835. To Mr. and Mrs. Mason have been born seven children, viz:
Charles H., who married Miss Melissa Coon, has three children, and
resides at Fairfield, Iowa; Sarah J.; Harriet E., who married James
Broherd, and died without leaving any children; Catherine; William J.,
who married Miss Mary Yager, lives in Yates City, and has one child:
Mary A., now Mrs. Charles F. Coon, has three children, and makes her
home at Holdridge, Phelps County, Neb.; and Martin S., who married Miss
Clara Rider, has one child and lives in Farmington.
The subject of our sketch is a member of the Masonic order No.
320, is a member of the Yates City Lodge, and belongs to a Commandery
at Galesburg. He is very prominently connected with this fraternity. He
has held several public offices, being at one time County Commissioner
of Knox County, and Supervisor of Salem Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Mason and their family belong to the Universalist
Church, Mr. Mason having helped to build the church of this
denomination both at Farmington and at Yates City.
Our subject's father was fifty-seven years old at the time of
his death; the mother lived to be past seventy. To them were born four
children, viz: Martin, James and Nancy (deceased), and William. The
father moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1814, where he followed
agricultural pursuits. He was at one time Justice of the Peace in the
latter named State. The subject of our sketch has many celebrated
ancestors and has inherited much social culture.
