Charles T T Mason

MASON

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/13/2010 at 16:49:31

Charles T T Mason needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for since his youthful days he has been identified with commercial interests in Boone county. Although now living retired, he was for many years a member of the firm of Mason Brothers, a name synonymous with business activity, enterprise and integrity in this part of the state. He as a young man of twenty-two yeas when he arrived in Iowa in the year 1868. His birth occurred at Tamworth, New Hampshire, May 31, 1846, and his boyhood and youth were there passed. His educational opportunities were those accorded in the public schools, and his home training was of a nature that also assisted in qualify in him for active duties in later life. In 1868 he came to the west and while en route visited the convention at which General Grant was nominated for the presidency. His early business training was received in his father’s store, in which he became familiar with progressive methods of methodizing and throughout his entered career he kept in touch with the trend of commercial activity in modern times.
Mr Mason first started in business at Moingona and in 1873 arrived in Boone. The firm of Mason Brothers was organized, his partner being Clinton S Mason, and under the original firm name they continued in active business in Boone until September 1910, when they sold out. They erected the Mason building at the corner of Eighth and Story streets, also the building for wholesale purposes now occupied by the Iowa Dry Goods Company, save the first floor, which utilized by other tenants. This is situated on Story, between Eighty and ninth streets. While at different times he s business has been of more varied scope, eth brothers continued most of the time in the dry goods line and built up an extensive trade in the connection. They were constantly obliged to increase their stock to meet the growing demands of their patronage. Everything that the market produced in a way of dry goods was to be had in their establishment, representing the latest colors, designs and materials. Thus ready to serve the public, they were accorded an extensive trade and year after year their growing business brought them substantial returns. Of late years Charles T T Mason has lived largely retired but has devoted the necessary attention to the management of his business affairs and investments.
In January 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr Mason and Miss Alice M Coleman of Boone, who was born in 1857 and died April 1894, at the comparatively early age of thirty-seven years. She was the daughter of Joseph Coleman, a pioneer of this section of the state. Later he removed westward to California, where he resided for a number of years, but finally returned to Boone, where his death occurred when he was about ninety years of age. He came to Iowa from Michigan, but was originally form New York, while his wife was a native of new England. They ad but one son, who died while serving as a soldier in the Federal army during the Civil war. Mr and Mrs Mason became the parents of one son. Who passed away in infancy.
In politics Mr Mason has always been a stanch republican, giving unfaltering support to the men and measures of the party, yet refusing office for himself. His wife held membership in the Episcopal church, and he has always contributed liberally to its support. For the past nineteen years,, or since 1895, he has taken and active interesting the improvement of Linwood Park Cemetery. Moreover he is a public spirited citizen who has assisted in many projects of the general good. He is intensely interested in the substantial growth and improvements of city and county, and his work along that lien has been effective, far reaching and beneficial. Few is any of Boone county are more widely known that Charles T T Mason and the record with which he has made as business man and citizen places him among the foremost residents of this part of the state.

1914 Boone County History Book