Wm. Mason

MASON

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 1/27/2018 at 11:18:08

29 July 1869 - The Tipton Advertiser

DEATH OF A PIONEER -- On Monday, the 26th of July, Wm. Mason, Esq., one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the county, died very suddenly at the house of Mr. Hardacre, about a half mile from his own residence at Mason's Grove. Mr. Mason was always hale and hearty until about three or four months ago, when a sudden and severe illness left him comparatively feeble, though he nor his friends had reason to apprehend the sudden blow which proved fatal. At the time of his death he was on his way to Tipton, leaving home for that purpose and stopping for a neighborly call of a few moments at Mr. Hardacre's. After a very short stay he started to leave the house for his conveyance, when he was stricken by death at the very door, and expired within fifteen minutes without speaking.

Mr. Mason, as we are informed by S. A. Bissell, Esq., settled at Mason's Grove, as from him it was afterwards called, early in the year 1836, while this State was a part of Wisconsin Territory, and while the whole of the present territory of the State of Iowa north of the south line of township seventy-nine was organized as Dubuque county. Very soon after his settlement, Mr. M. was appointed a Justice of the Peace by Henry Dodge, then Governor of the Territory of Wisconsin, which office he held until the organization of the Territory of Iowa, June 10th, 1838, when he was offered the position of Sheriff of Cedar county by Robert Lucas, the first Governor of Iowa Territory. This office he declined, recommending to the Governor Mr. E. E. Edwards, now of Muscatine, who therefor received the appointment as organizing Sheriff. Mr. Mason was then appointed by Gov. Lucas, as he had previously been by Gov. Dodge, Justice of the Peace, which office he continued to hold by appointment until it became elective, when it was again given him by the unanimous vote of the precinct in which he resided. From 1838 to 1840, when there were so many bitter contests concerning the right of possession of the valuable lands around Mason's Grove, Esq. Mason was in almost every case made arbiter, and none of his decisions were reversed by higher courts. It is related of him that it was of no use in any case to read or quote law for his guidance; that he decided everything on its merits as discerned by his eminent common sense, unhampered by any legal technicalities or "points" and that his decision were never complained of or reversed.

After the organization of the State of Iowa he was for a long time one of the County Commissioners, and also held at different times other important and responsible offices, among them, that of Commissioner of the School Fund, in all of which he discharged his duties in so honest and able a manner that no blame was ever attached to him.

He died without physical pain or suffering, leaving very many friends; and if any enemies, the oldest inhabitant of the county has never heard of them.