Mason, Jennie 1843-1926

MASON, RHONE, ROLLINS, SKIFF, COX, HIXON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 9/15/2014 at 07:36:05

The Grinnell (IA) Herald
Aug. 24, 1926

MRS. JENNIE MASON
WAS A PIONEER
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She And Her Husband Settled in Jas-
per County Soon After Marriage
in 1865.
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WAS SINCERELY DEVOTED
TO INTERESTS OF HOME
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Her Long Life Ended last Thursday
Evening--She was 83 Years
Old.
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Mrs. Jessie Rhone Mason was born in Center County, Pennsylvania, August 28th, 1843. She was married in 1865 to Louis Franklin Mason, and soon after their marriage the young couple came West to Iowa, settling in Jasper County. Mrs. Mason, therefore, may be appropriately referred to as a pioneer resident of Iowa, who knew from first hand experience the struggles and hardships the early settlers endured, and the victories they achieved.

Mr. and Mrs. Mason were the parents of five children, all of whom survive their father and mother. They are Mrs. John Rollins, Robert S. Mason, and Charles L. Mason, all of Grinnell; Mrs. Blanche Skiff of Lake Villa, Illinois; and Mrs. Stella Cox of Ontario, Oregon. Mr. Mason, who was familiarly known as Captain Mason, having received his captaincy near the close of the Civil War in which he served for the most part as first Lieutenant, preceded his wife in death nineteen years, dying October 2nd, 1907.

Mrs. Mason's life was not conspicuous in the sense that she held official positions in various organizations, but her life was noteworthy from the point of view of family interest and devotion. She lived for her family, lavished all her care and affection upon her family and consequently her children pay her the noble tribute of having been in every sense a true mother. She was blessed with an active and living mind. Deeply interested in trends in modern progress, she was quick to share her feelings and thoughts with those with whom she conversed.

Having become a member of the Lutheran Church in her native state of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Mason was a Christian throughout her life. Upon her arrival in Newton, Iowa, she took membership with a Methodist Church, and sometime later when a Lutheran Church was organized in Newton she enrolled as a charter member of that church. During her residence in Grinnell, so long as her strength permitted, Mrs. Mason attended the First Congregational Church.

Besides her children, there are also surviving Mrs. Mason a sister, Alice Rhone Hixson, of Los Angeles, California, eleven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. The grandchildren comprise the five children of Mr. and Mrs. John Rollins, James of Chicago, Joe of Grinnell, Homer of Lake Villa, Illinois, Edith of Des Moines, and Lucille of Portland, Oregon; the two children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Mason, Doris and Jack; and the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Cox, Louis, Marguerite, Clementine, and Virginia. The one great-grandchild is Maxine Rollins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Rollins.

After an illness of about two months Mrs. Mason passed away quietly Thursday evening, August 19th, having been in her 83rd year.

Funeral services were held at her home at 320 Sixth Avenue Sunday afternoon at three o'clock with Rev. Peter Young in charge. A mixed quartet composed of Mrs. E.B.T. Spencer, Miss Harriett Korns, Dr. E.E. Harris, and Henry Barkalew sang "Lead Kindly Light" and "Nearer My God to Thee." Pall bearers were Fred Spaulding, Bert Abel, C.E. Carter, Mr. Butler, Louis Kutish, and J.H. Mehlin. Burial was at Hazelwood.