Jefferson County Online A part of the IAGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects Who's Who in 1921 & 1922 Frederick Darwin Mason

"The Fairfield Tribune"
Thursday, December 15, 1921
Page FOUR

NO. 40. (sic - should be 42)

FREDERICK DARWIN MASON

Again do we present an illustrious example of the wonderful productivity of the Iowa farm. It may have been noted by those who have followed this column, that nearly all of our great men have at some times in their lives been farmers, usually Iowa farmers. In Frederick Darwin Mason, whom we present to your kindly notice today, we find another illustration of how close contact with the soil tends to develop man's greatness.

Frederick Darwin Mason was born on a farm out near Albia, but, early in life, he gave up farming to become a chronic committeeman. Found he couldn't farm and serve, at the same time, on all of the committees his friends had insisted on placing him. His career as a committeeman began early in life when the teacher of the district school which he attended always named Fred Mason as a member of the various and sundry committees appointed to work out the programs for the school entertainments.

Wasn't long before Frederick Darwin decided to give up the country school and the farm and go where he would have a larger field of usefullness as a committeeman, for he foresaw even then that he was going to make a success of the committee business, and he determined upon it as a career. Came to Parsons college and found just what he was looking for there in the way of committee work--they put him on every committee that was appointed.

Frederick Darwin became interested in Wyoming land some time back. Did a bit of farming there. Great stock country, Wyoming is, so Fred naturally did something in the way of raising stock. Was successful enought in raising it but didn't do very well on the selling end of the game. You see, he made a pet of every blamed animal on the ranch and became so attached to them that he didn't want to sell. He liked Wyoming first rate but couldn't quite make up his mind that he liked it sufficiently to stand the wind and sand. When he decided to sell, a tenderfoot from Pennsylvania came to look at the land, 'Twas a might windy day, even for Wyoming. The tenderfoot was holding onto his hat with both hands, his eys (sic) blinded by sand.

"Say," he demanded, "does the wind always blow this way out here?"

Frederick Darwin was stumped. He wanted to sell that land powerful bad; also, he had been brought up under religious influence and had been taught to tell the truth. But he answered "no" to the tenderfoot's inquiry. When he told his wife that evening he explained that he hadn't strayed from the path of truth.

"For," says Frederick Darwin, "you know the wind doesn't always blow this way--sometimes it turns around and blows the other way."

You may have noted that Fred D. is somewhat given to avoirdupois, is what you might almost call stout. He'd been wanting to reduce but didn't seem to make much headway by dieting. Doctor told him he didn't take enough exercise, said he ought to take up golf. Frederick D. thought the matter over for days but was skeptical about golf doing him any good. One day he was talking to Will Ross, and the conversation incidentally turned to golf, a subject on which Will seemed to be informed.

"Do you play golf?" asked Fred.

Will replied that he did.

Frederick D. took a careful and admiring survey of his build and then observed, "Well, I guess it's what I need after all."

After leaving school Frederick Darwin began the study of law, he was admitted to the bar and hung out his shingle at Lincoln, Nebraska. But ranch life in Wyoming held a lure not to be resisted.

Not long ago Parsons college trustees feld the need of some one to straighten out the tangle of the school's financial affairs--and keep 'em straight. "Fred Mason's the man for the job," they said; and Fred Mason was put on the job. He went to work and soon brought order out of a considerable chaos. In his work as secretary and treasurer of the college he brought a system and businesslike method of handling the college affairs which is saving the institution big sums every year--and a lot of grief.

And now, as representative of the college, Frederick Darwin is back on his old job of committeeman again. When there's anything doing folks seem to think it necessary that the college have representation; naturally, the secretary and treasurer of the college, being good-natured and obliging, is selected as the official goat.

"Fred," observes his wife, "we really must go and spend the evening with the Blanks--we promised long ago. When can you spare some evening?"

Fred consults the calendar and remarks that he is dated up every evening for the next thirty days with committee meetings but maybe he can get a night off some time next month.

But there's this to be said of Frederick Darwin; he serves on his innumerable committees uncomplainingly, even cheerfully. Furthermore, he attends the meetings and doesn't shirk on the job and his counsel is sought and followed. Was a good deal of talk last spring of putting him in as councilman from his ward and 'twould have been done except that his wife got wind of it and 'tis said, consulted a lawyer about what constituted desertion as grounds for divorce. Said she thought Fred ought to be at home long enough to attend the furnace fire and carry out the ashes anyway. So a political career for Fred D. was shattered.

You will note by this brief sketch of the life and activities of Frederick Darwin Mason that he is a pretty useful citizen. And he suffers the fate of the average useful citizen--he is made use of.