C. V. Mason

page 156

The life of the tiller of the soil, while it has many hardships and uncertainties which make it unattractive to many, is after all the basic of the world’s industries, and in all the ages of history men have followed it, not from necessity but because they were drawn to it by the natural desire to make the earth bring forth after its kind and because it afforded the most independent existence among the pursuits of mankind. But now the old prejudices against farming are being dispelled by the new and scientific methods which tend to remove the former hap-hazard results and place it upon the most substantial basis. And among the young and progressive farmers of Monroe county who takes rank with those who will be the leaders of agriculture in the first part of the twentieth century is C.V. Mason.

His father, J.W. Mason, was a native of the state of Missouri and removed to Jefferson county, Iowa, when quite young, and while yet a young man came to Monroe county, where in 1861 he was married to Martha J. Barnes, a native of Indiana; her father, Jesse Barnes, was a native of Kentucky and was a pioneer settler of Cedar township, Monroe county, and his wife’s name was Eliza Ann Hogland; Jesse Barnes died in Monroe county, but his wife is still living. J.W. Mason was a Republican in political sympathies, and he and his wife were members of the United Brethren church. He passed away in 1884 at the age of forty-two, but his wife is still living with the subject of this sketch; there were seven children born to them, three sons and four daughters: John A., Minnie L., Eli A., Carrie, C.V., Esta, and Cora Mae.

C.V. Mason was ushered into the world in Monroe county, January 25, 1871, was reared to manhood under the hardy discipline of the home farm in Wayne township and there received his education in the country schools. In November of 1893 he was married to Minnie M. Davis, who is a native of Hancock county, Illinois, and a daughter of Eugene Davis, a native of Ohio; she spent her childhood in Illinois and came to Iowa after she had reached maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have three sons, Clifford J., Paul E. and Dwight D. Mr. Mason casts his vote for the Republican party and he and his wife are faithful members of the United Brethren church. He has made a success of farming and he and his family stand high in the regard of his fellow citizens.