Joseph O. Mason (1842 - 1923)

Born 1 Feb 1842 in Caldwell, Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy E. (Okerson) Mason — married 1 Jul 1877 in Cave-in-Rock, Hardin, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 8 Oct 1923 at age 81 in Hardin, Illinois, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gary Mason [send private message]

Biography

Joseph O. Mason was born 1 February 1842 in Caldwell County, Kentucky.^[1][2] He was the son of Caswell Mason ^[1] and Frances (Holeman) Mason. His middle name might be Overton.

He was first married about 1863 to Nancy Jane Robertson. They had five known children:

1. William H. Mason
2. Charles Albert Mason
3. Ida M. Mason
4. Joseph F. Mason
5. Carrie L. Mason

He was remarried about 1873 to Nancy E. Okerson.^[3] They had two known children:

1. Edward B. Mason
2. Walter Mason

He died 8 October 1923 and was buried at Cave Hill Cemetery, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County, Illinois.^[1][2]

Census

Census Year: 1850

Census Place: Hardin County, Illinois, United States ^[4]

Joseph Mason, age 11, born in KY, lived with parents.

Census Year: 1860

Census Place: Township 12, Range 9, Hardin County, Illinois, United States ^[5]

Joseph Mason, age 17, born in KY, lived with parents.

Census Year: 1870

Census Place: Post Office Cave-in-Rock, Hardin, Illinois, United States ^[6]

Joseph Mason, head of household. Occupation: Farmer.

Name Sex Age Birthplace

Joseph Mason Male 25 Kentucky

Nancy Mason Female 25 Illinois

William Mason Male 5 Illinois

Charles Mason Male 2 mos Illinois

Census Year: 1880

Census Place: Cave-in-Rock, Hardin, Illinois, United States ^[7]

Joseph O. Mason, head of household. Occupation: Farmer

Name Role Sex Age Birthplace

Joseph O Mason Self Male 38 Kentucky

Nancy E Mason Wife Female 24 Illinois (2nd wife)

William H Mason Son Male 15 Illinois

Charles A Mason Son Male 12 Illinois

Ida M Mason Daughter Female 8 Illinois

Joseph F Mason Son Male 6 Illinois

Cherry L Mason Daughter Female 4 Illinois

Edward B Mason Son Male 1 Illinois

Census Year: 1900

Census Place: Cave-in-Rock, Hardin, Illinois, United States^[3]

Joseph Mason, born Feb 1842. Marital Status: Married in 1877 for 23 years; Occupation: Farmer and Merchant.

Name Role Sex Age Birthplace

Joseph Mason Head Male 58 Kentucky

Nancy E Mason Wife Female 45 Illinois

Edward B Mason Son Male 22 Illinois

Walter Mason Son Male 19 Illinois

Chas Mason Son Male 31 Illinois

Mabel Mason Granddaughter Female 10 Illinois

Chas Mason Grandson Male Illinois

Census Year: 1910

Census Place: Cave-in-Rock, Hardin, Illinois, United States^[8]

Joseph Mason, head of household. Marital Status: Married 33 Years. Occupation: Retired Merchant and Farmer.

Name Role Sex Age Birthplace

Joseph Mason Head Male 68 Kentucky

Mancey Mason Wife Female 55 Illinois

Charley Mason Grandson Male 15 Illinois

Census Year: 1920

Census Place: Cave-in-Rock, Hardin, Illinois, United States

Marital Status; Married ^[9]

Name Role Sex Age Birthplace

Joseph C Mason Head Male 77 Kentucky

Nancy E Mason Wife Female 65 Indiana

Military Service

During the Civil War, he served as a Private for the Union, 48th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company E.^[10]

Military Record: Joseph Mason - Civil War, Private, Company E, 48th Illinois Infantry, Service Entry Date 14 Sept. 1861, Service Entry Place Crittenden Co., KY., Muster in Date 14 Sept. 1861, Muster in Place Camp Butler, IL., Joined by Whom Jackson G. Young, Discharged for Rupture Jan. 3, 1863 at Bethel, TN. - Age 19 - Height 5'8", Eyes Blue, Hair Light, Complexion Fair - Marital Status Single - Occupation Farmer - Birth Date Abt 1842 - Birth Place Caldwell Co., KY. - Residence Hardin Co., IL.

Occupation

1870, 1880, 1900 Census: Farmer

1910 Census: Retired Merchant and Farmer

1920 Census: Retired Farmer

Newspaper Clipping

Hardin County Independent, Oct. 13, 1983 ^[11]

"Thinking that possibly your readers would be interested in learning something of the early history of Hardin County, I submit the following.

My father, Caswell Mason, was born in North Carolina about 1795 and moved to Caldwell Co., Ky., when a boy, at which place the writer was born Feb. 1st., 1842. Father moved to Illinois in 1849; to Fayette County in 1853 where he had a brother, Mark Mason, who raised quite a large family. Among his sons I remember only Ab and Henry Mason.

Father moved back to Hardin County in 1854, we making the trip both ways in the old "prairie schooner", the ox wagon, and our oxen never got scared at an automobile on the way. At that time there was only one railroad in the great State of Illinois, the Illinois Central, which we crossed at DuQuoin, IL. Wife and I are just back from a visit to father's old home place in Fayette County after an absence of 64 years. We found that uncle Mark and all of his children had passed to the great beyond, but we found quite a number of our second cousins who seemed to be happily surprised at their newly found kinsfolk. We stayed overnight with a young German, Andrew Brackenbusch, who now owns the old homestead and were granted every courtesy possible under the circumstances. They were right in the midst of the oats and wheat threshing and had plenty to do. Wheat was making from 25 to 30 bushels per acre and selling at $2.00 per bushel; oats 50 to 80 bushels per acre and selling at 62 and 63 cents per bushel.

Hardin County had the best corn crop that we saw except in Gallatin and Sangamon Counties. Corn up through the State is very poor compared with what one sees in "Joseph's Egypt". We left Fayette County Monday for Springfield to attend the State Fair, which was seemingly a success, notwithstanding the great street car strike that was in progress at that time. We used the cars of the city daily but were advised to keep off them at nights, which we did. I attended the G.A.R. Reunion in which 250 or 300 marched out before Governor Lowden who made a fine speech in which he praised the old soldiers for what they did for the nation in the period from 1861 to 1865. Encouraging words were given to our young soldiers who are now entering the great war by the Governor. He emphasized the fact that the present world war was a show down and that we MUST WIN. At the close of his address he was given three cheers by the old soldiers and a hearty handshake which he seemed highly proud of. He urged everyone to stand behind the President and uphold the American Flag which has never been defeated or lowered to any nation, and I don't believe it ever will.

I am the 15th child of my parents who had born to them ten boys and six girls, all of whom save myself and one sister, Mrs. Sarah Oldham, have passed to the Great Beyond. Mrs. Oldham is in the 80's."

Research Notes

According to his Find A Grave memorial, his middle name was Overton, but haven't found any specific sources.

Sources

• Death Certificate: Bk.3, Pg.138, Hardin Co.,IL. - Joseph Mason
• Book: Obituaries of Hardin Co.,IL., Gray, Pg.77 - Joseph Mason

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," Joseph Mason, 08 Oct 1923; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,556,965. FamilySearch database accessed 8 March 2018.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #10383146 accessed 04 August 2021, memorial page for Pvt Joseph Overton Mason Sr. (1 Feb 1842–8 Oct 1923), Find a Grave Memorial ID 10383146, citing Cave Hill Cemetery, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County, Illinois, USA; Tombstone photo attached.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Il., Roll 305, Pg. 4B, Enumeration District 0060, Head - Joseph Mason. FamilySearch database accessed 4 August 2021.
4. ↑ 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Hardin Co.,Il., Roll M432_109, Pg.7B, Image 378, - Head Carroll Mason. FamilySearch database accessed 4 August 2021.
5. ↑ 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Hardin Co.,Il., Township 12, Range 9, Roll M653_185, Pg.1019, Image 3, Head - Caswell Mason. FamilySearch database accessed 4 August 2021.
6. ↑ 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Il., Post Office Cave-in-Rock, Roll M593_228, Pg.6A, Image 15, Head - Joseph Mason. FamilySearch database accessed 4 August 2021.
7. ↑ 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Il., Roll 211, Pg. 407C, Enumeration District 032, Image 0816, Head - Joseph O. Mason. FamilySearch database accessed 4 August 2021.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1910,"Joseph Mason, Cave In Rock, Hardin, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 50, sheet 6B, family 110, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 291; FHL microfilm 1,374,304. FamilySearch database accessed 1 Jan 2023.
9. ↑ 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Il., Roll T625_371, Pg. 9A, Enumeration District 62, Image 40, Head - Joseph C. Mason. FamilySearch database accessed 4 August 2021.
10. ↑ "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," Joseph Mason, Private, Company E, 48th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Union; citing NARA microfilm publication M539, roll 57; FHL microfilm 881,677. FamilySearch database accessed 4 August 2021.
11. ↑ Hardin County Independent, Oct. 13, 1983, 1917, Letter from Joe Mason Gives Some County History, Sent in by Maurice Mason, L.T. Rash, Editor, Independent, Elizabethtown, IL.