Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Mason, Daniel C 1811 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 6, 2007, 2:48 pm Author: Portrait & Bios Album, 1890 DANIEL C. MASON. Among the estates of Will County which present an appearance of comfort and home-likeness, none are more attractive than one which occupies a portion of section 5, Joliet Township, and is the home of Daniel Mason and his good wife. Without having any pretensions to elegance, everything about the place bespeaks good taste, prosperity, and a care which is as far removed from parsimoniousness as from a reckless disregard of appearances and results. The dwelling is a pleasant one, set in the midst of surroundings which are quite in keeping with the neatness and order which prevail under its roof. It is conveniently near to the city of Joliet, affording to its inmates the best of the enjoyments which are to be found in city life, while avoiding the confusion, restricted quarters, and dust of the town. Mr. Mason is now living a retired life and renting his estate, which originally comprised two hundred and fifty acres and bears all needful structures for the carrying on of farm work. The old Bay State has the honor of being the birthplace of the parents of our subject, who in their early life dwelt in Cheshire, Berkshire County. In the pleasant New England village Arnold Mason and Mercy Coman had opened their eyes to the light and spent their school days, becoming thoroughly acquainted with each others disposition and character, and having their early friendship ripened into a regard which led them to unite their lives and fortunes. After their marriage they settled in New Hartford, near Utica, N. Y., where they spent their happy wedded life and reared a large family. Thirteen children were born to them, eleven living to mature years. The subject of this biographical notice is the seventh child born to his parents, his natal day having been January 12, 1811. He grew to manhood in New Hartford, remaining under the parental roof until he was about twenty-one years old, in the meantime having acquired such a knowledge of the ordinary branches of study as afforded him a good equipment in business. Upon leaving the home of his boyhood he went to New Jersey to work on the Delaware & Rariton Canal under his father, who had a contract for building a portion of that highway. After working there a year, he joined his father in a contract for excavating through Bergen Hill for the old New Jersey Central Railroad, and also the contract for digging the Morris Canal from there to Jersey City. After the completion of these contracts, father and son took one for building two sections of the Croton Water Works, at New York City. The senior Mr. Mason was one of the three contractors that built the well-known High Bridge over the Halem River. After completing his work on the water works, our subject returned to his native place, near which he engaged in farming, remaining there until the fall of 1869, when he removed to his present home where he continued his agricultural labors for some time. Honest industry, persevering efforts, and prudent management, have been crowned with success in the career of Mr. Mason, whose efforts have been ably seconded by his companion, whose housewifely ability and wise economy have prevented the expenditures from reaching a figure beyond what could be well afforded, and has thus been instrumental in the accumulation of their comfortable means. On April 16, 1844, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between our subject and Miss Cornelia H. Kellogg, who was born and reared in the town which was the early home of her husband, and to whose union the same words will apply which are suited to the marriage of his parents. Mrs. Mason is the second in a family consisting of two sons and two daughters, born to Truman and Melinda (Marsh) Kellogg, both of whom were natives of Oneida County, N. Y., in which they died. Mr. Kellogg was a farmer and the family were of the Quaker faith. Mrs. Mason opened her eyes to the light June 8, 1824. Blessed by nature with many fine qualities, her character was strengthened and developed by careful training, and she is to-day a fine type of the gentlewoman with motherly qualities. Her happy union has been blessed by the birth of two children— Truman A. and Cornelia M. The latter is now a widow, having married Stephen Alanson Sherwood, who died in April, 1876, leaving two children—Arthur M. and Louis A., who with their mother are making their home on the estate with Mr. and Mrs. Mason. Although reared in the Quaker faith, Mrs. Mason is now a member of the Central Presbyterian Church. Mr. Mason is independent in his political views, giving his ballot to the candidate whom he thinks best qualified to carry out the measures in which his judgment concurs. It would be hard to find a man more highly respected or more deserving of the good opinion of his fellow-men than he, and it affords the biographical writer pleasure to insert this account of his life and that of his wife. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/mason1345nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.7 Kb