John Mason's biography, Dundee, Monroe County, Michigan Copyright © 2000 by Bryan Taylor. This copy contributed for use in the MIGenWeb Archives. MIGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed MIGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the MIGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mason/dundee/biograp hy/m52007.txt Michigan Historical Society Records, Vol. 8 Dr. John W. Mason died at Dundee, Mich., December 22, 1884, aged fifty-five years. At the reunion of the Sixth Michigan Heavy Artillery, held at Benton Harbor, August 26, 1885, Major Harrison Soule, of Ann Arbor, spoke of Dr. Mason as follows: John W. Mason was born in Barry, Orleans county, N. Y., January 6, 1829; came to Michigan in 1832, and lived at Saline, passing his boyhood there. In 1851, at the age of twenty-two years, he entered the University at Ann Arbor in the medical department, his tastes inclining to that science. He remained in college but one year, when he went to Louisville, Kentucky, and studied under a private preceptor one year, after which he returned to Michigan and began the practice of medicine at Petersburg. In the year 1862 he again entered as a student of the University, wishing to attain to higher honors in his chosen profession, and in that year be graduated, being among the brilliant list of surgeons who shed high honors on their profession on the rented field. Surgeon Mason entered the service in our own Sixth Michigan. We all remember our comrade when he joined us, relieving Ass't Surgeon French who had by his kindness endeared himself to us all, and who had been promoted to other fields of duty as surgeon of another regiment. We had no misgivings when we looked into the happy face of our new comrade. The cheerful smile and brotherly grasp of the hand greeted us, and we took him directly to our hearts. Comrades, you need no reminder from me to follow him through the service. He was always with us, whether in the long, toilsome march through the cypress swamps, across the deep lagoons of Louisiana low lands, or on the lonely watch at our hastily improvised hospital tent on the field, giving such care and consolation as only his big brotherly heart could give. Many of our fallen comrades have been cheered and many a long, weary[p.64] hour made shorter by the kind and pleasant voice which whispered words of duty to brave hearts. Frequently solicited by promotion to other fields, his affection for his old first love prompted him to remain with us; and with the exception of the short time in which as a prisoner, being captured with our small-pox hospital, which we all well remember, he was with us. On the retirement of Surgeon Motram, Mason was made full surgeon, and as such remained on constant duty until mustered out with the regiment at the close of the war, August 20, 1865. Except a short time in Detroit, and nearly year spent in traveling, Surgeon Mason has resided in Dundee, Michigan, and in the practice of his profession has gained considerable renown and hosts of friends who with us mourn his early death. About two years previous to death he began to feel that the seeds of disease had gained a foothold on him, which, together with a chronic diarrhea that had troubled him more or less since his army life, were rapidly gaining mastery. For a time he rebelled against the grim monster disease, but soon discovered that he was out-generaled on all sides. Occasionally he would feel that all hopes were not gone, but a few weeks would determine he was the loser in both health and confidence, and so until about the reunion at Battle Creek. On receiving our annual notice to meet once more with the boys, the Doctor braced up and the anticipation of such meeting cheered him. I can, my comrades, no better describe the situation than by giving the words of his beloved wife, who says: "A little more than a year ago he was receiving letters from Major Soule, Surgeon Chase and other comrades, asking him to meet them at Battle Creek reunion in August. At first it seemed as if impossible for him to do so, but the thought of again meeting with old comrades acted as tonic on both mind and body, and for a few days previous to going and while there he seemed so much stronger than he had done for months, we trusted the change might be permanent and health again be his, but our hopes were soon disappointed. Within forty-eight hours from the time he bade you good-bye on the tented grounds he was being watched over in his home by physicians and friends, with fear in their hearts that he was to be with them but a few days. From that attack, however, he rallied and lived for months, suffering intensely unless under the influence of opiates. Many times he spoke of his pleasant meeting with you all, and one day, soon after our return, he said to me, "Oh, I am so glad I attended the reunion, for it is my last on earth. I will soon be called to a reunion where no good-byes are said" Major John W. Mason, surgeon of the Sixth Michigan Heavy Artillery, died December 22, 1884. Comrades, while we shall not meet together long[p.65] and shall, as the years go by, miss first one, then another from our midst, let us continue these reunions; let us year by year meet and see how the battle of life goes with each other. Let us live good citizens, and when the last drum heats our tattoo let us he ready and in good mustering order to join the ranks of our Grand Army who are tenting on the other shore. BY JOSEPH P. SHOEMAKER