Biography of Joseph M. Masters, 1902, Baker Co. Oregon: Surnames: Masters, Maxwell, Perkins.

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
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An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 277

Joseph M. Masters

He was born in Overton county, Tennessee, on the 7th of April, 1844, and
resided there except while serving as a soldier, until 1880, engaging in
agricultural pursuits as soon as he had completed his education and become old
enough.

In 1862 he enlisted in the Eighth Tennessee Cavalry, Company F, determined to
do what lay in his power for the cause he deemed to be right. His captain's
name was Billberry, his colonel's Deverill, and his regiment was a part of
General Forrest's cavalry command. Our subject served as regimental color
sergeant. He participated in the battle of Murfreesboro, and those around
Nashville, and was taken prisoner in the battle of Parker's Cross Roads. He
was confined for a period of about six months in Camp Douglas at Chicago, then
exchanged and from that time until the close of the war he remained with his
regiment, serving the cause of the Confederacy with faithfulness, and sharing
the bravery which won the southern soldiers admiration even from their
northern foes.

At the close of the war he resumed his business, farming and stock raising,
continuing therein until 1880, when he sold and removed to San Juan county,
Utah. He lived there three years, coming then to Baker county. He farmed a
rented place here for a while, but as soon as he was able he purchased a
quarter section for himself five miles west of Baker City, unto which he has
added at times he now has a fine farm of three hundred and sixty acres, where
he handles about two hundred head of cattle. During the first few years of his
residence here he was engaged a part of his time in selling meat throughout
the country, and in 1900 in partnership with his son, he embarked in the meat
market business in Baker City, but this establishment they sold before the
year was over.

Fraternally, our subject is an Odd fellow, and in religious persuasion he is
an adherent of the Methodist church, South, although he was raised a
Presbyterian. On September 11, 1864, he married Mary J., a daughter of Charles
and Nancy Maxwell, also a native of Tennessee, and they have had six children,
Simeon M., Cornelius W., Lettie L., wife of D. C. Perkins; James B. and
William T. attending school in Baker City; and Mary Lee, deceased.