Albert Mason Biography This biography appears on page 1706 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. ALBERT MASON, of Fairfax, Gregory county, is a native of the state of Iowa, having been born on the homestead farm, in Cedar county, on the 7th of January, 1867, and being a son of James and A. E. (Monroe) Mason. The father of the subject was born in the vicinity of Meadville, Pennsylvania, and there continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until 1850, when he started for the west and became a pioneer settler in Cedar county, Iowa, where he became the owner of a valuable landed estate of two hundred and forty acres, upon which he made the best of improvements. He continued to reside on the old homestead until his death, in 1883, at the age of fifty-seven years. His widow is still living, being seventy years of age at the time of this writing, and she resides in Fairfax, South Dakota. She was born and reared in Indiana, Of her twelve children only three are living. The father of the subject was a staunch Republican, having identified himself with the party at the time of its organization, and his religious faith was that of the Baptist church, of which his widow also has long been a devoted member. The subject of this review was reared to manhood on the homestead farm and his educational advantages were such as were afforded in the public schools of the state of Iowa. Mr. Mason continued to be associated in the work and management of the home farm until he had attained the age of seventeen years, having been about sixteen years old at the time of his father's death. In 1884 he came to Holt county, Nebraska, and, with his mother and sisters, resided on a homestead until 1891, and then came to Gregory county, South Dakota, and here took up a homestead claim of government land, while he was one of the first to settle in the embryonic village of Fairfax, of which he is one of the founders and builders. In 1895 he here established himself in the general merchandise business, in which he has ever since continued, having at the present time a well-equipped store, and being recognized as one of the leading merchants of the town. In politics he maintains an independent attitude, using his franchise in support of the man and measures approved by his judgment. He has been a member of the village council from the time of the incorporation of the town, and is at the present time president of the same and is giving a most progressive and able administration as the executive head of the municipal government. Mr. Mason was the first postmaster of the town, having received the appointment during the administration of President Harrison and having continued in tenure of the office for eight successive years. He is a member of the board of education and took an active part in the establishing of the public-school system in the village and county, and has done most of the local surveying throughout the county, and in this capacity has laid out all of its towns. He was prominently concerned in the organization of the county, having charge of the official correspondence and making two trips to interview the Governor in furtherance of the work, while he personally secured many of the signatures to the petition for the organization of the new county. Fraternally he is identified with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, having been a charter member of the latter. He and his wife are prominent and valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church. On the 6th of September, 1888, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Mason to Miss Bertha Batesole, who was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, being a daughter of William H. and Nancy J. Batesole, both of whom were born and reared in Ohio, where the father was engaged in farming until his removal to the estate of Michigan, where he continued to follow the same vocation until 1885, when he removed to Holt county. Nebraska, where he remained until 1891, since which year he has been successfully engaged in farming in Marshall county, Iowa.