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Below is a family biography included in The History of Benton County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Joshua Mason, merchant and postmaster at Mason Valley, Ark., was born in McDowell County, N. C., April 13, 1846, and is a son of John Jefferson and Emily (Gibbs) Mason, the former of whom was born in Alabama. Joshua Mason removed to Benton County, Ark., with his parents in 1858, and was here reared to manhood. He was educated in the common schools and by private study, and in contact with business life he has acquired a good practical education. His early days were spent in following the plow, but he afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits (about 1883), and his efforts in this direction have been followed with good results. His mercantile stock is valued at about $4,000, and his property in the country at about $3,000. All this property he has accumulated by hard work, honest dealing and good management. In September, 1863, he enlisted in the Union service, in Company A, First Arkansas Battery and served under Capt. Denton D. Stark, his field of action being principally in Arkansas, Indian Territory and Missouri. He belongs to the Masonic lodge of Hazel Valley. He was married to Miss Sally Parker, who was born in Polk County, Mo., and is a daughter of Julia F. Parker, and he and wife worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Nearly all of Mr. Mason’s people are engaged in farming, and are of Irish descent. The father, John Jefferson Mason, was born in Burke County, N. C., July 12, 1809, and is a son of Rev, Michael and Margaret (Hunter) Mason, Michael Mason was born in Pennsylvania, removed to Alabama, and there died in 1824. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church from early manhood until his death. His wife was born in North Carolina, and died in her native State in 1865, John Jefferson Mason was educated in the old-time subscription schools, and in 1835 was married to Emily Gibbs, who was born in North Carolina on the 22d of September, 1814, a daughter of Joshua and Rebecca (Conley) Gibbs. Mrs. Mason’s grandfather, John Gibbs, was a Methodist minister for fifty years or more, and died at the age of eighty years, in North Carolina, in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Mason became the parents of three sons and three daughters, and in 1857 immigrated to Arkansas, where he entered eighty acres of land and engaged in farming. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and are old and highly honored citizens of the county.

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This family biography is one of 240 biographies included in The History of Benton County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Benton County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Benton County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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