My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in History of Lee County, Iowa published by Western Historical Company in 1879.  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.

* * * *

MASON, WILLIAM, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Ft. Madison; son of Alexander Mason, who was born East of the Alleghany Mountains, in Pennsylvania, where he married Elizabeth Simonton, also born in that vicinity; had ten children — three sons and seven daughters; William, the eldest son, was born East of the Alleghanies, in 1802; when 1 year of age his parents removed to Washington Co., Penn., where, June 30, 1831, he married Miss Margaret McComb, daughter of Robert McComb, whose biography appears elsewhere; she was born in Washington Co., Penn., 1806; in 1837, they removed to Jefferson Co., Ohio, and in 1842, to their present place of residence. His farm contains 68 acres of land, valued at $70 per acre. They have had eleven children, eight sons and one daughter still living — Alexander, born in Pennsylvania, May 23, 1832, a resident of Minneapolis, Minn., but formerly a successful merchant in St. Louis; Robert M., born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 6, 1833; is the only son at home; Elizabeth, the only living daughter, was born in Pennsylvania March 10, 1836, remains at home with her parents; John K., born in Ohio, March 11, 1838, a carpenter by trade, resident of Oregon; William C., born in Ohio, Dec. 21, 1839, a physician at Walnut Bureau Co., Ill.; he is a graduate of the Keokuk Medical College, and served through the late war, in which he was wounded, after which he served as Hospital Steward; Samuel J., born in Ohio, April 1, 1841; he also served in the late war; was badly wounded and discharged; is now a money broker in St. Louis; David H., born in Iowa, Feb. 15, 1843; resides at Alexandria, Mo., and is engaged in the American Sabbath School work; James S., born in Iowa, Nov. 25, 1844, and died November, 1875; Thomas H., was born Dec. 26, 1846, a farmer in Kansas; Walter L., born Dec. 5, 1848, also farming in Kansas; Isabel, born Feb. 26, 1852, and died Aug. 9, 1852. Mr. Mason is a Republican; the entire family are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Mason is an Elder, the father and mother uniting in Pennsylvania when they were quite young.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 668 biographies included in The History of Lee County, Iowa published in 1879.  For the complete description, click here: Lee County, Iowa History and Genealogy

View additional Lee County, Iowa family biographies: Lee County, Iowa Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.