Thomas Mason 1820

Dicy Utterback was born November 17, 1819, in Hardin Co., KY, and died 1849, in Richland Co., IL, at about age 30. She is the daughter of Elijah Utterback of Hardin Co., KY, and Unknown.

Thomas Mason was born March 1, 1820, in Pennsylvania, and died October 3, 1862, in the Battle of Corinth, Alcorn Co., MS, at age 42. Buried in Corinth National Cemetery, Corinth, MS. He is the son of Thomas Mason (born June 18, 1791, in Fayette Co., PA - died 1864, in Bullskin Twp., Fayette Co., PA, at about age 73). Buried in Franklin Cemetery, Dunbar, Fayette Co., PA.

Thomas Mason and Dicy (Utterback) Jones were married December 30, 1841, in Richland Co., IL.

Almira Bradshaw was born September 4, 1829, in Wayne Co., IL, and died May 24, 1886, in Rockbridge, Richland Co., WI, at age 56. Buried in Woodstock Cemetery, Rockbridge, Richland Co., WI.

Following the record of the birth of Mahala in the family Bible there is the simple statement “Dicy Mason, wife of Thomas Mason, died” - no date, but it was probably 1849 or early 1850 for the next entry is the marriage of Thomas Mason to Almira Shannon on Aug. 5, 1850.

Almira Shannon (nee Bradshaw) was a widow with probably two small children. (The Bible records their death, but as their birth is not given and the dates do not fit, this assumption is made). She came into the motherless Mason family of four children all under eight years of age. The next ten years of their married life saw six children born to them, five of whom died in infancy including still-born twins, and also the deaths of the two other children.

Thomas Mason and Almira (Bradshaw) Shannon were married August 5, 1850, in Unknown.

When the family moved to Richland County, Wisconsin in 1857 it consisted of Thomas’s four children by his first marriage. Margaret was born 2 April 1858. James Eddy Mason was born 1 March 1861 and lived to be ninety-four years, eight months and eighteen days old but Margaret died before her eighth birthday. The next ten years of their married life saw six children born to them, five of whom died in infancy including still-born twins, and also the deaths of the two other children.

Henry Thomas Walser was born April 10, 1822, in Rowan Co., NC, and died September 11, 1902, in Richland Co., WI, at age 80. Buried in Woodstock Cemetery, Rockbridge, Richland Co., WI.

Henry Thomas Walser and Almira (Bradshaw) (Shannon) (Mason) Walser had one child:

Name: Shadrach Mason, Residence: Trempealeau, Wisconsin, Enlistment Date: 01 November 1861, Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, Side Served: Union, State Served: Wisconsin

Unit Numbers: 3064 3064 3064 3064

Service Record:

Enlisted as a Private on 01 November 1861
Enlisted in Company D, 14th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 01 November 1861.
Discharged because of wounds Company D, 14th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 16 December 1862
Enlisted in Company D, 14th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 02 December 1863.
Died of disease Company D, 14th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 31 July 1864 in Galesville, WI

Name: Elijah Mason, Residence: Trempealeau, Wisconsin, Enlistment Date: 21 November 1861, Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, Side Served: Union, State Served: Wisconsin

Unit Numbers: 3064 3064

Service Record:

Promoted to Full Sergeant
Enlisted as a Corporal on 21 November 1861
Enlisted in Company D, 14th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 21 November 1861.
Mustered out Company D, 14th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 09 October 1865 in Mobile, AL

Name: Thomas Mason, Residence: Trempealeau, Wisconsin, Enlistment Date: 05 September 1862, Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, Side Served: Union, State Served: Wisconsin

Unit Numbers: 3064 3064

Service Record:

Enlisted as a Private on 05 September 1862
Enlisted in Company D, 14th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 05 September 1862.
Killed Company D, 14th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 03 October 1862 in Corinth, MS

Thomas Mason, born 1 March 1820, grew up in that period of Illinois history that saw the state expanding into Indian lands, increasing population and developing politically as a significant part of the western frontier. Many from the slave states (Kentucky and Tennessee) were among the new settlers. Abraham Lincoln began his law career at that time.

It was also a period of religious fervor. Led by Peter Cartwright, the Methodists established themselves early in Illinois, and it was doubtless under his influence that Thomas was drawn into the ministry probably after his marriage to Dicy Jones on 30 Dec. 1841. He was twenty-one at the time and was already in possession of eighty acres of land in Richland County which had been deeded to him by his father in November of the same year. Children of this marriage were:

Elijah born 17 Sept. 1844; died 7 Nov. 1925 at Washington, Ill.; married Mary Ellen Ferryman 23 Sept. 1874.

Almira Shannon (nee Bradshaw) was a widow with probably two small children. (The Bible records their death, but as their birth is not given and the dates do not fit, this assumption is made.) She came into the motherless Mason family of four children all under eight years of age. The next ten years of their married life saw six children born to them, five of whom died in infancy including still-born twins, and also the deaths of the two other children.

Almira Bradshaw was the daughter of James Bradshaw and Matilda Frances McMackin and was born in Wayne County, Illinois on 4 Sept. 1829. No record of her marriage to Mr. Shannon has been found as early Wayne County records were destroyed by fire. Her photographs show a calm, poised and thoughtful person. That she was deeply spiritual and inspired affection from relatives and friends alike is evidenced by her autograph album which was inscribed by many during the latter years of her life when she visited relatives in Illinois, Indiana and Kansas. These inscriptions are revealing in showing the mind and thought of those with whom she was associated. The album was a gift from R. H. Burns on Dec. 25, 1888.

m/1 Patsy Doty [1829-1866] m. August 10, 1844
m/2 Almira Bradshaw-Mason m. October 20, 1866

Henry T Walser, proprietor of the Walser mill, is a native of a southern State, having been born in Rowan Co., NC, in April, 1822. He was eight years of age when his parents moved to Illinois and settled in Edwards county where they were pioneers. His father purchased timber land, cleared a farm and lived there until the time of his death. It was here that the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. When he was seventeen years old, his father built a saw-mill, in which he was employed five years. He then purchased the mill, and built a flour-mill, which he operated in connection with the saw-mill for six years. At the end of that time, he sold out and engaged in mercantile business. Three years later he sold the store, and built another mill in Edwards county, which he operated until 1866, when he came to Richland county and located at Woodstock and engaged again in mercantile business, which he continued until 1869. He then sold out and built the mill which he now operates. He has been twice married --- first in 1844, to Patsy Doty, a native of Indiana. They had nine children, six of whom are now living --- Martin, Rebecca, Solomon, Harriet, Lori and Hiram. Mrs. Walser died in 1866. Mr. Walser's second wife was Almira Bradshaw, widow of Rev. Thomas Mason. One child blessed this union, but died in infancy.

Thomas Mason came to Edwards County, Illinois sometime in 1819 from Pennsylvania. This and the year of his birth, 1780, (Federal Census, 1850) are the earliest published facts about him. His household of twelve probably travelled the new National Road across the mountains in Pennsylvania to the Ohio River, down that river to the mouth of the Wabash, then still by water to either the English settlement at Albion or to Vincennes. He settled on land that is now part of three counties - Edwards, Richland and Lawrence - not far from the road between Vincennes and St. Louis which at that time was the boundary between white settlements and Indian lands and a highway dangerous to travel because of outlaws. One hundred and fifty years later it was the exact spot of the center of population of continental United States.

Records state that Thomas came with “William Nash and his brother” so the household of twelve in the 1820 Federal Census may have included them. As Thomas was forty years old at that time it is possible that his wife was of a second marriage. For this census there were two boys under ten, George born 1810 and Thomas, born 1 March 1820; three girls under ten, one being Polly; two girls between ten and sixteen, Louisa and Sarah; one male between eighteen and twenty-six.

The land on which the Mason family settled, and which was known as Mason’s Prairie, was located about twenty-five miles southwest of Lawrenceville. It is south of the present town of Parkersburg and a few miles north of Albion where in 1818 a band of English immigrants established themselves under the leadership of a Mr. Flowers. To the east was the town of West Salem composed chiefly of German immigrants.

Fred Gerhard said in 1857 that “the most remarkable and striking feature distinguishing Illinois from other states consists in her extensive prairies”. A prairie was a luxuriant growth of grass and a natural meadow. The Mason land was composed of prairie and woods. Later when the soil was exhausted, coal and oil were discovered and today it is no longer an exclusively agricultural land. Near the present boundary line between Richland and Edwards counties a school house known as Mason’s School was built. It is no longer standing. Not far from the highway between Parkersburg and Albion lies the Mason farm cemetery.

There is little information available on the first Mason family to arrive in Illinois. Thomas served as justice of the Peace in Edwards County and in Lawrence County after that county was separated from Edwards in 1821. The following information was obtained from Bible records, Federal Census and Marriage Records of Lawrence and Richland Counties:

Thomas born 1 March 1820 married 1) Dicy Jones 30 Dec. 1841; 2) Almira Bradshaw Shannon 5 Aug. 1850.

On 1 Sept. 1829 Thomas Mason married Elizabeth Brander (Lawrence Co. File Box M166). It is logical to assume that John’s mother died in childbirth and that he married soon after to have a mother for his household of children.

On record at the Palatine, Illinois, Land Office is the purchase of two parcels of land by Thomas Mason of Lawrence County and one by George Mason of the same county. Because of the change in county boundaries the Census records for these families are found in Edwards County for 1820 and 1830; in Lawrence County for 1840; in Richland County for 1850. In the latter Thomas is seventy years old, his wife Elizabeth, 64. Living with them is Reuben Mason, age 20, Sarah Patterson, age 22, and Franklin Patterson, age 4. No further record of Thomas appears in the census of these counties.

Elijah born 17 Sept. 1844; died 7 Nov. 1925 at Washington, Ill.; married Mary Ellen Ferryman 23 Sept. 1874.

Almira Shannon (nee Bradshaw) was a widow with probably two small children. (The Bible records their death, but as their birth is not given and the dates do not fit, this assumption is made.) She came into the motherless Mason family of four children all under eight years of age. The next ten years of their married life saw six children born to them, five of whom died in infancy including still-born twins, and also the deaths of the two other children.

Thomas born 1 March 1820 married 1) Dicy Jones 30 Dec. 1841; 2) Almira Bradshaw Shannon 5 Aug. 1850.

Rev. Thomas Mason, (deceased) one of the pioneer preachers of Richland county, was born March 1, 1820, in Pennsylvania. He commenced preaching in Richland Co., Ill., and was married there in 1847 to Almira (Bradshaw) Shannon, a native of Wayne Co., Ill. He continued preaching in Illinois until 1855, when he came to Richland Co., Wis., and settled on section 30, of town 12, range 1 east, in the present town of Henrietta. He immediately joined the Northwestern Conference, and was appointed to the West Branch circuit. In 1857 he went to Salem, La Crosse county, and preached one year, then to Mendota, where he remained two years, then to Augusta, in Eau Claire county remaining there two years, next to Galesville in Trempeleau county. He then enlisted as private in the 14th Wisconsin, company D, and went to the front. He was killed at the battle of Corinth. He had been appointed chaplain of his regiment, but had not taken the position at the time of his death. He left a wife and six children to mourn his loss. The children are: Shadrach, Elijah, Sarah, Mahala, Maggie and James E. The two eldest sons, Shadrach and Elijah, were in the same regiment and company with their father. Shadrach was severely wounded in the same battle in which his father was killed. He was discharged on account of disability, and returned home. He soon re-enlisted and died in the service. Elijah served till the close of the war, and is now living in Illinois. Mrs. Mason is now the wife of Henry T. Walser, a resident of Woodstock.

He is the son of Rev. Thomas Mason of Pennsylvania, and Almira (Bradshaw) Shannon of Wayne Co., IL.

I believe that the inclusion of the descendants of Thomas Mason (1780-1850) of Richland County, Illinois among descendants of the Freinsheimer Maurer family is supported by a series of autosomal DNA matches on chromosome #'s 14 and 16 shared by descendants of the Thomas Mason (1741-1805) of Albany township, Berks County, Pennsylvania whom I've discussed earlier. Reinforcing this identification is the relationship between the Richland County Masons and the descendants of Johann Georg Glick (1749-1816) of Whitehall township, Lehigh County, himself son of Johannes Glück (1715-1783) of Albany township, Berks County.

The following commentary from Jack Mason of Milwaukee, WI, helps to unravel the Mason ancestors:

However, I believe that the documentary and autosomal DNA evidence shows that Thomas Mason of Richland County, IL was actually the son of Thomas Mason (1741-1805) of Albany township, Berks County, PA, rather than the English Meason family of Westmoreland County, PA. For instance, some pretty well-sourced pedigrees make the claim that Thomas, the son of John Meason of Westmoreland was born significantly later than Thomas of Richland, and died in Pennsylvania in 1864.

http://www.cbarbe.com/ma_genealogy/Napolillo_Web_Project/ps01/ps01_017.html?fbclid=IwAR14mZ6DFzYkO8LPE4WwWT47sOL9l4E8MhNVUCo75JWFvbEEEfl7pzeY0hw

It's understandable how these two younger Thomases might have been conflated - two branches of the Berks County family lived very near Bullskin township after 1805. But I think I have enough autosomal DNA and documentary evidence to clarify the situation.

Notes for Thomas Meason:

Thomas appears in the 1820 and 1830 Census in Bullskin, Twp. Pa. and in 1840 and 1850 in Dunbar Twp. The age is exactly the same and the children seem to match, also the wife. He inherited 100 acres on Greenlick Run in Bullskin, according to the will of his father, Major John Meason. According to the "Ellis" book a Thomas Meason sold land to the Pershing family around 1840. Why did he end up a miner in Dunbar in 1840? We have been told our Mason Relatives lost land to alcoholism????? Tony Keefer told me that the men who worked at the iron furnace at Mount Vernon, (which is near Greenlick Run, and which was built by Thomas' Uncle Col. Isaac Meason) received part of their pay in whiskey. Thomas probably worked at this Furnace, since he is listed as a laborer in the Census, and maybe this is where he started drinking. The 1860 Census shows Thomas and his wife, Mary A. Living back in Bullskin with a John and Catherine Smith and Family. Their granddaughter, Mahala, age 9, is with them. She also appears in the Dunbar Census with her father, George, taken a couple of weeks earlier. She must have been visiting her Grandparents. Interestingly, they are living near the Pershings in Bullskin. I believe this is the family Thomas sold his land to.

Tony Keefer found death papers for Thomas and Mary A. at the Fayette County Courthouse. He died in 1864 and his estate was worth $300. His wife petitioned and got $125. She died in Aug. 1865 and the rest of the money was used to bury her, buy two tombstones, and pay off bills. The bills went to James A. Miller, my great grandfather and to George Mason, My Gr.Gr. Grandfather. Donna Buzzelli remembers her Dad, Uncle Jim, talking about Bullskin, but she did not know where that was. Bullskin was the main clue in figuring out if this Thomas was the correct Thomas. She also remembers hearing that someone drank alot and didn't pay his bills. I think this is that someone. The Torrance book named one child: Thomas but I have found no evidence of this.

In the 1820 census he has 1 male between 5 and 10. This is probably my George and there are two girls 10-15, possibly twin girls (referring two the newspaper article saying a Mrs. Lowery visiting her ywin sister Miss Meason?????Nevertheless there seems to be 2 girls older than George.
The 1830 census has an elderly man living with them (80-90), maybe the wife’s father, and another son under 5, prob. John; then 0ne female 15-20 andone 20-30., in addition to the wife. So maybe not twins.

1840 census shows 2 young males 1 (10-15) and 1 (15-20). This is confusing because George would be 25. Females 1 (15-20) and 1 (20-30) and the wife (40-50).

So there are at least 2 boys and 2 girls.

Notes for Mary Ann (Spouse 1)

We do not know Mary Anne's last name. Aunt Margaret said that Thomas' wife was named Hannah Brindle, but the Census and Courthouse papers show that this is not true. Thomas' mother's name was Hannah. As for the Brindle, I have not found that name anywhere as of yet, but I have found the name Grindle in Fayette County. I hope to pursue this.

Mary Anne must have led a rough life. Her husband lost his land and they moved to Dunbar somewhere between 1830-1840. There is a grave in Franklin Cem. near all of the rest of the Masons and Millers; the stone says Charles Mason, 1832, age 14 ????? (hard to read). I wonder if this is one of her other children? I am trying to figure out who her other children were.
There is a John Mason, age 23, living with Jacob Lowry and his wife Francis, age 27, in Dunbar, in 1850. In 1860, John shows up living with his young family, in Dunbar. Thomas and Mary Anne are back in Bullskin, living with a Smith Family. Their Granddaughter, Mahala, age 9, is with them. I think John and Francis may be Mary Anne's and Thomas' children. I think Thomas either gave or sold his house in Dunbar to John. I need to pursue this. I also know there was at least one other daughter.