Joshua MASON (VETERAN UNION)

Joshua
First Arkansas Battery
Civil War Union
April 13, 1846 - January 22, 1930

*Obituary
Benton County Herald
Thursday, January 23, 1930

MASON, Joshua - J. Mason, pioneer resident of Benton County, died at his home in Mason Valley late yesterday at the age of close to 84 years, his death following several weeks of critical illness. Funeral arrangements could not be announced this morning on account of awaiting word from one of Mr. Mason's sons who is living in California. It is understood, however, that the funeral will not be held earlier than Monday.

*Obituary
Benton County Herald
Thursday, January 30, 1930

Funeral services for Joshua Mason, widely known pioneer of this county, veteran of the Union Army, and for 62 years a Mason, who passed away at his home in Mason Valley a few miles southwest of Bentonville, Arkansas on Wednesday, January 22nd, 1930 aged 83 years, nine months and nine days, were held at 2:30 o'clock on Monday afternoon, the 27th, at the Vaughn Presbyterian Church of which he had long been a member. The services at the church were conducted by the pastor, the Rev. F.A. Bradshaw, with the services at the grave in charge of the Hazel Valley Masonic Lodge of which Mr. Mason was a charter member. The Masonic services were conducted by Storm 0. Whaley of Sulphur Springs, Past Grand Master of the Arkansas Grand Lodge of Masons, assisted by a large number of other Masons.

Interment was in the family lot at the Coffelt cemetery. Born at Bridgewater, North Carolina April 13th, 1846, Joshua Mason was a son of John Jefferson Mason, born 1809, and Emily Connorly Gibbs Mason, born 1814, and a grandson of the Rev. Michael Mason and Margaret Hunter Mason. In 1856 at the age of 10 he moved with his parents from Lenoir, N.C. direct to what is now Mason Valley, Benton County, Arkansas. The valley where his father had homesteaded on their arrival here was named for Mr. Mason when, in 1873, he was appointed postmaster there by President U.S. Grant. From that date until several years ago when the post office was moved to Highfill, a nearby railway point, Mr. Mason conducted the Mason Valley post office and a general store there, at the same time living on and managing his farm. With the change of the post office he moved his store also to Highfill and served as postmaster at the two places for more than 40 years. With his brother, John T. Mason, he enlisted in the United States Army at Springfield, Mo. in 1863 and served with the First Arkansas Battery of the Federal Army until the close of the War Between the States. Mr. Mason became a member of the old Masonic Lodge at Springtown, Ark., near his home, in 1868 and later became a charter member of Hazel Valley Lodge, now of Vaughn, death terminating his active Masonic services of about 62 years. On March 6th, 1870 Mr. Mason married Miss Sarah C. Parker and to this union six children were born. Mrs. Mason died some three years ago. The children surviving Mr. and Mrs. Mason are Oliver F. Mason, an attorney-at-law of Miami, Okla.; James H. Mason, a grain and stock dealer of Hooker, Okla.; Thomas C. Mason, salesman of the National Cash Register Company, Shreveport, La.; Miss Ida, a teacher, of the home, and Mrs. A.H. Kimberling of Springfield, Mo. Another son, Luke Mason, was drowned in Columbia River at Arlington, Oregon in August 1901. The nine grandchildren are Charles L. Mason of the Mason Valley home; Joe Mason, Hooker, Okla.; Glenn Mason, Blackwell, Okla.; Jack Mason, Shreveport, La.; Lindsey, Paul and Byron Kimberling of Springfield, Mo.; Miss Dorothy Mason of Miami, Okla. and Mrs. Paul E. Johnson of Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Mason also is survived by two great-grandchildren, Mary Jo Amos, daughter of Mrs. Ava Mason Amos, deceased, and Margaret Louise Mason of Blackwell, Oklahoma. Mr. Mason's father, the Rev. Michael Mason, served in the Continental Army and among other engagements of the Revolutionary War fought in the Battle of King's Mountain. He was born in Virginia, near Alexandria, and died in Alabama in 1824. Among others of the Mason ancestors distinguished for the services was George Mason who, as a member of the Constitutional Convention of the United States, became especially noted because of his failure to sign the draft and his insistence upon and success in bringing about the adoption of the first 12 amendments thereto which many term "the people's Bill of Rights."

*Obituary
Benton County Record & Democrat & Sun
Thursday, January 30, 1930

Another fine old pioneer resident passed over the long, long trail last Wednesday, January 22nd when Uncle Josh Mason of Mason Valley died at his farm home where he had lived for 54 years. For more than half a century Mr. Mason had lived in his house by the side of the road and been a friend to man. Herds of deer and flocks of wild turkeys greeted John J. Mason, pioneer, who came with his family in a covered wagon from North Carolina with his two brothers, Joe and Billy Mason, and their families. Crossing the Mississippi at Golconda, a little below St. Louis, John Mason first reached Benton County in the fall of 1856, his father buying 180 acres in the valley, paying $1.25 an acre, where Mr. Mason has always lived. The valley was named for this family. At the age of 16 Josh Mason and a brother joined the 1st Arkansas Battery commanded by General Thayer. They saw active service in South Arkansas and in Louisiana, being discharged at Fort Smith in 1865. After the war Mr. Mason helped on his father's farm until in 1870 when he married Sallie Parker, daughter of a neighboring family. Mr. Joshua Mason was born at Bridgewater, North Carolina the 18th day of April 1846. In 1870 the government decided to establish a post office in the valley, though there was already one at Osage Mills, and Josh Mason was made postmaster. A few years later, to supply the needs of travelers and families of the valley, he put in a general merchandise store. Both were located on the road to Hico which led from Bentonville. Hico is now Siloam Springs. The old route was much traveled to the Indian Territory. Mr. Mason bought an 80 acre farm upon which he has lived the most of his life. For 25 years he delivered mail and from behind the counter, provided the material wants of the people about him. After a quarter of a century Mr. Mason moved to Highfill and gave up the store and post office. But he was destined to handle mail for he was made post master there. At an early age he professed faith in Christ as a personal Saviour and identified himself with the church and continued a faithful member until death. Mr. Mason was a charter member of the Hazel Valley Lodge F. and A.M., having been a member of the lodge for more than 50 years. During his entire life he had taken an active interest in the affairs of his community and of the county and commonwealth. Surviving are his two daughters, Miss Ida Mason of the home; Mrs. A.H. Kimberling of Springfield, Mo. and three sons: 011ie F. Mason, Miami, Okla.; James H. Mason, Hooker, Okla. and Thos. C. of Shreveport, La., all of whom were present at the burial service, as well as several grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted at the Hazel Glen Presbyterian Church at Vaughn by Rev. F.A. Bradshaw with the Masonic fraternity assisting, at 2:00 o'clock on Monday afternoon. Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, Storm 0. Whaley of Sulphur Springs, conducted the Masonic services at the grave, assisted by members of the local lodge. Interment was in the Coffelt cemetery and the many beautiful floral offerings were emblematic of the beauty and fragrance of the "Lily of the Valley" and the "Rose of Sharon."

Sarah
September 22, 1842 - November 29, 1926

*Obituary
Benton County Herald
Thursday, December 2, 1926

MASON, Sarah C. PARKER - Mrs. Sarah C. Mason, pioneer of Benton County and wife of Josh Mason, died at 2 o'clock on Monday afternoon, November 29th, 1926 at the Mason home in Mason Valley, aged 84 years, her death following a brief illness with pneumonia. Mrs. Mason was born on September 22nd, 1842 in Eastern Tennessee and was a daughter of Louis and Julia Parker, pioneers of Tennessee and the descendants of Virginia families. On March 6th, 1870 she was married to Joshua Mason, his family being among the early pioneers who settled the fertile valley southwest of Bentonville and which has since borne the name of "Mason Valley." The house in which Mrs. Mason died had been her home for 54 years. Besides her husband she is survived by three sons, Ollie Mason, an attorney of Miami, Okla.; Jas. H. Mason, a grain and stock dealer of Hooker, Okla. and Thomas C. Mason, a salesman of Salt Lake City, Utah; and two daughters, Mrs. A.H. Kimberling of Springfield, Mo. and Miss Ida Mason of Mason Valley. She is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Sophronia Douglas of Highfill, Ark. and by a number of grandchildren and other relatives. All of Mrs. Mason's children were at her bedside when death came except the son living in Utah and due to the time necessary for him to reach here the funeral will not be held until tomorrow (Friday). Definite funeral arrangements have not been made at this time but interment will be made in the Coffelt cemetery south of Centerton.

*Obituary
Gentry Journal-Advance
Friday, December 3, 1926

Mrs. Sarah C. Mason, 84 years old, wife of Joshua Mason, died Monday at her country home at Mason Valley where she had lived for 54 years. She belonged to a pioneer northwest Arkansas family and is survived by her husband; three sons, Ollie Mason, an attorney of Miami, Okla.; James H. Mason, stock dealer of Hooker, Okla. and Thomas C. Mason, a salesman of Salt Lake City, Utah; one daughter, Mrs. A.H. Kimberling of Springfield, Mo. and Miss Ida Mason of Mason Valley and one sister, Mrs. Sophronia Douglas of Highfill.

Contributed on 10/22/12 by wfields55
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