B. F. MASON, farmer and lumberman, P. O. America. Of our self-made men in this county who have aided in developing its resources, and whose example in life is worthy of imitation, we must count him whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Mason was born February 5, 1828, in Union County, Ind., where he was also educated. He is a son of Adam Mason, born December 23, 1795, in Pennsylvania, near Brownsville, a farmer by occupation. He died February 20, 1876, in this State. The mother of our subject was Sallie (Youse) Mason, a native of Pennsylvania, born July 26, 1800. She died December 15, 1840, in Brownsville, Ind. She was the mother of six children, of whom two are now living — William Y., a farmer in Iowa, and Benjamin F., our subject, who was a contractor of public works for about three years in Indiana. In 1855, he moved to Warren County, Ill., where he was a tiller of the soil till 1865, when he sold out and came to Pulaski County, where he bought land and now owns 2,200 acres of land, of which about 800 acres lay in Johnson County. This is the fruit of a successful business career, and is showing what industry, energy and honest dealing, with good resources of a country, can do. On his arrival in this county, he paid some attention to the lumber business, and in 1871 he bought a portable saw mill, which he operates to the present day, cutting from $8,000 to $10,000 worth of lumber per year, cutting principally for the railroad companies. His home farm consists of 600 acres of good land, which was wild woods when he first came here, but now he has excellent buildings unrivaled by any in the county. Our subject has been no office-seeker nor politician, but has devoted his attention to the development of the resources of Pulaski County, with splendid success. He was joined in matrimony August 15, 1850, in Franklin County, Ind., to Miss Elizabeth Campbell, born November 19, 1832, in Franklin County, Ind. She is a daughter of Hugh and Lucinda (Ross) Campbell, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Mason is the mother of eight children now living — Sarah E. Mangold, Alice E. Full, Oscar M., born April 1, 1859; Hughey A., born January 3, 1862; Charles H., born June 1, 1864; William C., born February 9, 1869; Mary E., born May 26, 1871, and Rosa S., born November 18, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Mason are people who enjoy the esteem and confidence of all with whom they come in contact.
Extracted 02 Nov 2014 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V - Biographical Sketches, pages 317-318.
| Union | Johnson | |
| Alexander |
 |
Massac McCracken KY |
| Ballard KY |
