Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/281

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MASON
MASON


to congress in December President Jackson, in- censed because he could not dispose of the bank appointments like other Federal patronage, in a brief paragraph sounded what proved to be the death-knell of the institution. In the summer of 1832 Mason removed to Boston, and, although sixty-four years of age. he continued to practise in the courts until he had entered his seventieth year, after which he retired, but was still consulted as chamber counsel. He received the degree of LL. D. from Bowdoin in 1815, Harvard in 1817. and Dart- mouth in 1823. He was personally little known out of New England, but his name and presence were familiar to every lawyer of his own and the adjoining states ; in fact, nothing could exceed the respect, and almost terror, that was felt at the bar for the aeuteness, rapidity, and vigor of his mind. " I am bound to say," said Daniel Webster in refer- ring to him, " that of my own professional discipline and attainments, whatever they may be, I owe much to that close attention to the discharge of my du- ties, which I was compelled to pay for nine succes- sive years, from day to day, by Mr. Mason's efforts and arguments at the same bar. . . . The charac- teristics of his mind, as I think, were real greatness, strength, and sagacity. He was great through strong sense and sound judgment." — Another de- scendant, Theodore Lewis, physician, b. in Coop- erstown, N. Y., 30 Sept., 1803 ; d.'in Brooklyn, N. Y., 13 Feb., 1882, was educated under his grandfather. Rev. Isaac Lewis, I). D., and was graduated at the New York college of physicians and surgeons in 1825. After practising at Wilton, Conn., he lived in New York city from 1832 until 1834. when he went to Brooklyn. When Dr. Mason moved to that city there was no provision there for the medi- cal relief of the poor. Through his efforts the common council appropriated a small annual sum, by means of which a hospital was opened, and Dr. Mason became its senior surgeon. It was soon closed, owing to a change in municipal legislation, but public sentiment had in the mean time been aroused, and' a movement was begim which resulted in the establishment of a permanent city hospital, of which he continued to act as the senior surgeon. In 1858 he was active in the organization of the Long Island college hospital. He was chosen the first president of the collegiate department, and he remained such until a year before his death, when age and failing health compelled him to resign — a period of twenty-one years. Dr. Mason was early interested in sanitary reform, and was a founder of the Inebriates' home for Kings county, and of the American association for the cure of inebri- ates, of which he became president in 1875. He wrote and spoke extensively on the subject of in- ebriety, and one of his addresses, " Inebriety a Dis- ease," was afterward published and extensively cir- culated, not only in this country but in England, where it was quoted extensively in arguments urging the establishment of inebriate asylums throughout Great Britain. He was twice presi- dent of the Kings county medical society, and be- longed to other professional associations. He was a founder of the Long Island historical society, and was chosen in 1874 vice-president of the American colonization society. — Another descend- ant, Charles, lawver, b. in Pompev, Onondaga co.. N. Y., 24 Oct., 1804; d. in Burlington. Iowa, 25 Feb., 1882, was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1829, and assigned to the engineer corps. After serving two years at the academy as principal assistant professor of engineering, he re- signed from the army, 31 Dec, 1831, and, having meantime studied law. was admitted to the bar in . He practised two years in Newburg, N. Y., and then removed to New York city, where he was a frequent contributor to the " Evening Post," of which he acted as editor during William CuUen Bryant's absence in Europe, 1834-'6. He afterward removed to the west, and purchased a large tract of land in the town of Burlington, Iowa, where he made his home. In 1838, on the organization of the territory of Iowa, he was made chief justice, which office he filled until he resigned, 1(5 May, 1.847. He was attorney for the state in the adjust- ment of its southern boundary from 1847 till 1850. In 1848 he was appointed one of three commis- sioners to draft an entire code of laws for the state, which was adopted in 1851. He was judge of Des Moines county court in 1851-'2. U. S. commis- sioner of patents from 1853 till 1857, and commis- sioner to adjust the extent of the Des Moines river land grant in 1858-'9. In 1861 he acted as com- missioner to conti'ol a state war fund of $800,000. He then returned to the practice of his profession, and devoted much time to the promotion of various public works in Burlington. — Another descendant, John Sanford, soldier, b. in Steubenville, Ohio, 21 Aug., 1824 ; d. in Washington, 29 Nov., 1897. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy, served in the war with Mexico, and acted as regi- mental quartermaster from 1854 till 1858. He was commissioned captain, 14 May, 1861, and was made colonel of the 4th Ohio regiment on 3 Oct. of the same year. He was made brevet lieuten- ant-colonel for gallantry at the battle of Freder- icksburg, and became brigadier-general of volun- teers, 29 Nov., 1862. He was promoted major, 14 Oct., 1864, and brevetted colonel and brigadier- general, in the regular army, 13 March, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, since which time he has been chiefly engaged in frontier duty with different regiments. He was made lieutenant-colonel, 11 Dec, 1873, and colonel, 9th infantry, 2 April, 1883. Gen. Mason was re- tired in 1888. and lived near Washington. MASON, John, clergyman, b. in Linlithgow- shire, Scotland, in 1734; d. in New York city, 19 April, 1792. His early training was under the influ- ence of the Associate, or Secession, church of Scot- land in its best days. When it became divided in 1746 young Mason identified himself with the Anti-Burger party and pursued his theological studies at Abernethy. At the age of twenty he spoke Latin, and at twenty-four was assistant pro- fessor in logic and moral philosophy in the in- stitution at which he had been graduated. In 1761 he was ordained to the ministry and sent to this country to take charge of the Cedar street church. New York city. Believing that the causes that divided the Presbyterians of Scotland did not exist in the United States, he labored for their union into one denomination. Although this course displeased his brethren at home and he was sus- pended by the Scotch synod, he persevered in his project, and on 13 June. 1782, a general union of the Reformed Presbyterians was effected under the title of the "Associate Reformed church." Of this body Dr. Mason was the fii'st moderator. After laboring nearly thirty years in his first and only pastorate, his memory suddenly failed him in the midst of a sermon, and death occurred soon afterward. He received the degree of D. D. from Princeton in 1786, and served as a trustee of that institution from 1779 till 1785.— His son, John Mitchell, clergyman, b. in New York city, 19 March, 1770; d." there, 26 Dec, 1829, was gradu- ated at Columbia in 1789. He went to Scotland in 1791 and studied theology at the University of Ed-