This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography, including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 443-444
HON. GEORGE R. MASON, one of the pioneer settlers of Burdett township,
and ex-senator of Hand county, is a native of Wayne county, Michigan, and was born May 4, 1846. His present home is located on section 2, in
Burdett township, near the town of Redfield, where he is engaged in general farming, and has been successful to a marked degree.
The parents of our subject, Samuel and Mary (fate) Mason, were natives
of Scotland and Pennsylvania respectively. The father emigrated to the United States when a child, and was a carpenter by trade. He died in
Huron county, Michigan, in 1877, and the mother died in the same county and the same year.
Our subject was one of six sons and received his education in his
native state, afterward learning the trade of carriage maker, which he followed in Michigan for some years. He removed to Dakota and located
on the southeast quarter of section 2, in Burdett township, in 1883, since which time he has engaged in farming and is also interested in
stock raising. He has a well improved farm, comprising three quarter-sections of land, and his home is one of comfort, surrounded by
buildings of modern architecture and convenience.
Our subject was married in 1878 to Miss Nellie E. Perry, a native of
Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Mason are the parents of one daughter, Ida M., now Mrs. R. T. Bull, of Hand county. Mrs. Mason is a daughter of
Seymore and Mary A. (Johnson) Perry, both natives of New York. Her grandfather, Edmund Perry, was a relative of Commodore Perry and
operated a cotton mill in Rhode Island, and afterward moved to Michigan when there were but few settlers in that state, working his way from
Detroit to Grand Blanc, Genesee county, where he cleared up a farm. He resided here until his death and the farm was then operated by Seymore
Perry, Mrs. Mason's father, until his death occurred in that county. The mother resides there at present and the family of three sons and
five daughters reside in Michigan, with the exception of one daughter in New York, and Mrs. Mason, the wife of our subject.
The family of our subject are attendants of the Congregational church,
and Mrs. Mason is a member of that denomination. Mr. Mason belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is a charter member of Redfield Chapter. He
was elected senator from Hand county, in 1890, and filled his office with credit, establishing the fact of his thorough knowledge of the
needs of his community. He is a stanch Republican and assisted in organizing the party in Hand county, and has served on several county
committees and has also filled various township offices of trust. The people of Hand county are proud of his record and hold him in the
highest esteem. |