The full biographical sketch as printed in 1910, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
JOHN L. MASON.
John L. Mason, resourceful, alert and enterprising, is now president of the Mason Carriage Works, an enterprise established in 1868. Its development along well defined lines of trade and commerce has made it the largest estab- lishment of this character in Davenport and it stands as a visible evidence of the intelligently directed energy of its founder and promoter. Mr. Mason was born in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, on the 14th of July, 1844, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Sweet) Mason. The father was a native of Eng- land but left that country in the year 1833, and in company with his parents and four brothers emigrated to Canada West, now Ontario, Canada. When old enough he learned the saddlery and harness trade and for many years con- ducted one of the largest business enterprises in that line in Canada.
John L. Mason first started to work at his father's business, but later on learned the trade of carriage trimming and devoted himself to that undertaking. Desiring to perfect himself in his chosen work, in March, 1864, he went to New York and worked for some of the best firms in that city and in Phila- delphia. In November, 1865, he came to Iowa, going first to Marshalltown, whence in January, 1866, he removed to Davenport, where in January, 1868, he joined Valentine Evans in organizing the firm of Mason & Evans. The business was conducted under that partnership relation until October, 1881, when Mr. Evans returned east, and Mr. Mason continued the business under the present name of the Mason Carriage Works. In January, 1897, the firm was incorporated under the laws of Iowa and his two sons, Charles F. and Web- ster L., became members of the company and have in a large measure contributed
to its success, the three comprising the only stockholders of the corporation. In 1902, seeing the trend of the vehicle business, the firm added automobiles to, their line, being among the very earliest carriage firms to recognize that indus- try, and have built up a very successful automobile department in connection with their well established carriage works. This department is in charge of the son, Charles F. Mason, who is vice president of the company, while the office and carriage departments are in charge of the younger son, W. L. Mason, who is treasurer of the company.
On the 26th of September, 1866, Mr. Mason was married to Miss Maria M. Coleman, of Toronto, Canada, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Coleman, who were natives of the Isle of Wight, England. To them were bom three sons and one daughter: Wellesly R., Charles F., Webster L. and Marion E. One son, Wellesly R., died in infancy. Charles F. married Clara Evans and they have one daughter, Elizabeth R. Webster L. wedded Mabel Keith and they have two sons, John K. and Webster K., and a daughter, Marion K., while another daughter, Ariel K., died in February, 1909. The daughter, Marion E. Mason, is the wife of Charles Grilk, of Davenport, and to them has been born a daughter, Louise Grilk, and a son, Charles Grilk, Jr. Throughout his business career John L. Mason has held to the highest standard of commercial ethics. He is always just in his treatment of employes and reliable in his deal- ings with his patrons. He enjoys an unimpeachable record for commercial in- tegrity and, moreover, has been accorded that success which ever crowns per- sistent and intelligently directed effort. In matters of citizenship he is also progressive and, while he has n^ver sought to figure in any public light aside from business relations, he has, nevertheless, given the weight of his influence on the side of those measures which tend to advance the material, intellectual, social, political and moral interests of the city.
Source: History of Davenport and Scott County, Iowa (1910. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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