In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1814, Lincoln county
From History of Ray County, Mo. (1881)
JOHN MASON.
The subject of this sketch was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, November 27, 1814. He received a classical education and remained in his native state attending to the management of his father's estate until the year 1836, when he immigrated to Missouri, where he engaged in business at various places successfully. First, at Middletown, Montgomery county, then at Louisville, Lincoln county. From Louisville he went to Clarksville, Pike county, and from there came to Ray county, where he only stopped a short time, and then returned to Kentucky, and remained there one year longer. He then returned to Ray county, and setting at the town of Albany, engaged extensively in merchandising, and also dealing in live stock. He was appointed notary public March 20, 1873, and has ever since held that office. Mr. Mason was admitted to the bar as an attorney at law, August 26, 1865, and has been very successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in the courts of this and other counties, and also in the supreme court of the state. He was married July 24, 1845, to Miss Mary H. Davis, daughter of William D., and Mary A. Davis, natives of Mississippi. She was born May 1, 1828. Her mother was a cousin of Jefferson Davis, president of the Southern Confederacy. Mr. and Mrs. Mason became the parents of eight children, five of whom are now living: Laura, born December 5, 1846, was twice married, first to William Nelson, who was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun, in 1867; second, to Frank Rhodes, in 1870. She died in 1874. John W., born January 23, 1848; Thomas, born March 24,1850; Oscar, born October 13, 1852; George born May 16, 1855; died December 4, 1874; Belle, born February 4, 1858, died March 26, 1875; Mattie L., born October 15, 1864; Frank, born January 25, 1868. Mr. Mason was again married December 17, 1877, to Mrs. Letitia S. Williams, daughter of Doctor R., and Catharine Coffey, natives of Lincoln county, Kentucky. Mr. Mason is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.