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 1835, Mason county
From History of Ray County, Mo. (1881)
S. O. MASON.
Samuel O. Mason was born on the 31st day of May, 1835, in Mason county, Kentucky. His parents immigrated to Missouri when he was very young, and settled for a time in Lafavette county. Here he received his education, and, after leaving school, devoted himself to farming. He enlisted from Lafavette county, with General Jo Shelby, and served for some time in the Confederate army. He was discharged at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He returned to Missouri, and began farming in Ray county. Mr. Mason was married on the 23d day of September, 1856, to Miss Georgia Ann Delanev, a resident of Lexington, Lafayette county, Missouri, but born in Kentuckv. Of this union eight children were born, six of whom, Robert, Ida, Flora, A., Byron, and Georgia, still live. Two, who were younger, died in infancy. Mr. Mason was called upon to suffer the loss of his excellent wife, and the children to mourn the absence of a loving, tender mother's care. Mrs. Mason died August 9, 1878, and the sunshine went out of that once happy home. Mr. Mason has traveled considerably over different states of the Union, but has seen no section of the country he likes better than old Ray. He has a fine large farm, in excellent condition, a handsome residence, and a commodious and conviently arranged barn. He deals extensively in live-stock, and is constantly grazing or feeding stock for market. He is to-day the possessor of a handsome competency, and has the pleasant reflection as he enjoys it, that it is all the result of his own industry.
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.