Edward G. Mason
Edward Gay Mason (August 23, 1839–December 18, 1898) was an American lawyer and historian.
Early life, family history, and education
Mason was born August 23, 1839 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was the son of Roswell B. Mason and Harriet L. Mason. Mason's father moved the family to Chicago, Illinois in the early history of Chicago (in the years it was still a village, rather than a city). A civil engineer, his father was involved in several emerging business enterprises in Chicago and eventually served the city's mayor.[1]
Mason himself completed college preparatory studies in Chicago, attending Yale University and graduating in 1860.[1] Two of Mason's siblings, Henry B. Mason and Alfred B. Mason, also later attended Yale (in the graduating classes of 1870 and 1871, respectively).[2]
Legal career
In 1863, he was admitted to a legal bar and subsequently entered practice in a law firm formed with Walter Mattocks and John Mattocks under the name "Mattocks & Mason".[1] This firm lasted from 1866 until 1881.[3]
Mattocks was a leading member of the Illinois Bar Association.[2] He also was a leading member of the Chicago Bar Association,[2] and served as its president.[1]
Work as a historian
Mattocks served as president of the Chicago Historical Society from 1887 until 1898. He was also a member of various other historical societies.[1]
Mattocks authored several important published works related to histories.[2] Among his works were numerous papers on the formative history of Illinois that were collected and published together as the 1901 publication Chapters from Illinois History. He also authored history-focused articles that were published in various magazines.[1]
Yale fellow and trustee
Mason was a fellow and trusttee of the Yale Corporation from 1891 until his death in 1898.[1][4][5] He was regarded to be the "Chicago representative".[5] He was also involved in the Chicago Yale Association.[6] Prior to his death, he was considered a possible successor to Timothy Dwight V to serve as the next president of Yale University.[1]
Other work and involvement
Mattocks served as president of the Chicago Literary Club, and the University Club of Chicago.[1]
Personal life
Mason's home was at 4623 Ellis Avenue. Roughly a year before his death, he had bought a home from Ransom Reed Cable on North Side of Chicago where he intended to move, but died before doing so.[4]
Spouse and children
On December 25, 1867, Mason married Julia Starkweather.[1][4] Together they had thirteen children (ten sons and three daughters).[4] Their children were:
- Henry Eager Mason (c. 1868–1937)[7] –1889 graduate of Yale,[4] lawyer[7][8]
- Roswell B. Mason (1873–1934)[9] –1895 graduate of Yale,[4] 1897 graduate of the Northwestern Law School,[9] editor of the Yale Daily News, lawyer, first assistant corporation counsel of Chicago (1899–1902), master in chancery of the Circuit Court of Cook County (1904–1934)[9]
- Julian Starkweather Mason (c.1876–1954)[10] –1898 graduate of Yale,[4] managing editor of the Chicago Evening Post and the New York Herald Tribune, editor in chief of the New York Evening Post[10]
- Norman Howell Mason[4][9]
- Frederick Ogden Mason[4][9]
- Ethel Mason Neilson[9] (née Ethel Mason)[4]
- Marjorie Mason[4]
- Edward Hopkins Mason (c.1870–1928)[11] –1892 graduate of Yale,[4] worked in development of electrical power infrastructure in South America and Central America[11]
- Huntington Mason –1899 graduate of Yale[4]
- Maurice Mason –1901 graduate of Yale[4] editor of the Yale Daily News[12]
- George F. Mason[4]
- Lawrence Mason[4] (c. 1882–1939),[13] graduate of Yale University, drama critic for the Toronto Globe and Mail, University of Minnesota english instructor[13]
- Edith Mason[4]
Death
Mason died at the age of 59[4] in Chicago on December 18, 1898,[1] after a sudden heart attack he suffered on December 16 while he in the vaults of the Chicago Safety Deposit Company. After the onslaught of his heart attack, he collapsed to the floor, hitting his head on the sharp steel edges of safety boxes and suffering severe cuts as a consequence. While he later resumed consciousness for a time, this was not for long.[4] He was brought to St. Luke's Hospital to recover, but died after two days as a consequence his blow to the head.[4][2]
Due to his notability, Mason's death was major news, being printed as a front page extra in the Chicago Tribune.[4]
Mason's funeral was held December 20, 1898 at his family residence in Chicago.[6] Rev. Joseph Twichell (a close friend of Mason's)[2] presided over the funeral, which was attended by prominent members of civic organizations that Mason had been a member of.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Biographies (M - O)". Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. I-X. Rossiter Johnson, editor. Boston MA: The Biographical Society. 1904. Retrieved November 30, 2025 – via illinoisgenweb.org.
- ^ a b c d e f "Obituary; Edward G. Mason". Hartford Courant. December 19, 1898. p. 10. Retrieved December 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "John Mattocks, Lawyer: National Cyclopedia of American Biography". National Cyclopedia of American Biography (James T. White and Company). 1909. Retrieved November 30, 2025 – via Mattocks Family Heritage Resources.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Extra; 3:30 A.M.; Edward G. Mason Is Dead; He Passes Peacefully Away At 1:50 This Morning; End Comes at St. Luke's Hospital–Remains Unconscious to the Last–His Wife and Son at His Bedside When the Hour of Dissolution Comes–Fatal Result of the Fall He Sustained Friday in the Safety Deposit Vaults of the Merchant's National Bank". Chicago Tribune. December 18, 1898. p. 1. Retrieved December 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Guests". The Illustrated Buffalo Express. November 11, 1894. p. 20. Retrieved December 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Funeral of E. G. Mason; Services at the Family Residence– Many Societies Represented". The Daily Inter Ocean. December 21, 1898. p. 5. Retrieved December 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Henry E. Mason Dies; Grandson of Fire Mayor". Chicago Tribune. January 14, 1937. p. 24. Retrieved December 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Chicago Lawyers Bankrupt.; Henry B. and Henry E. Mason Schedule Liabilities Aggregating $400,000". New York Times. December 20, 1898. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Roswell B. Mason Dies In His Office; Chicago Lawyer Is Victim of Heart Attack -- Was Long a'Master in Chancery. Co-Author Of City Code Served in 'Corporation Counsel's .Office Several Years -- Grandson of Former Mayor". The New York Times. July 26, 1934. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ a b "Julian S. Mason,. Editor, Writer, 78; Ex-Head of Herald .Tribune 'and Post Here Dies--He Wrote for Magazines". The New York Times. November 9, 1954. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ a b "E.H. Mason Dies Suddenly.; Brother of Managing Editor of Evening Post Stricken in Club". The New York Times. March 26, 1928. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ "The Yale Daily News, 26 October 1900". Retrieved December 1, 2025 – via ydnhistorical.library.yale.edu Yale Daily News Historical Archive.
- ^ a b "Lawrence Mason, Critic of Drama; Member of Toronto Globe and Mail Staff, Yale Graduate, Dies of Heart Attack MUSIC ONE OF HIS FIELDS Taught English at Yale and U. of Minnesota--Member of Noted Chicago Family A Critic Since 1924 Grandfather a Chicago Mayor". The New York Times. December 11, 1939. Retrieved December 1, 2025.