THOMAS E. MASON.
Thomas E. Mason, who, by his own unaided efforts, has gradually worked his way up from a modest beginning to a position of influence in the community where he lives, is a well-known photographer of Audubon, this county. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable methods he has followed have won for him the unbounded confidence of his fellow citizens in Audubon county, whose interests he has ever had at heart. As a photographer, Mr. Mason is one of the best in the county. He understands the technique of his profession, and in his dealings with the public has been especially fair and square. Although Mr. Mason has been in Audubon but a few years, yet within that time the merit of his work has had a telling effect upon his business.
Thomas E. Mason was born in Jones county, Iowa, on December 29, 1868, a son of William J. and Clemma (Finch) Mason, natives of Ohio, who came west when both were young and settled in Jones county, Iowa. They were married in Jones county, and lived there for three years, at the end of which time they moved to Cherokee county, Iowa, where they are still residing. William J. Mason is a well-known farmer of Cherokee county, having been a farmer all his life. He and his wife are the parents of five children: Thomas E., the immediate subject of this brief review; Jesse O., of Jefferson, Iowa; May, the wife of B. F. Mason, of Meridian, Iowa; Hattie, the wife of Harry Phelan, of Cherokee, Iowa, and Bessie, who is the wife of Elmer Phelan, of Aurelia, Iowa.
Thomas E. Mason received his education in the common schools of Cherokee county, Iowa. After leaving school he took up farming and was engaged in that occupation for two years in Cherokee county. Subsequently he was engaged in the clothing business in Webster county, Iowa, for one year and then followed various pursuits for the next five years. At the end of that time he engaged in the business of commercial photography, and continued in that business at Jefferson, Iowa, until 1911, when he came to Audubon county and opened a photograph gallery in Audubon.
On March 7, 1894. Thomas E. Mason was married to Julia Swanson, the daughter of Swen Munson. Her parents were both natives of Sweden, but they never came to America, she having come alone to the United States, following, at the age of sixteen, three sisters who had come to this country, one of these sisters now being deceased. Mr. Mason and wife are the parents of three children, Earl, Blanche and Lester, all of whom are living at home.
Mr. Mason is a Republican in politics, but has not taken an active part in political matters. He and his wife are earnest and loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they take an active part and to which they are liberal contributors. During his residence in Audubon, Mr. Mason has built up a large circle of friends, who are ardent admirers of him and his work, and he is regarded as one of the most popular and public-spirited citizens of Audubon.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 331-332.
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