History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

826

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

born March 6, 1751; served as a Sergeant in the Revolutionary
war from its beginning to its close, and removed to Cheshire Co.,
N. H., soon after the close of the war, where he died Feb. 18, 1834.
His wife died at the same place Jan. 6, 1833. They had a family
of 14 children, the subject of this sketch being the youngest.
Rufus P. Mason passed his youth on a farm, in the meantime receiving a common-school education. May 17, 1840, he was married to Caroline Otis, a daughter of Isaac Otis, who was the first
United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
He also established a bank in New York city, acting as its President for four years. He afterward founded the Atlantic Bank of
New York city, and acted as its President until his death, in
August, 1860.
Rufus P. Mason before coming to Chesaning had followed the
business of building and constructing railroads, acting as superintendent for other parties, at a salary of $1,500 per year. This
position he abandoned and came to what is now Clesaning village,
in the fall of 1841, and selected land. With the exception of five
years spent in New York and one and a half years in the Lake Superior country in the lumber business, Mr. Mason has been a constant
resident of Chesaning village since 1841. He kept one of the first
stores and the postoffice at Chesaning village, and has been constantly
identified with its business interests up to date. He now resides
in the village, and owns and operates a farm of 180 acres.
Mr. Mason is a Republican, and has served his tp. as Highway
Commissioner 20 years, Justice of the Peace four years, and Tp.
Clerk 10 years; he also acted for a time as Secretary of the
Farmers' Mutual Insurance Co. lie and his wife are members of
the M. E. Church. They have a family of 5 children, as follows:
Mary E., now the wife of Rev. C. W. Austin; Tryphena, now living in China, where her husband, Rev. O. W. Willits, has acted
as a missionary since 1880; W. Otis, Allie and Fanny.
Mr. Mason is a thorough business man and enjoys the respect
and esteem of all. In his younger days he was noted for his activity, and as a pedestrian was seldom excelled; as an example, he
walked from Pontiac to Chesaning, a distance of 75 miles, in 16
hours, the roads being quite muddy at the time; and at another
time, from Bay City to Chesaning in one day. IHe is still active
and vigorous. although nearly three-score and ten.
Jat/MeS. ilMericles, farmer, sec. 6, was born in Chllenango Co.,
N. Y., Oct. 27, 1835; parents were Cornelius and Betsey Mericles,
natives of New York; subject of sketch grow to manhood in
Cayuga county of native State; on Aug. 8, 1862, lie enlisted ill (o.
D, 23(l Reg., Mich. Vol. Inf., and was discharged July 12, 1865;
then came to East Saginaw, where lie remained 7 years; subsequently removed to Midland county, but while there two saw-mills
owned by him burned to the ground, and he then went to Hazelton, Siiawassee Co., and afterward to lresent location; was
married March 6, 1859, to Eillna Antlony, daughter of Iiram