The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-15
Death of Capt. @. r. Mason.

the spirit of Claiborne Rice Mason passed
from earth. At the time of his death, Mr..
Mason was at his home near SWoope s De-
not in this county, surrounded by his de-
voted family. His illness had been a pro-
tracted and painful one. 1t was gradual
wearing away of the vital forces-the I'M
mediate cause of death being the faliufe oi
the digestive organs to respond TO the ae-
mands made upon them and consequent
neuralgia of the bowels. .Ihe oeeeaoeo
was SIS years old, and few men have ever
lived who better employed the long ie"se
of life granted.
Mr.. Mason was born near Troy ne"
York, and when quite young man came,
in company with his father, to virginia
and settled in Chesterfield county,. ne
first obtained employment in the Ohester-
field coal fields. and shortly afterwards was
engaged in the construction of one OF the
first. not the first railroad ever builtin Vir-
ginia-a short line running from the coal
field to Richmond and the James. FROM
that day until his death-with the ex-
ception of the years of war-Mr. Mason
was prominently identified with the con-
struction of nearly every railroad III VIZ
ginia, and many prominent lines IN other
States. His unusual talent for practlcal
mathematics and commanding business
capacity, his splendid judgment and genius
for execution, were conspicueusiy DIS
IL; nd q.
and achieved for him success which out
stripped many a competitor whose educa-
ton, training and command OF capital
seemed to give superior advantages In the
business race. Mr.. Mason was peculiarly
a practical man. He had little use Tor
forms and theories. He reached his con-
illusions by kind of unerring INTUITION,
and executed his plans with CELEBRITY and
completeness that was almost incredible.
| The possession of these faculties espe-
cially fitted him for the career OF Il sue
cessful contractor on public works, ana his
life work was spent in that field. After
building short lines in eastern Virginia,
he secured contract on the Baltimore and
| Ohio. and constructed, with great credit to
himself and satisfaction to the company, a
part of the main line near Harper's Ferry.
Returning then to Virginia, he established
his future home He shortly afterwards
| became contractor, and threw the first
shoge,ful of dirt on the Louisa load from
Hanover junction to Frederick Hall-the
first Ink in grand line which was destined
to stretch from the Chesapeake to beyond
the Ohio The last spike in this splendid
thoroughfare was driven by the same hand
| that had first broken the ground on the
short link. After it's completion, Mr..
Mason became superintendent OF the
Louisa road, q position which he held until
the old Virginia Central was chartered,
and he was invited to wider field OF en-
terprise in the construction of that line,
Upon this and it's connecting extension,
the Covington & Ohio, Mr.. Mason was en-
gagged until the breaking out of the war.
His work, however, was not confined to
mere construction. He was largely instru-
mental in securing the legislation neces-
sary to inaugurate the enterprise, and
aided greatly in placing it on business
basis by the subscription Of counties along
its route. Wherever strong common sense,
high character. and peculiar tact were
needed, there his services were required
and upon every occasion his success was
m ost marked.
The suspension of business operations
by the Inauguration of armed hostllities
between the sections, found Mr.. Mason APP
preaching three-score years. At a time
when other men are bending under the
7 burden, and seeking rest and repeSA the
subject of this sketch was in the full
meridian of manhood. His eye was as
bright, his step as quick, his understand
ing as alert as if the years that had passed
had been meTe hours of pleasure. instead
Of toilsome days and sleepiess nights. Viz
ginia was his adopted State her people
were his people; her interests his interests,
and with her destiny his destiny was in
separately interviewer. When war came it
found him ready. Summoned from his
work on the railroad, he Immediately pre-
pared to enter the ranks. Although without
military experience, he organized COM
pany which afterwards became attached
to the SD regiment. But the discipline of
the ranks offered little opportunity for the
exercise of those remarkable talents with
which Mr.. Mason was endowed. They re-
quired more extended field of action, and
in fullest measure the work was ready for
them. Gen, Edmund Johnson's COM
mand during the winter of 61-'62, was op-
Grating in the Allegheny mountains. The
march of the army was in many cases
through section but little better than a
wilderness. Thither Capt. Mason was
ordered to take charge of the Pioneer
Corps. His special duty was the repair of
old and construction of new roads. The
winter was an unusually wet one. Mill
tary operations in that section were diff
cult under the most favorable circum-
stances, and with nature and the elements
opposed to them the difficulty was magni-
fed an hundred fold. With his accustomary
energy and Judgment, Capt. Mason set
about the task appointed him. He organ
lied a strong force Of negroes and was
soop husily and effectively engaged. This
was the commencement of his Invaluable
war services, and in this line he continued
until the surrender. After the fight at
Mcdowell, Jackson returned to the Valley
by way of jennings Gap and Mason &c
compaEied him. When the army reached
Bridgewater, it found N orth river swollen
and the bridge destroyed. Capt. Mason
directed the heavy wagons to be placed one
after the other in the stream, and planks
were laid on top of them, over which the
infantry passed, whilst the rsSsEy and
wagons forded. He continued wfth jack
son during his famous Valley campaign
and went east with the army when the
flank movement was made on Mcclellan
below Richmond. To Stonewall Jackson
the services Of Capt. Mason were well nigh
invaluable, and highly were they appre-
ciated. It was the untiring energy, sound
Judgment, and swiftness of execution OF
the Chief Of the Pioneers that contrib.
uted in marked degree to the success