Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-01-14
DEATH OF CLAIBORNE RICE MASON
Long, Valuable, and Busy Life Ended

ually declined in health during the last fou,
weeks. passed serenely down through death'i
door, at his late residence near Swoope's De
pot, in Augusta county, Monday evening at
o'clock. in the eighty-fourth year of his age.
In the extensive field of public works, and in
the councils which directed the material pre-
gress during the last fifty years of virginia's
history. no man enjoyed. deservedly, a wider re.
putation or was more appreciated for his STRONG
natural powers OF mind and methodical man.
T agemsnt in extensive plans in the completion
, OF the great highways of the country.
Il His Early Fife
When youth, Captain Mason came with his
father to Virginia from the Stale OF New York,
where he .Fas born. The first e.nrloyment OF
father and son was at the Chesterfield Coal
! mines in the Southwest ern part OF that coun-
ty. near the Appomattox river. r. was not long
after they settled there when railroad was
built from the mines to Inc city of Richmond
and Port Walthal come distance below on
James river. Young NJ SOP, having developed
remarkable mental gifts in which the matbs-
| NAUTICAL talent appeared most prominent, soon
| attracted attention, and his promotion from
| manual labor was as rapid as his fine qualiflca-
| lions were CONSPICUOUS. He was employed on
this new work, which, with the exception OF q
| short line in Greensvtlle county, and perbaps
/
| railroad built on the south side OF James river.
II is the opinion of the writer of this sketch that
| about that time be had. also, some relation.
| with the Richmond, FREDERICK brTg, and Poto-.
mac road In the lQlsssfrucTi on depnftmens The
chesterfield road track was laid aicn stringers
with bar-iron for Fails spiked or ShenifA. The
ollowing is said of him. and so characteristic
| is it of many phases of his after life. that IT
| is doubtless tr e.
An Engineer ard contractor were discussing
\ mathematical question in his presence. The
lneducated young man arrested the interview
| b. saving both We're wrong, and demonstrated
| tn proposition by his natura! powers of Illus
tration to the satisfaction OF both parties
His is the history of strong minded, will
ag vigorous man. ensred to toll with great
bowers of endurance and the votary OF sleep.
sss lahoF, and, as such. we follow him to the
second step in his wonderful career.
ESTEKING UPON HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER
We have not the data upon which to fix the
lime Of Captain Mason's withdrawal from his
employment near Richmond. About that time
Baltimore had undertaken her great enterprise
Of building this Baltimore and Ohio, Railroad,
md thither. the young and energetic man
vendsd his way He mad part In the eonstruc-
ion of the line from that city to Herpsr's Ferry,
and achieved reputation in his chosen field as
a contractor. Ever on the Lookout, as the pro
gressive times lighted up the way, his impress
sions OF Virginie, as q favored location for his
rapidly developing and laudable ambition, re-
vivsd their supremacy, and to the State, which
claims his name and his honorable and distin-
guishsd career a part of hef history, heturns
again with all the affection ola devoted son.
The base of the great Chesapeake an Ohio
Railway was the short Louisa road from what
is known as Hanover Junction to Frederick's
Hall. With this enterprise, Capt. Mason was
identified contractor. and it is said was
he honored person who cast the first spade
full of earth in its construction as he was to
irive the last spike which completed the line
to the Ohio He married Miss Boxiey, of Lou
sa, about this time. and settled at the juno
ton. He was busy man in pushing the work
Under Mr.. Frederick Harris. of Louisa county,
he first President of the compsny, and on its
completion. became the supsrlntend emit. In
he meantime, the Virginia Central Railroad
Company was chartered, and, in its forward
movements to Gordonsville and the western
sxtention, he became, under the presidency of
The late Col. Edmund Fontains an advisor and
large contractor. Under the joint-stock ar
angement of State and private CO ltributions
20 the capital fund, he enforced in his own
strong way irresistible arguments in support
ofcounty and individual subscriptions. When
the proposition for Augusta county to sub
scribe WAS under discussion, he appeared here
it Is thought for the first time as q leading
advocate to secure the appropriation which
was made. AS the work progressed, he
changed his residence from Hanover to Me-
chun's River Station In Albemarle and subse-
quently from that place to Staunton, identify
Ing himself with the advancing progress of
duential leader.
He continued to push onswilh his work as
oy degrees the road was penetrating the coun-
fry nearer the Allegheny mountains. and
when the State embarked in constructing the
link of the great central route, known as the
]ovington aid Ohio railroad on State &C
count, he was on the scene of the most active
operations, when the war came on in 1861 and
caused this and all other enterprises of It's kind
20 succumb 10 that d DISASTROUS event.
Captain Mason appears now In new role,
md in it, as In his frat achievements is mas
er of the situation.
THE wAR-BUILDIrG MILITARY ROADS AND
BRIDGES.
He raised, and II he did not wholly, at least
trgely aided in equipFing a company of infan-
ny OF which he was the first captain, and at
Gached to the regiment commanded by Coils.
baldwin and Skinner.
General Edward Johnson's command was
"a the Allegheny mountains in the winter o
SCI g.. The very wet weather and the cou
slant travel over 1t. soon rendered the Parkers
ourg pike almost impassaDle. Captain Ma
ON with a brigade OF coiored laborers, TOOK
;narge OF the road and aeon had 1t III repair
AID Kept 1t lii good order. He constructed a
new section at R.nisey'a draft near The high-
and line. He Was with his brigade as the
r5ady force for nacn necessary WORK during
otonewan Jacxson's movements In this sec
ZION, ana the lower Valley. Wnel Jackson
turned back from Mechum's River, taking up
Johnson and mis- command who were then at
Vest View for tne purpose of falling on Gen.
Nil oy at Mcdowell. the Captain was in the
1eid with his command for road and other
necessary WORK. HIS descriptions OF the smoke
aud fog which Nilroy raised in his retreat by
setting the forests on fire as he passed them
was highly entertaining well amusing
When Jackson returned, ne did so by len
nings' Gap, turning TO the Left via MI. Solou as
ne was then In pursuit OF General Banks in the
lower Valley. the roads were very bad, and
here again the Captain was on nand, uniting
mis- 70. ces with the citizens OF thar section OF
| the county VINO had been called upon by Major
Marshall McCue to aid in the WORK. Jackson >,
desiring to cro4s the North river at Bridge
water, found the stream swollen by heavy rains
| de consulted his Engine VINO suggested that
large wagons be brought in and pushed Int Vi e
river IL line one after the other and the founda
| ton of a bridge could be laid over which hs
| could pass the men. capt Mason was called
| On and Mt. sooner said than done the bridge was
| made with plank on the wagons, and the men
passed over ary shod carrying their ammuni
zion chests anu stores on their shoulders. The