The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-15
peculiar iuncture could scarcely have BEEN


this period of trial and danger His SET
vices to the Army of Northern Virginia
were recognized by. chieftain and file as
beyond price. aaie6efaa4 s4s ETss
At the close of tho war, Capt Mason,
though rokenin fortune and advanced in
years. again returned TO lis old business OF
contracting, and since then has been eX-
tensively and successfully engaged in rail-
road construction. !, He had heavy con-
tracts on the Us @. road the Valley, the
Richmond and AEeghanya the Kentucky
Central, and variohs other lines in Geor-
gia, Alabama, Mississippi. Virginia. and
West Virginia The firm with which he
was connected at tile time of his death
is under the .nane and style of Masons,
Gooch, Hoge &c Co., the partners being ~.
R. Mason, II. P. Mason, S. B. Mason. $,
D. Gooch, G. r. Hoge and w. r Dam
bridge The firm Is now prosecuting q
large contract sonthe Vanderbilt Southern
Pennsylvania road 3 The deceased was also
the senior partner in the g. II. Mason Co.,
lessees Of tie Kentucky Penitentiary,
.
and operating large manufactures at
Frankfort. He had been an extensive en-
ployer of convict labor, during his yi.rions
prosecutions of public works, and was
proverhial for his humanity and generosity
towards this class OF laborers.
1t was in the home circle. however, that
the true character of Mr.. Mason found
best expression. There he was Teyered and
loved as few have ever been. He was twice
married His first wife was Miss Drucilla
W. Boxley, of louisa. OF the issue of this
marriage seven children survive, and all ex-
cept one of them were gathered around
his bedside when the final summons came.
They are RI. 2. Mason, DR.. &. +. Mason,
of Orange, Silas B. Mason. of Lewisburg,
Mrs John Il. Blackley, of Staunton. Mrs.
Ro. Goodwin. of Fishersville, Mrs. Bar
ron. of Baltimore. wife Of DR.. Barron,
editor of the Baptist Herald" and
Mrs. Dr. Jas. Tate, of this county. Some
years after the death of the mother of
these children, Mr.. Mason married Miss
Margaretta j, Vaughan,o of Louisa county.
who survives him.
Few men have ever lived who had
warmer. truer friends than G. r. Mason.
and fewer still better deserved that friend
ship Warm hearted and as true as steel,
the friends he made were drawn nearer
and nearer to him as the years advanced.
His WIGS q rugged nature. 1t was quick to
detect merit and eveg ready to assist it.
He believed i'll action. and the guage of
robust common sense was his measure.
Cant and show and hypocrisy were foreign
to him and he despised them. Straightfor
ward, honest and just in all his dealings,
he passes to the world beyond, full Of years
and leaving to his children the heritage of
blaneless and stainless life-a life filled
with usefulness, with generous deeds,
with noble impulses, with tenderest
sympathies, and a lowing care for those
near and dear to him almost unparalleled.
The remains of Mr.. Mason were brought
to Staunton from his old home at SwOope's,
on the cars yesterday morning. and We're
met at the depot by an escort of the Ma
sonic fraternity, of which he was a men,
Der, and conveyed to the Baptist Church,
where large number of friends and ac-
quaintances had assembled. The services
on the occasion were conducted by Rev.
Allen Curr, the pastor, assisted by Rev.
J. H. Taylor, Of Laurel Hill, and Rev.
James B. Taylor, of Lexington, the latter
delivering very Impressive and affecting
sermon. founded on a part of the 10th
verse OF, the XII chapter of Hebrews. "But
now they desire better country, that is
an heagenly.,,, MI. Mason, dad been a
membeleof this church for a number Of
years, having united with it under the pas
torate Of Rey. Geo. B. Taylor, now mis-
sionary to Rome, and was one of its most
useful and liberal supporters.
The following named gentlemen acted
as pall-bearers: George I. Peyton, John
3. Hoge. F. M. Young, Thomas A. Bled-
| soc. John D. Trimble, George M. Cochran,
jr., Thomas g. Elder, VIM. F. Butler,
Joseph A. Waadell, DIR. n. Wayt.
Resolutions of Respect.
| AT special communicatien of staunton
| Lodge, No. 49, A. F. and A. NJ, held january II,
1885, the following resolutions were adopted:
| WHEREAS 1t has pleased Almighty God to re-
move from our midst our beloved brother Z.
h. Mason, who for more than the lifetime of
| most men has been o true and loyal member
| of our order, and who for nearly a century has
SO lived amid the floods and shoals of fortune,
amid the calm Of peace and the din of grim VS.
| aged war, that when be game to wrap the dra-
| pleasant Dreams it could be truthfully said OF
| him no enemy has gone before and he leaves
| none behind him. Peacefully: and calmly at
the close of a long and well spent life-the mon
| uments ofwhose usefulness are seen everywhere
! about us-the companions of hisyouth gone be-
fore him, patiently anxious for the well earned
| rest that awaits the people of God, he has fol-
| lowed his great captain over the river to rest
under the shade of the trees.
| Now, therefore, bowlng- ia reverence before
| the author END tinisher of our being, we come
! to offer around the tomb OF onr dead brother
| the tribute of admiration, respect and love-
| Therefore, be it
Resolued lst, That in the death of G. r. Mason,
| the order of which he was for lifetime bright
and shining light, has sustained an irreparable
| loss. 81 .r,stt ,frr ffrlg
| Cd That the community in which he lived
| his noble life OF action enterprise, honesty and
| self denial, and of his christian and peaceful
| I'd, ,That the state which he loved and served
| with pure ana spnSeltish devotion is called to
se ox RRa1bl han
| 18th, That we extend to the befeayed family
! Of our deceased brother our teHderest sympa-.
5th. That these RESOLUTIONS be spread on the
| records of the Lodge and that d copy OF them
be sent by the secretary to the family OF the de"
| ceased, l4
9th, That the Lodge be draped IN mourning
| thirty days. .a..sgt. 7 r
| J. w. STOUT
| A. F. ROBERTSON,
| G. q. GooCH, ss
| Committee
Staunton Lodge No. IL. A. +. d A. M.
Teste:
| A. A. EsKRIDGE, Secretary.
EN-. CesHlNG, Master
| gtsi -.
DEATH OF Mr.. FRANK PRUFER.-At
his residence in this city, on Monday night.
Mr.. Frank Prufer, highly respected
and useful citizen, died in the Goth year OF
his age. He had been almost an invalid
for years, the disease with which he died
being consumption, but such was his ma
tive energy and habits, that he continued
to do all he could in the line OF his bust
ness, until within month or so of his
DEATH The deceased was a mechanic OF
rare skill. He learned his trade, bookbind-
ing, in the famous publishing house OF
'gTauehnitY. !. Iaeipsic, Germany, and was
a thorough workman mall the departments
j of his business. When the p.p.& B.lnstl-