St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-27

Brevet Brigadier General Edwin G.
Mason, U. S. army, who, since July,
1885, has been inspector general of the
department of Dakota Gen. Mason de-
scends from a family of soldiers.
His paternal ancestor, Samson Ma
son, whose given name, it will
be observed, is spelled according to
Biblical custom. and from which source
many names of his numerous progeny
were taken-Served with conspicuous
ValOr in the army of Oliver Cromwell,
and earned recognition as a member of
the famous "Ironside Troop that dealt
such destruction to the royal army at
MarSton Moor and in other battles in the
time of the wars between the crown and
parliament. 1t therefore requires but
little force of Imagination to believe
that Samson Mason was one of the men
to whom Cromwell gave his very deVout
and effective advice, Trust in God and
keep your powder dry"
Brevet Brigadier Gen. Edwin Cooley
Mason, the subject of this sketch, was
born in Springfield, o., May 81. 1881.
The secular education which was af-
fOrded him was drawn from the best
private and public sources of his state.
He became civil engineer. His repu-
tation for integrity and commanding
abilities extended far beyond the city of
his birth, and, when rebellion broke
out, his was one of the very first COM
missions to be issued by the war depart
ment, his assignment to the Second
regiment of Ohio volunteers as captain
dating April 81, 1861. In the fol-
lowing month of June he was com
misSioned captain in the Seventeenth
infantry, in the regular establishment,
and served with that regiment at Fort
Preble, Portland HarbOr, Me-, until
Nov. 5, 1861, when he was rendered and
accepted the cOlonelcy of the Seventh
Maine infantry volunteers and served
in the Army of the Potomac until
August, 1864, when the regiment was
disbanded by reason of expiration of
term of service. Up to that date he re-
ceived successfully the brevets of major,
lieutenant colonel and colonel in the
regular army for gallant and meritorious
services in the battles of Fredericks-
burg, the Wilderness and Spottsylvania,
Va. On the 23d of May, 1862, Col. Ma
son received the thanks of the governor
OF the state of Maine for himself and
regiment for the part taken in the bat
tie of Williamsburg, Va, 1862. The eX-
IRENE loyalty and cOnscientiousness
which permeated every pore and fibre of
Col. MaSon's construction is demon
III llG ldcU UudG
HE WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED
during the assault on the enemy's works
in the battle of SpOttSylvania court
house, Va, May II, 1864, and again by
the explosion of shell in the battle of
MechanicSville, Va, on the 24th of the
same month; and, that he was person
ally with his regiment and in the en-
gagements of the Army of the Potomac,
and the operations of the Sixth corps in
the Shenandoah valley, to the battle of
Perryville, Va, Aug. 10, 1864.
When the Seventh Maine was dis
banded, Col. Mason was appointed to
Seventy-Sixth Ohio volunteers, which
appointment, by permission of the war
department. he accepted, and was as
signed to the command of the Second
brigade, Fourth division, Twentieth
corps, which brigade he commanded
during the battle of Nashville, Tenn,
Dec. II, Is and 16, 1864. In June, 1865,
Col. Mason was breveted brigadier gen.
eral of volunteers, for faithful services;
and on Sept. 20 of the same year. he was,
at his own request, mustered out of the
volunteer service and ordered to join
his regiment, the Seventh United
States infantry, at Harris Island, n. Y.
He was in many Indian and other cam
palgnS since the war. In 1867, Gen.
Mason married, at Rochester, n. Y,
Miss Frances NJ. Kingsbury, graduate
of Livingston Park seminary, and
daughter of the late Lansing Kings
bury. ESQ.,, of Marshall, formerly
prominent and well-known citizen
of Calhoun county, o. In July, 1885,
Gen, Mason was assigned to duty at
the headquarters of the department of
Dakota, as inspector general, from
which duty he was recently relieved
by virtue of his promotion to succeed
Brig. Gen. Brooke in the command
OF the Third United States
infantry, with station at Fort Smelling.
The domestic life of Gen. and Mrs.
Mason has been blessed with four in
teresting and pretty children, three
daughters and a son, two of whom
girlS-are now undergoing instruction
in the educational institution, to which
is doubtless due much of the culture
and refinement so conspicuous in their
mother; while the generals mother,
now in her eighty-third year, is COM
paratively hale and hearty and modestly
shares in the peace and contentment of
her CpD'C baul,yr bO,no