The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1891-04-08
CAPT. THOMAS w. MASON.

MI. mason was porn IN brunswick
county, Virginia. which adjoins North
amDton in this State, on January Sd,
1889 He graduated at the University
of North Carolina, after the usual four
years course, in 1863 not having at the
time attained his twentieth year. He
was prepared for college by the late
Prof. Hooper. Governor Swain was
then President Of the University, having
been elected to that position because Of
his fine executive ability, rather than his
attainments in the field Of letters. It is
not general, known, and it may DE IN
tereSting to state, in passing, that Gov
ernor Swain acquired much Of his knowl-
edge of Latin with the assistance of s.r
Mason, when student at Chapel Hill
Thus early in life did Mr.. Mason i'm
press those with whom he came in con
tact AMI command their respect for his
ability and capacity.
After receiving his degree at the Uni
versity of this State be entered the law
school of the University of Virginia At
the session OF 1859 and mastered the
whole course in one term, there recev
ing that thorough grounding in the
knowledge of law which enabled him
subsequently to reach in a very short
time that degree of eminence at the bar
which usually requires long years Of
constant and unremitting application
and toll.
He was married in Northampton
When the war between the States began
he was residing on plantation in Lou
isiana which he still owns and success
fully manages. He was among the first
to respond to the call for volunteers and
in order to be at the front he returned
to Virginia and joined AS private a
company organized in Brunswick, his
native county. Here, tCO, his worth
soon became known and before his com
pany had seen active servlc3 he was ap-
pointed by General Robert Ransom to a
position on his staff which he held until
the close of the war.
When the sun of the confederacy set
at Appomattox Mr.. Mason, like thou
sands of others who had staked their all
! and lost, resolutely turned his face to the
future to repair his broken fortunes. He
| settled in Northampton county where he
still resides, but formerly spending
| many of his winters on his Louisiana
| plantation. He engaged in agricultural
pursuits and became and is still sue
cessful farmer. While thus engaged he
| by no means neglected the study of law
| or general literature, but still found
| time to devote to these without neglect
| ing his affairs, and is one of the best in
| formed men in the State.
In 1877 he was admitted to the bar OF
| Northampton county, not as a newly
fl dyed llcensee of the Supreme Court,
but as lawyer we'll equipped and with
a profound knowledge of constitutional
and common law. His practice began at
once to grow and each year has seen it
| increase, but never yet has anyone been
| heard to speak aught against him OF
charge him with taking an unfair ad
vantag, either in or out of court. He
| gives the same care and zeal to the
humbiest cases as to the greatest.
Mr.. Mason has never sought Office
| though in every campaign whenever and
| wherever his services have been neede
he has ever been found il the thickest ot
the fight battling for the eternal princi
pies of Democracy, and yet such is bis
| fairness, his honesty and his universal
courtesy that be has never given one
wound to an opponent nor made per
sonal eremy by his lard blows at Re
publicsnism.
So much is he esteemed where he i.
best known that in 1884 be received uo
sought the Democratic ncminatiol fcI
7 State S nator in the third sdis
tricts: = composed of Northampton
and Bertie counties. He reluctantl
accepted, and canvassed the district ,ant
was elected by a handsome majorisy
Representing the district in the Genera
y Assembly of 1885, with-eredit to himsei
and his constituents. Here again hi
talents were at once recognized and b,
took a .deservedly high stand both b,
reason III his eloquence in debate ant
his vigilance and ability in the work o
the session.
Mr.. Mason's innate modesty ha
always prevented his seeking position!
O; honor and profit; his are not the way
of the demagogue, but Of th