The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-08-17
JUDGE j. E. MASON

Tile Virginia Law Register Tor August
contains az n irontisplcce IA handsome
likeness Of Judge j. +. Mason, oi klng
George. Judge of the Fifteenth Judicial
Circuit. with the following sketch, signed
l.. l.. H..
We pr,seut this month the likeness OF
Hon. John f. Mason. Judge OF the
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit oi Virginia.
He was born at Edge Hill, in Albemarlr
county. Virginia. ON July IL. lN'l, the
home of his maternal grandfather
Thomas Jefferson Randolph. tie Is the
son ot the late Charles Mason ana Maria
Jefferson Carr Mason. he was reared AT
alto" the home Oi his parents, III hins
George county The first school which
IA, attended was one in King George
county. conducted 10y MIR Julian Broad
dus now a distinguished minister oi the
Rnptist church. afterwards III TURN
Locust Dale. and Bethel Military Acad-
cmy-the latter at that time was con
aucted hy Dr. ". ". Smith, now Pr~i-
dent ni the Randolph Macon system. ana
the late \. &. Smith. oi FauqulcrcounlN y,
Virginia. During his second year nj the
latter academy. hc was chosen 10y ms
fellow students NalcdlctOrlan, and
awarded thc handsome orators medal
l'pon leaving Bethel. he entered the m
yrrsity of Nirginla-scsslon lNf-.'.
Herr. hr had the misfortune To lose ms
health. which it required twoNcars
nest To regain. He then matrlculhted nj
the Columbia University tnow Gc"Ig,
Washington OF Washington. D. I" ann
took the. h. l.. degree Ina one year. lie
WAS admitted To the bar in 1873, was
elected commonwealth attorney ul
King Gcorg' county. and Scrvcdio thr''
terms with conspicuous ability ana
merit
I'm 1889 he was elected To the house OF
delegates To represent the counties "i
Stafford and King Gcurgc aud was
twice returned. la 1885 he was chosen
To r.pres,.ut the Thirty sixth district nm
StnteScnatc.W hcrch r~rrvcd with dis
tinruished ability. and in February.
ISIS. was elected 10y the Legislature To-
Am Inc vacancy uccasloued 10y the uca lH
oi the late Hon. William ;. Barton. rms
circuit then comprised the counties oil
Newfoundland. Richmond Hing Geor@'
Stafford. Spotsylvania. Caroline. Han
over. Louisa. and the city OF fndericks-
burg. Under the new Constitution he
was elected Judge OF the FiitecnthJudlclal
Circuit.
While in the general assembly he tool,
nm active part and WAS am acknowledged
leader of that body mall important lgis-
latinn. and during his term oi service
there was appointed on several impor-
taut committees. such as courts oil JUS
tire railroads and general navigation.
general laws. n,trenchmcnt and r'torm.
Chcsapeake aud tributaries. judge
Mason has the remarkable record oi haN-
ing never been defeated for any office for
which he has been a candidate. and m
every instance. he has administered his
Office. with credit to himself and com
plrte satisfaction To his constituents.
I'm lSNJ he was married 10 Miss Nate
Kearney Henry. of Washington, u. {.
Personally. the Judge Is n man oi I'M
iailing courtesy. refinement and consider
alton. kindly and approachable 10 ALL
As a mdge. learned. discreet and Impair
tial. he has conducted his high office M "a
manner to inspire the confidence that
commendS itself To- the admiration oil the
laity a. we'll ~ the lawyers.
Judge Mason Is member oi the / rrd-
-rirk,hurg lodge No. f. \. /. y \. VI.