Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-06-25
AGED OCONEE CITIZEN IS DEAD.
Elias Mason, at Age Of 03, Passes to
His Reward.

citizens of Oconee. Mr.. Mason died
at his !toh.e in the Westminster
section on Sunday morning, June Is.
ing health. due to the infirmities of
age, and his death was not unex-
pected by members Of his family and
close neighbors and friends.
Mr.. Mason was we'll known over
Oconee county, and the announce
ment Of his death will bring sorrow
to many who knew him. For more
than sixty years he had resided at
the home place where he died, and
during this long residence in one
neighborhood it is said that no man
had reason to find fault with Elias
Mason, as man, as neighbor, as
friend or as citizen. lie stood for
the right always, and did his duty
as he saw 1t, without fear and re-
gardless Of consequences. Duty's call
to him came loud and clear, and he
was never slothful in making re-
sponse. He was a staunch member
Of the Baptist church, with which
he had been identified for many
years. He was also Confederate
veteran, having served through the
entire four years Of the Civil War,
coming from the service with a rec
ord Of which any man might we'll
be proud. In war as in peace his
chief aim was to be never found
wanting when the call Of duty came
to him.
Mr.. Mason raised large family
or children, and was twice married,
his first wife having been Miss Mar
tha Hyde, of OcOnee. To this union
seven children were born, six of
whom are living. They are as fol-
lows: J. Wesley Mason, of West
minister; Rev. }. +. Mason and w.
p. Mason, also Of Westminster; Mrs.
Ellen Mize, of Seneca, Rt. 3: Mrs.
Lille fianvey, Of Tokeena, who re-
sided at the Mason home place with
her father; Mrs. Emma Taylor, of
Converse, S. c. Two sons and four
daughters preceded him to the
grave. His second wife was Mrs.
Jane Mize, whose husband was killed
in the early stages Of the Civil War.
Mr.. Mason came home from the
| army in response to request for his
release on account Of the serious
illness OF his wife, who died during
the days intervening between Mr..
hason's securing foulough and
his arrival home. His family was
large one, and the children small.
The widow Mize, whose husband had
fallen in the struggle of the armies
Of the Confederacy, lived in the COM
munity In which the Mason family
| resided. and she had number of
small children. During the brief
furlough home Mr.. Mason courted
and won the widow Mize, and they
were married before Mr.. Mason's re-
turn to the army, the two sets of
children being combined into one
family under the care Of the new
Mrs. Mason, who survives her hus-
band. The married life Of the cou-
pie was continuously above re-
proach, the brief courtship and
necessarily hasty marriage having
detracted nothing from the holy es-
tate. During the absence Of the
husband while in the service Of his
country the large combined family
was cared for by the second wife,
and at the close Of the war Mr..
Mason returned to his family, TAX
ing his place at the head as his wife
| had done during his absence-with
no distinction as between the two
| sets OF children. The combined fam
lilies in all comprised some II or 18
boys and girls, and all who have
| lived to reach mature years are now
| numbered as good and substantial
citizens Of the communities in which
they reside.
w. II. Simmons. a neighbor OF
the Mason family for twenty years,
In speaking Of the deceased, said
that he has never met man Of finer
character or loftier principle than
Elias Mason, whose life was with
out fear and above reproach," and
others who knew we'll the deceased
bear similar testimony to his worth
as citizen, neighbor. friend.
In the fullness Of his years. loved
AID respected by all who knew him,
Elias Mason has been called to his
long rest, and there are many who
mourn with the sorrowing ones in