History of Franklinville, (Cattaraugus County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

The Biography of William Ernest Mason

William Ernest Mason, senator, was born in Franklinville, N.Y., July 7, 1850; son of Lewis J. and Nancy (Winslow) Mason. He removed to Bentonsport, Van Buren county, Iowa, with his parents in 1858, attended school there until 1863 and Birmingham college, 1863-65. His father died in 1865; and he taught school in Bentonsport, 1865-68, and in Des Moines, Iowa, 1868-70. He commenced the study of law in the office of the Hon. Thomas M. Withrow of Des Moines in 1870 and removed with him to Chicago, Ill., where he was admitted to the bar in 1872, and practised until 1897. He was married, June 11, 1873, to Julia Edith, daughter of George White of Des Moines. He was a representative in the Illinois legislature in 1879; state senator, 1882-85; a Republican representative from the 3d district of Illinois in the 50th and 51st congresses, 1887-91; was defeated for the 52d congress by Allen Cathcart Durborow, Jr., of Chicago, and was elected to the U.S. senate Jan. 20, 1897, as successor to Gen. John M. Palmer, whose term expired March 3, 1897, for the term expiring March 31, 1903. He served as chairman of the committee on manufactures, and as a member of the committees on claims, fisheries, immigrating, post offices and post roads, commerce, and organization, conduct and expenditure of the executive department.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor