Cenotaph. Originally buried in Aspen Grove, his body (along with those of 13 other relatives) was removed in the fall of 1962 for burial at the "Remeum" (Remey Mausoleum) at Pohick Church, Fairfax Co., Virginia, by Charles Mason Remey. He was apparently subsequently reburied in Pompey Hill Cemetery, Pompey, Onondaga County, New York. Link to memorial.
----------
CHARLES MASON was born in Onondaga County, New York, October 24, 1804. He was appointed a cadet in the West Point Military Academy where he graduated at the where he graduated at the head of his class in 1829. Among his classmates were Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Leonidas Polk, afterwards leaders in the great Rebellion. Mr. Mason remained at West Point two years as an instructor in the cademy, then resigned and studied law in New York City where he began to practice his profession. He was for a time employed on the editorial staff of the New York Evening Post. In 1837 he located at Burlington, the in Wisconsin Territory, where he had been appointed United States District Attorney. Upon the creation of Iowa Territory the following year, Mr. Mason was appointed by the President Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a position which he held until Iowa became a State. The most important decision made during his term was one sustaining the right to freedom of a slave who had been brought by his master to the free Territory of Iowa. When the controversy arose between Iowa and Missouri over the boundary and was carried into the Supreme Court of the United States, Judge Mason was appointed by Governor Hempstead to represent Iowa in the suit, where a decree was obtained in favor of Iowa. He was one of the commissioners to revise the laws of the State in 1848 and the result of the work was the Code of 1851. In 1853 Judge Mason was appointed by President Pierce Commissioner of Patents, and removed to Washington. In August, 1857, he resigned and returned to Iowa and in 1858 was elected a member of the first State Board of Education. In 1861 he was nominated for Governor by the Democratic State Convention but declined. In 1867 he was again nominated for Governor by the Democrats and was defeated in the election by Samuel Merrill the Republican candidate. In 1868 and again in 1872 he was a delegate to the National Democratic Conventions and in 1873 he made a voyage to Europe. He died on his farm near Burlington, February 25, 1882, at the age of seventy-eight. Judge Wright said of him: "As a man he was as much respected and esteemed as any of the early jurists and public men of our Territory and State."
Source: Gue, Benjamin F. History of Iowa Vol. IV; New York City: 1903
-----
"MASON, Charles, jurist, was born in Pompey, N.Y., Oct. 24, 1804; son of Chauncey and Esther (Dodge) Mason; grandson of Jonathan Mason, and a descendant of Capt. John Mason, 1635.
He was graduated first of his class at the U.S. Military Academy and brevetted 2d lieutenant of the corps of engineers, July 1, 1829. He served at the Military Academy as principal assistant professor of engineering, 1829-31, and resigned from the army, Dec. 31, 1831.
He studied law in New York city and was admitted to the bar in 1832. He practised law at Newburgh, N.Y., 1832-34, and in New York city, 1884-36, and was acting editor of the New York Evening Post, 1835-36.
He spent the winter of 1836-37 at Belmont, Wis. Ter., and in February, 1837, took up his residence at Burlington, which was included in Iowa Territory in 1838. He was married, Aug. 1, 1837, to Angelica, daughter of Hezekiah GEAR of Pittsfield, Mass.
He served as district-attorney of Des Moines county, Wis. Ter., and as one of Governor Dodge's aides, 1837-38; and was appointed chief justice of the supreme court of Iowa Territory by President Van Buren, July 4, 1838, retiring May 16, 1847.
He was appointed attorney for the state of Iowa by Governor Hempstead in 1847, to bring suit against the state of Missouri in the U.S. supreme court to define the boundary line between the two states. He prosecuted this to a final determination in 1850 and obtained a decree in favor of Iowa.
He was one of the three commissioners selected by the state legislature to draft an entire code of laws for the state, which was adopted in 1851.
He was judge of Des Moines county court, Iowa, 1851-52; U.S. commissioner of patents by appointment from President Pierce, 1853-57; and a Commissioner to adjust the extent of Des Moines river land grant, 1858-59. He resumed practice at Burlington, Iowa, in 1858; was a member of the board of education of the state of Iowa, 1858-59, and in 1860 removed to Washington, D.C., where he was a member of the firm of Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence, patent attorneys, 1861-81.
He was nominated for governor of Iowa by the Democratic party in 1861, [p.284] but declined, and was appointed by the legislature of Iowa commissioner to control a state war fund of $800,000. He was nominated for governor a second time in 1867, and was defeated. He was a delegate from Iowa to the Democratic national conventions of 1864, 1868, and 1872, and was chairman of the Democratic national central committee during those years.
He was president of the Burlington & Missouri River railroad, Iowa, and of the Peoria & Quawka railroad, Illinois, 1852-53. He published several pamphlets on financial subjects.
He died near Burlington, Iowa, Feb. 25, 1882"
[The 20th Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Vol.7, p.283].
----------
Charles Mason (1804 – February 27, 1882) was born in New York and became a patent attorney, taught engineering, and was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa. He was later the United States Commissioner of Patents. However, today Mason is perhaps most remembered as the cadet who graduated first in the class of 1829 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, ahead of future Confederate Army commander Robert E. Lee. Mason and Lee were tied for the head of the class in Artillery, Tactics, and Conduct, but Mason bested Lee in all other subjects and graduated with an overall score of 1995.5 points, compared to Lee's 1966.5. Charles Mason resigned his commission two years after graduation in 1831.
∼In the graduating class of 1829 from the United States Military Academy, Charles Mason was the only person to graduate above Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Mason, however, did not serve in the war. Instead he served as the first Chief Justice of Iowa from 1838 to 1847 (when he resigned). He also taught at West Point for a brief time.
(Bio by Heather)
----------
CHARLES MASON was born in Onondaga County, New York, October 24, 1804. He was appointed a cadet in the West Point Military Academy where he graduated at the where he graduated at the head of his class in 1829. Among his classmates were Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Leonidas Polk, afterwards leaders in the great Rebellion. Mr. Mason remained at West Point two years as an instructor in the cademy, then resigned and studied law in New York City where he began to practice his profession. He was for a time employed on the editorial staff of the New York Evening Post. In 1837 he located at Burlington, the in Wisconsin Territory, where he had been appointed United States District Attorney. Upon the creation of Iowa Territory the following year, Mr. Mason was appointed by the President Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a position which he held until Iowa became a State. The most important decision made during his term was one sustaining the right to freedom of a slave who had been brought by his master to the free Territory of Iowa. When the controversy arose between Iowa and Missouri over the boundary and was carried into the Supreme Court of the United States, Judge Mason was appointed by Governor Hempstead to represent Iowa in the suit, where a decree was obtained in favor of Iowa. He was one of the commissioners to revise the laws of the State in 1848 and the result of the work was the Code of 1851. In 1853 Judge Mason was appointed by President Pierce Commissioner of Patents, and removed to Washington. In August, 1857, he resigned and returned to Iowa and in 1858 was elected a member of the first State Board of Education. In 1861 he was nominated for Governor by the Democratic State Convention but declined. In 1867 he was again nominated for Governor by the Democrats and was defeated in the election by Samuel Merrill the Republican candidate. In 1868 and again in 1872 he was a delegate to the National Democratic Conventions and in 1873 he made a voyage to Europe. He died on his farm near Burlington, February 25, 1882, at the age of seventy-eight. Judge Wright said of him: "As a man he was as much respected and esteemed as any of the early jurists and public men of our Territory and State."
Source: Gue, Benjamin F. History of Iowa Vol. IV; New York City: 1903
-----
"MASON, Charles, jurist, was born in Pompey, N.Y., Oct. 24, 1804; son of Chauncey and Esther (Dodge) Mason; grandson of Jonathan Mason, and a descendant of Capt. John Mason, 1635.
He was graduated first of his class at the U.S. Military Academy and brevetted 2d lieutenant of the corps of engineers, July 1, 1829. He served at the Military Academy as principal assistant professor of engineering, 1829-31, and resigned from the army, Dec. 31, 1831.
He studied law in New York city and was admitted to the bar in 1832. He practised law at Newburgh, N.Y., 1832-34, and in New York city, 1884-36, and was acting editor of the New York Evening Post, 1835-36.
He spent the winter of 1836-37 at Belmont, Wis. Ter., and in February, 1837, took up his residence at Burlington, which was included in Iowa Territory in 1838. He was married, Aug. 1, 1837, to Angelica, daughter of Hezekiah GEAR of Pittsfield, Mass.
He served as district-attorney of Des Moines county, Wis. Ter., and as one of Governor Dodge's aides, 1837-38; and was appointed chief justice of the supreme court of Iowa Territory by President Van Buren, July 4, 1838, retiring May 16, 1847.
He was appointed attorney for the state of Iowa by Governor Hempstead in 1847, to bring suit against the state of Missouri in the U.S. supreme court to define the boundary line between the two states. He prosecuted this to a final determination in 1850 and obtained a decree in favor of Iowa.
He was one of the three commissioners selected by the state legislature to draft an entire code of laws for the state, which was adopted in 1851.
He was judge of Des Moines county court, Iowa, 1851-52; U.S. commissioner of patents by appointment from President Pierce, 1853-57; and a Commissioner to adjust the extent of Des Moines river land grant, 1858-59. He resumed practice at Burlington, Iowa, in 1858; was a member of the board of education of the state of Iowa, 1858-59, and in 1860 removed to Washington, D.C., where he was a member of the firm of Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence, patent attorneys, 1861-81.
He was nominated for governor of Iowa by the Democratic party in 1861, [p.284] but declined, and was appointed by the legislature of Iowa commissioner to control a state war fund of $800,000. He was nominated for governor a second time in 1867, and was defeated. He was a delegate from Iowa to the Democratic national conventions of 1864, 1868, and 1872, and was chairman of the Democratic national central committee during those years.
He was president of the Burlington & Missouri River railroad, Iowa, and of the Peoria & Quawka railroad, Illinois, 1852-53. He published several pamphlets on financial subjects.
He died near Burlington, Iowa, Feb. 25, 1882"
[The 20th Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Vol.7, p.283].
----------
Charles Mason (1804 – February 27, 1882) was born in New York and became a patent attorney, taught engineering, and was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa. He was later the United States Commissioner of Patents. However, today Mason is perhaps most remembered as the cadet who graduated first in the class of 1829 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, ahead of future Confederate Army commander Robert E. Lee. Mason and Lee were tied for the head of the class in Artillery, Tactics, and Conduct, but Mason bested Lee in all other subjects and graduated with an overall score of 1995.5 points, compared to Lee's 1966.5. Charles Mason resigned his commission two years after graduation in 1831.
∼In the graduating class of 1829 from the United States Military Academy, Charles Mason was the only person to graduate above Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Mason, however, did not serve in the war. Instead he served as the first Chief Justice of Iowa from 1838 to 1847 (when he resigned). He also taught at West Point for a brief time.
(Bio by Heather)
Cenotaph. Originally buried in Aspen Grove, his body (along with those of 13 other relatives) was removed in the fall of 1962 for burial at the "Remeum" (Remey Mausoleum) at Pohick Church, Fairfax Co., Virginia, by Charles Mason Remey. He was apparently subsequently reburied in Pompey Hill Cemetery, Pompey, Onondaga County, New York. Link to memorial.
----------
CHARLES MASON was born in Onondaga County, New York, October 24, 1804. He was appointed a cadet in the West Point Military Academy where he graduated at the where he graduated at the head of his class in 1829. Among his classmates were Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Leonidas Polk, afterwards leaders in the great Rebellion. Mr. Mason remained at West Point two years as an instructor in the cademy, then resigned and studied law in New York City where he began to practice his profession. He was for a time employed on the editorial staff of the New York Evening Post. In 1837 he located at Burlington, the in Wisconsin Territory, where he had been appointed United States District Attorney. Upon the creation of Iowa Territory the following year, Mr. Mason was appointed by the President Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a position which he held until Iowa became a State. The most important decision made during his term was one sustaining the right to freedom of a slave who had been brought by his master to the free Territory of Iowa. When the controversy arose between Iowa and Missouri over the boundary and was carried into the Supreme Court of the United States, Judge Mason was appointed by Governor Hempstead to represent Iowa in the suit, where a decree was obtained in favor of Iowa. He was one of the commissioners to revise the laws of the State in 1848 and the result of the work was the Code of 1851. In 1853 Judge Mason was appointed by President Pierce Commissioner of Patents, and removed to Washington. In August, 1857, he resigned and returned to Iowa and in 1858 was elected a member of the first State Board of Education. In 1861 he was nominated for Governor by the Democratic State Convention but declined. In 1867 he was again nominated for Governor by the Democrats and was defeated in the election by Samuel Merrill the Republican candidate. In 1868 and again in 1872 he was a delegate to the National Democratic Conventions and in 1873 he made a voyage to Europe. He died on his farm near Burlington, February 25, 1882, at the age of seventy-eight. Judge Wright said of him: "As a man he was as much respected and esteemed as any of the early jurists and public men of our Territory and State."
Source: Gue, Benjamin F. History of Iowa Vol. IV; New York City: 1903
-----
"MASON, Charles, jurist, was born in Pompey, N.Y., Oct. 24, 1804; son of Chauncey and Esther (Dodge) Mason; grandson of Jonathan Mason, and a descendant of Capt. John Mason, 1635.
He was graduated first of his class at the U.S. Military Academy and brevetted 2d lieutenant of the corps of engineers, July 1, 1829. He served at the Military Academy as principal assistant professor of engineering, 1829-31, and resigned from the army, Dec. 31, 1831.
He studied law in New York city and was admitted to the bar in 1832. He practised law at Newburgh, N.Y., 1832-34, and in New York city, 1884-36, and was acting editor of the New York Evening Post, 1835-36.
He spent the winter of 1836-37 at Belmont, Wis. Ter., and in February, 1837, took up his residence at Burlington, which was included in Iowa Territory in 1838. He was married, Aug. 1, 1837, to Angelica, daughter of Hezekiah GEAR of Pittsfield, Mass.
He served as district-attorney of Des Moines county, Wis. Ter., and as one of Governor Dodge's aides, 1837-38; and was appointed chief justice of the supreme court of Iowa Territory by President Van Buren, July 4, 1838, retiring May 16, 1847.
He was appointed attorney for the state of Iowa by Governor Hempstead in 1847, to bring suit against the state of Missouri in the U.S. supreme court to define the boundary line between the two states. He prosecuted this to a final determination in 1850 and obtained a decree in favor of Iowa.
He was one of the three commissioners selected by the state legislature to draft an entire code of laws for the state, which was adopted in 1851.
He was judge of Des Moines county court, Iowa, 1851-52; U.S. commissioner of patents by appointment from President Pierce, 1853-57; and a Commissioner to adjust the extent of Des Moines river land grant, 1858-59. He resumed practice at Burlington, Iowa, in 1858; was a member of the board of education of the state of Iowa, 1858-59, and in 1860 removed to Washington, D.C., where he was a member of the firm of Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence, patent attorneys, 1861-81.
He was nominated for governor of Iowa by the Democratic party in 1861, [p.284] but declined, and was appointed by the legislature of Iowa commissioner to control a state war fund of $800,000. He was nominated for governor a second time in 1867, and was defeated. He was a delegate from Iowa to the Democratic national conventions of 1864, 1868, and 1872, and was chairman of the Democratic national central committee during those years.
He was president of the Burlington & Missouri River railroad, Iowa, and of the Peoria & Quawka railroad, Illinois, 1852-53. He published several pamphlets on financial subjects.
He died near Burlington, Iowa, Feb. 25, 1882"
[The 20th Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Vol.7, p.283].
----------
Charles Mason (1804 – February 27, 1882) was born in New York and became a patent attorney, taught engineering, and was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa. He was later the United States Commissioner of Patents. However, today Mason is perhaps most remembered as the cadet who graduated first in the class of 1829 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, ahead of future Confederate Army commander Robert E. Lee. Mason and Lee were tied for the head of the class in Artillery, Tactics, and Conduct, but Mason bested Lee in all other subjects and graduated with an overall score of 1995.5 points, compared to Lee's 1966.5. Charles Mason resigned his commission two years after graduation in 1831.
∼In the graduating class of 1829 from the United States Military Academy, Charles Mason was the only person to graduate above Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Mason, however, did not serve in the war. Instead he served as the first Chief Justice of Iowa from 1838 to 1847 (when he resigned). He also taught at West Point for a brief time.
(Bio by Heather)
----------
CHARLES MASON was born in Onondaga County, New York, October 24, 1804. He was appointed a cadet in the West Point Military Academy where he graduated at the where he graduated at the head of his class in 1829. Among his classmates were Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Leonidas Polk, afterwards leaders in the great Rebellion. Mr. Mason remained at West Point two years as an instructor in the cademy, then resigned and studied law in New York City where he began to practice his profession. He was for a time employed on the editorial staff of the New York Evening Post. In 1837 he located at Burlington, the in Wisconsin Territory, where he had been appointed United States District Attorney. Upon the creation of Iowa Territory the following year, Mr. Mason was appointed by the President Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a position which he held until Iowa became a State. The most important decision made during his term was one sustaining the right to freedom of a slave who had been brought by his master to the free Territory of Iowa. When the controversy arose between Iowa and Missouri over the boundary and was carried into the Supreme Court of the United States, Judge Mason was appointed by Governor Hempstead to represent Iowa in the suit, where a decree was obtained in favor of Iowa. He was one of the commissioners to revise the laws of the State in 1848 and the result of the work was the Code of 1851. In 1853 Judge Mason was appointed by President Pierce Commissioner of Patents, and removed to Washington. In August, 1857, he resigned and returned to Iowa and in 1858 was elected a member of the first State Board of Education. In 1861 he was nominated for Governor by the Democratic State Convention but declined. In 1867 he was again nominated for Governor by the Democrats and was defeated in the election by Samuel Merrill the Republican candidate. In 1868 and again in 1872 he was a delegate to the National Democratic Conventions and in 1873 he made a voyage to Europe. He died on his farm near Burlington, February 25, 1882, at the age of seventy-eight. Judge Wright said of him: "As a man he was as much respected and esteemed as any of the early jurists and public men of our Territory and State."
Source: Gue, Benjamin F. History of Iowa Vol. IV; New York City: 1903
-----
"MASON, Charles, jurist, was born in Pompey, N.Y., Oct. 24, 1804; son of Chauncey and Esther (Dodge) Mason; grandson of Jonathan Mason, and a descendant of Capt. John Mason, 1635.
He was graduated first of his class at the U.S. Military Academy and brevetted 2d lieutenant of the corps of engineers, July 1, 1829. He served at the Military Academy as principal assistant professor of engineering, 1829-31, and resigned from the army, Dec. 31, 1831.
He studied law in New York city and was admitted to the bar in 1832. He practised law at Newburgh, N.Y., 1832-34, and in New York city, 1884-36, and was acting editor of the New York Evening Post, 1835-36.
He spent the winter of 1836-37 at Belmont, Wis. Ter., and in February, 1837, took up his residence at Burlington, which was included in Iowa Territory in 1838. He was married, Aug. 1, 1837, to Angelica, daughter of Hezekiah GEAR of Pittsfield, Mass.
He served as district-attorney of Des Moines county, Wis. Ter., and as one of Governor Dodge's aides, 1837-38; and was appointed chief justice of the supreme court of Iowa Territory by President Van Buren, July 4, 1838, retiring May 16, 1847.
He was appointed attorney for the state of Iowa by Governor Hempstead in 1847, to bring suit against the state of Missouri in the U.S. supreme court to define the boundary line between the two states. He prosecuted this to a final determination in 1850 and obtained a decree in favor of Iowa.
He was one of the three commissioners selected by the state legislature to draft an entire code of laws for the state, which was adopted in 1851.
He was judge of Des Moines county court, Iowa, 1851-52; U.S. commissioner of patents by appointment from President Pierce, 1853-57; and a Commissioner to adjust the extent of Des Moines river land grant, 1858-59. He resumed practice at Burlington, Iowa, in 1858; was a member of the board of education of the state of Iowa, 1858-59, and in 1860 removed to Washington, D.C., where he was a member of the firm of Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence, patent attorneys, 1861-81.
He was nominated for governor of Iowa by the Democratic party in 1861, [p.284] but declined, and was appointed by the legislature of Iowa commissioner to control a state war fund of $800,000. He was nominated for governor a second time in 1867, and was defeated. He was a delegate from Iowa to the Democratic national conventions of 1864, 1868, and 1872, and was chairman of the Democratic national central committee during those years.
He was president of the Burlington & Missouri River railroad, Iowa, and of the Peoria & Quawka railroad, Illinois, 1852-53. He published several pamphlets on financial subjects.
He died near Burlington, Iowa, Feb. 25, 1882"
[The 20th Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Vol.7, p.283].
----------
Charles Mason (1804 – February 27, 1882) was born in New York and became a patent attorney, taught engineering, and was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa. He was later the United States Commissioner of Patents. However, today Mason is perhaps most remembered as the cadet who graduated first in the class of 1829 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, ahead of future Confederate Army commander Robert E. Lee. Mason and Lee were tied for the head of the class in Artillery, Tactics, and Conduct, but Mason bested Lee in all other subjects and graduated with an overall score of 1995.5 points, compared to Lee's 1966.5. Charles Mason resigned his commission two years after graduation in 1831.
∼In the graduating class of 1829 from the United States Military Academy, Charles Mason was the only person to graduate above Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Mason, however, did not serve in the war. Instead he served as the first Chief Justice of Iowa from 1838 to 1847 (when he resigned). He also taught at West Point for a brief time.
(Bio by Heather)
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