Mason was settled back in 1836 by Lewis Lacey, who built a sawmill here for the Charles Noble & Company out of Monroe, Michigan. A year later, an executive from the company, Ephraim B. Danforth, moved here and became the first postmaster of the town then known as Mason Center - named after Michigan's governor, Stevens T. Mason. It became the county seat in 1840, with the name changing to Mason in 1842. It eventually was incorporated as a village in 1865 and then as a city in 1875.

Excerpt from "Early Settlements" link of the Mason, Mi history posted at: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/ingham/MasonErlySet.html

Main table of contents of this webpage at: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/ingham/Mason.html

The first settler of Mason, or in what is now the township of Vevay, was Lewis Lacey, who came here in February or March, 1836, to build a saw-mill for Noble & Co., of Monroe, and to chop twenty acres on section 8. Upon the completion of the saw-mill, Ephraim B. Danforth, a member of the firm above named, settled at a place and assumed charge of their interests. He located in 1837. The firm owned seven-eighths of the land in the old village plat of Mason.

Mr. Danforth was elected one of the first associate judges for Ingham County in 1838, and was re-elected in 1842. He was twice elected to the State Senate, and in 1848 was appointed by the Governor and Senate a commission to lay out and construct a State road from the village of Mason to Lansing. In 1850 he was a delegate to the convention which framed the present constitution of the State. While a member of the Senate he, together with Hon. Joseph H. Kilbourne, of the House, worked with untiring zeal to secure the location of the State capital at Lansing, and, as is well known, their labors were crowned with success.

In 1850, Mr. Danforth sold his interest in the village of Mason and removed to Lansing, where he died, Aug. 17, 1853. He was engaged in the milling business in the latter city, and during his residence in the county was one of its most useful and prominent citizens.
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Mason was settled back in 1836 by Lewis Lacey, who built a sawmill here for the Charles Noble & Company out of Monroe, Michigan. A year later, an executive from the company, Ephraim B. Danforth, moved here and became the first postmaster of the town then known as Mason Center - named after Michigan's governor, Stevens T. Mason. It became the county seat in 1840, with the name changing to Mason in 1842. It eventually was incorporated as a village in 1865 and then as a city in 1875.

Excerpt from "Early Settlements" link of the Mason, Mi history posted at: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/ingham/MasonErlySet.html

Main table of contents of this webpage at: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mi/county/ingham/Mason.html

The first settler of Mason, or in what is now the township of Vevay, was Lewis Lacey, who came here in February or March, 1836, to build a saw-mill for Noble & Co., of Monroe, and to chop twenty acres on section 8. Upon the completion of the saw-mill, Ephraim B. Danforth, a member of the firm above named, settled at a place and assumed charge of their interests. He located in 1837. The firm owned seven-eighths of the land in the old village plat of Mason.

Mr. Danforth was elected one of the first associate judges for Ingham County in 1838, and was re-elected in 1842. He was twice elected to the State Senate, and in 1848 was appointed by the Governor and Senate a commission to lay out and construct a State road from the village of Mason to Lansing. In 1850 he was a delegate to the convention which framed the present constitution of the State. While a member of the Senate he, together with Hon. Joseph H. Kilbourne, of the House, worked with untiring zeal to secure the location of the State capital at Lansing, and, as is well known, their labors were crowned with success.

In 1850, Mr. Danforth sold his interest in the village of Mason and removed to Lansing, where he died, Aug. 17, 1853. He was engaged in the milling business in the latter city, and during his residence in the county was one of its most useful and prominent citizens.
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