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NOAH D. MASON - The grandfather of Mr. Mason was born January 15, 1782, at Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts. He was apprenticed to a hard master, from whom he ran away, and followed the sea as a sailor several years. July 15, 1804, Mr. Mason married Lucinda Stetson, who was born June 14, 1782. She was born in Hanover, Plymouth County. After their marriage he made a voyage of near two years to China. On his return from that voyage he relinquished the life of a sailor and moved to Hancock county, State of Maine, near Belfast. This would be about 1806. In 1814, he moved to Genesee county, New York, and in the early part of 1819 he went to Olean Point, on the Allegheny river. In 1821 he with others built a boat, and their families ran down that river and the Ohio, and landed in Pope County, Illinois. A little more than two years later they started for Tazewell county, but finding Sangamon county possessing more advantages they settled in Auburn township, April 10, 1824. Of their children, Noah, junior, comes in the line of descent we wish to follow. He was born February 25, 1807, near Belfast, Maine. He married in Sangamon county, February 19, 1835, to Martha Nuckolls. They had six children. Mrs. Mason died March 24, 1852, and he married Elizabeth Talbott, August 9, 1853. By this marriage they had but one child, Noah D. Mason, the subject of our sketch.

Noah D. Mason was born October 3, 1854. Married July 31, 1878, to Maria McGraw, born January 19, 1855. Her father was Absalom D. McGraw, was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, May 30, 1812. Leaving Kentucky, he arrived in Springfield November 28, 1836. He has a vivid recollection of the "sudden change" which occurred December 20, 1836.

He married Rebecca H. Hunter, April 30, 1859, in Springfield. She was born in Hardin county, July 17, 1815. Mr. McGraw died in the fall of 1875, on his farm in Woodside township. Charles G., a brother of Absalom, came to Springfield about the same time, and engaged in successful merchandise business.

N. D. Mason lived on the home farm until 1866, when, with his father, he went to Springfield. He went through the several grades, reached the High School, took part of a course, took two terms in Springfield Commercial College, where he obtained a thorough business education. He is now on the southwest quarter of section twenty-six, a farm assigned him by his father, in the partial division of his estate. The farm is fine rolling prairie, with sufficient water from creeks for all stock purposes.