Mason High School - Branding Iron Yearbook (Mason, TX)

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BRANDING IRON

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THE First settlers of Mason came in the early 40’s. A few years later the overflow of Fisher and Miller’s eolony, which was originally established at Fredericksburg, Ih gan pushing into the territory that now comprises Mason county. They settled along the luniks of the Llano River and on the hanks of the tributaries of the Llano River. Their principal occupation was stock raising, although they also did farming on a small scale. These settlers encountered many hardships, which included raids by tin ('onunanche and Kiowa Indians, drought, lack of means of transportation, and numerous others. Hut due to their jierseverance. they gradually overcame these difficulties and their communities tiegan to grow. Among these tlrst settlers were Jacob Sehuessler. (’has. Wartenlmch. who are still living and raiding in Mason; Mrs. Anna Martin, one of the pioneer women bank presidents of Texas, and who is also still living: Otto Donop. Wilson Hey. John Lem burg. Sr.. August and Ernest Martin, It. Melius. Jerry and Matthew Cnvaness. Thomas Murray. Henry Hoerster. Sr.. Peter Birk. C. C. Smith. Morris I ehman. Jas. L. I atliam. Tlios. Milligan. James M. Hunter. Win. Hofmann, and numerous others. The descendants of these sturdy pioneers are today tin leading citizens of Mason and Maso i County. In 1845. a fort was erected by the United States government on Post Hill, which is now a suburb of the thriving city of Mason, at which soldiers were stationed to protect the settlers from the depredations of the Indians. The fort was named in honor of (’apt. Mason, one of the tlrst commandants of the fort. Among the tlrst officers to Is stationed at the fort was Robert Edward Ix e. then a captain in the Second Dragoons, and whose name is now dmrest to the hearts of all true sons of the South. Another officer who was statiomsl at Fort Mason in the early days, and who later won Civil War fame, was 1 Gen. Longstreet. His descendants still own a tract «»f land in Mason. After the erection of the fort, a small village gradually lM gan to spring up around it. Some of the lirst business men of Mason were William Kooek. Peter Birk. C. Smith, and David Doole. The village lK gan to build up but the hardshi|is co .tinued. However, the pioneers never weakened, but kept on fighting obstacles, and paving the way to lietter days with that tenacity of purixise for which they are famous. Mason County was organized August 2. ISAS, and naturally. Mason was made tin-county seat. Mason County consists of 1108 square milt of territory. The tlrst county officers were John McSween. Chief Justice. Thomas Milligan. Sheriff. L. Bergkorf. Assessor and Collector. W. J. Todd. County Clerk, and W. I.. Lewis. District Clerk. Tin first deed was recorded on Xovemlier IS. 1858. by Clerk Todd. The tlrst court house of Mason County was hurmsl January 21. 1S77, destroying all county pajiers. but destroying only Imoks Card E of the deed records. When the Civil War broke out i:i the early sixties Fort Mason was alMindoued by the soldiers to go into luittle for the North or South, and tin depredations by the indian-s again Itegan to liecome more frightful. Thomas Milligan, tin first sheriff of Mason County was ambushed and killed by the Indians in February, isuo. while he was out horse hunting. There are numerous other events of indian atrocities which we could relate, but we have not time nor space to do so. Add« d to these depredations by the Indians in the Ws. was