Roswell B. Mason
{{short description|Mayor of Chicago (1805–1892)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox Politician
|name = Roswell B. Mason
|image = Rosewellmason.jpeg
|birth_date = {{birth date|1805|9|19}}
|birth_place = New Hartford, New York, United States
|death_date = {{death date and age|1892|1|1|1805|9|19}}
|death_place = Chicago, Illinois, United States
|resting_place = Rosehill Cemetery
|residence = Chicago, Illinois
|office = Mayor of Chicago
|order = 25th
|term_start = December 6, 1869
|term_end = December 4, 1871
|predecessor = John B. Rice
|successor = Joseph Medill
|party = Citizens Party
|spouse = {{Marriage|Harriet Lavinia Hopkins|September 6, 1831|March 29, 1891|end=d.}}
|children = 8
|signature = Signature of Roswell B. Mason (1805–1892).png
}}
Roswell B. Mason (September 19, 1805{{spaced ndash}}January 1, 1892) served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1869–1871) for the Citizens Party.
Early life
Mason was born on September 19, 1805, in New Hartford, New York to Arnold Mason and Mercy Coman.Encyclopaedia of Biography of Illinois, Volume 1, 1892, page 197 His mother was a lineal descendant of Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island. His father Arnold, born in Swansea, Massachusetts, was an engineer instrumental in the construction of the Erie Canal, the Morris Canal, and the High Bridge in New York City.Journal of the Western Society of Engineers, Vols. 43-45, page 4
He married Harriet Lavinia Hopkins on September 6, 1831, and they had eight children.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89046945/r-b-mason-is-dead/ |title=R. B. Mason is Dead |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=5 |date=1892-01-02 |access-date=2021-11-16 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZkxRAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA51 |title=History of Chicago: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time |volume=II |first=Alfred Theodore |last=Andreas |author-link=Alfred T. Andreas |publisher=A. T. Andreas Company |page=51 |year=1885 |access-date=2021-11-16 |via=Google Books}}
Professional life
Mason began his career as an engineer working with his father at the age of 17 on a canal construction project in Albany, New York related to the Erie Canal. He subsequently attended an engineering school in Utica, New York. Mason was the first Chief Engineer of the Illinois Central Railroad.Illinois Central Magazine, Volumes 43–44, 1954, p. 23
Mason and his family moved in Chicago in 1865, when he was one of several engineers who worked to reverse the flow of the Chicago River to improve health conditions and the cleanliness of Lake Michigan.
Mason held a high position with the Illinois Central Railroad until he decided to run to be Mayor of Chicago.{{cite book | last = Gale | first = Edwin O. | title = Reminiscences of Early Chicago and Vicinity | url = https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.157159 | publisher = Revell | year = 1902 | location = Chicago | pages = [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.157159/page/n433 389]}}
=Mayoralty=
Mason was elected Chicago mayor on a reform ticket in 1869.
Mason was sworn in as mayor on December 6, 1869.{{cite web |title=Mayor Roswell B. Mason Inaugural Address, 1869 |url=https://www.chipublib.org/mayor-roswell-b-mason-inaugural-address-1869/ |website=www.chipublib.org |publisher=Chicago Public Library |accessdate=26 May 2020}}
During his administration, the 1871 Great Chicago Fire occurred. Mason responded by directing General Philip Sheridan to place the city under martial law. To date he is the last non Republican or Democratic Mayor of Chicago.
Mason's tenure as mayor ended on December 4, 1871, when he was succeeded by Joseph Medill.{{cite web |title=Mayor Joseph Medill Inaugural Address, 1871 |url=https://www.chipublib.org/mayor-joseph-medill-inaugural-address-1871/ |website=www.chipublib.org |publisher=Chicago Public Library |accessdate=26 May 2020}}
File:Roswell B. Mason's grave at Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago.jpg
Later life and death
Mason's wife Harriet died on March 29, 1891.
He died at his home in Chicago on January 1, 1892, and was buried at Rosehill Cemetery.
Legacy
He is the namesake of Mason, Illinois.{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|year=1905|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n200 201]}}
An elementary school in west Chicago is named after him.
References
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{{Mayors of Chicago}}
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Category:Burials at Rosehill Cemetery
Category:19th-century mayors of places in Illinois
Category:People from New Hartford, New York
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