Sacramento County
Biographies
FRANCIS ELTON MASON
FRANCIS ELTON MASON.--A popular executive whose
influence among his fellow-workers is always in the line of progress, is
Francis Elton Mason, the superintendent of the American River Division of the Natomas Company, at Natoma. He was born at Athlone,
Merced County, on August 15, 1879, and his parents were D. C. and Martha Jane
(Sumner) Mason, the former a native of New Jersey, the latter a native
daughter. Mr. Mason came out to California in 1872, and his folks are
all old-timers. The grandparents, both
paternal and maternal, came across the great plains in
1852, and they all became extensive sheep-raisers. Mr. Mason has closed his useful and fruitful
career, but Mrs. Mason is still living, the center of a group of admiring and
devoted friends.
Francis
Elton Mason went to the public schools of Tulare County, and in that time was
fortunate in pursuing high school studies for two years. Then he learned the plumbers’ trade and
followed it for fourteen years. In 1907,
he joined the Lincoln Hardware Company, and was with them for four years as
half-owner and manager. He then went to Willows as manager of the hardware and
implement department of Hocheimer & Company, and
continued to hold that post for three years; and because of his selling power
farming machinery, he got into development work. Then he linked up with the Mills Orchard
Company, to take charge of development work in this division; and he
superintends vast tracts of farm-land, which are set out to orchards and then
sold. Owing to the many problems
involved, it is doubtful if the Natomas Company, now
recognized as a concern of great importance here, could have secured a better
man.
Mr. Mason
was married, in 1901, to Miss Lena Rose Hoxter, a
native of Ohio; and three children have
blessed the union: Ruth, Naomi and Frank.
Mr. Mason is an Elk, and he is a member of the Maccabees. He also belongs to the Farm Bureau. He is fond of music, and within his own
family there is an orchestra of five pieces.
Transcribed by Suzanne Wood.
Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With
Biographical Sketches, Page 659. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA.
1923.
© 2007 Suzanne Wood.