History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

284 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
where he has since carried on mixed farming. The residence and
other buildings were erected by our subject's father and the neat
and thrifty appearance of the place indicates the supervision of
a practical and progressive owner.
On the 31st of December, 1889, in Chicago, Mr. Church was
uidted in marriage to Miss Alice L. MacCarron, her parents being
W. P. and Mary L. (Corbin) MacCarron, residents of the western
metropolis. Mr. and Mrs. Church have three children, namely:
John C, who assists his father in the operation of the home
farm ; Albert L., who is a stenographer in the service of the Illinois
Central Raili'oad, being employed in the office of the master
mechanic at Freeport, Illinois; and Charles A., who also assists
in the work of the home farm.
In his political views Mr. Church is a progressive, advocating
the principles set forth by Theodore Roosevelt at the tune of the
birth of the new party. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekahs, while his
religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congrega-
tional church. Well known in the comity where he has resided
from birth, he has won the uniform trust and good-will of all by
reason of his pleasant and attractive personality, and all his life
he has been straightforward and honorable.
P. W. MASON.
P. W. Mason, well known as an auctioneer of Amboy, has
here maintained his offices in the First National Bank building
for the past quarter of a century. He came to Lee county in
1883 and has resided within its borders throughout the interven-
ing three decades. His birth occurred in Henry county, Illinois,
on the 17th of November, 186], his parents being N. S. and Henrietta
(Green) Mason. The father, a pioneer settler of Whiteside
county, this state volunteered for service in defense of the Union
at the time of the Civil war. His demise occurred in 1901. when
he had attained the age of sixty-seven years, and his remains were
interred at Morrison, Illinois. He left a widow and five children
to mourn his death, which was also deeply deplored by many
friends and aeriuaintances. The Mason family is of British
origin and was established in the ITnited States at a very early
period in the history of this country.