James Worthington Mason (c. 1841 – November 1874) was a state senator, sheriff, and postmaster in Arkansas. In 1868 he was one of the first six African Americans to serve in the Arkansas House.[1] He also served in the Arkansas Senate[2] and was the first African American postmaster in the United States.[3]
James W. Mason was born in about 1841 in Chicot County, Arkansas.[4] His father, Elisha Worthington, was a Kentucky-born large landowner and the owner of the Sunnyside Plantation in Chicot County.[4] His mother was an African slave owned by his father.[4] As a result, he was a mulatto. He had a sister, Martha. They were both recognized by their father, and they studied at Oberlin College in Ohio.[4] He also studied in France.[4]
Careeredit
Mason was appointed as the postmaster of Sunnyside in 1867, becoming the first documented African-American postmaster in the United States.[4][5]
He served in the Arkansas Senate a second time, from 1871 to 1872.[4] He then served as the Sheriff of Chicot County from 1872 to 1874.[4] In the summer of 1873, he was arrested under the suspicion of inciting a race war in the county.[4] The judge, Colonel John A. Williams, dismissed the trial.[4]
Personal lifeedit
He married Rachel, who was also of mixed race.[4] They had a daughter, Fannie. Mason died in late November 1874.[4]
james, mason, james, worthington, mason, 1841, november, 1874, state, senator, sheriff, postmaster, arkansas, 1868, first, african, americans, serve, arkansas, house, also, served, arkansas, senate, first, african, american, postmaster, united, states, bornc, . James Worthington Mason c 1841 November 1874 was a state senator sheriff and postmaster in Arkansas In 1868 he was one of the first six African Americans to serve in the Arkansas House 1 He also served in the Arkansas Senate 2 and was the first African American postmaster in the United States 3 James W MasonBornc 1841Chicot County ArkansasDiedNovember 1874 1874 11 00 aged 32 33 OccupationPoliticianParentElisha Worthington Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesEarly life editJames W Mason was born in about 1841 in Chicot County Arkansas 4 His father Elisha Worthington was a Kentucky born large landowner and the owner of the Sunnyside Plantation in Chicot County 4 His mother was an African slave owned by his father 4 As a result he was a mulatto He had a sister Martha They were both recognized by their father and they studied at Oberlin College in Ohio 4 He also studied in France 4 Career editMason was appointed as the postmaster of Sunnyside in 1867 becoming the first documented African American postmaster in the United States 4 5 He served as a member of the Arkansas Senate from 1868 to 1869 4 He was appointed as Consul General to Liberia on March 29 1870 6 However he failed to fill the position 4 He served in the Arkansas Senate a second time from 1871 to 1872 4 He then served as the Sheriff of Chicot County from 1872 to 1874 4 In the summer of 1873 he was arrested under the suspicion of inciting a race war in the county 4 The judge Colonel John A Williams dismissed the trial 4 Personal life editHe married Rachel who was also of mixed race 4 They had a daughter Fannie Mason died in late November 1874 4 References edit Black History Month 2021 Minorities in the Arkansas Senate African American Postal Workers in the 19th Century PDF About Postal People United States Postal Service Retrieved 7 April 2018 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n James W Mason 1841 1875 The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History amp Culture Deanna Boyd Kendra Chen The History and Experience of African Americans in America s Postal Service National Postal Museum U S Department of State Office of the Historian nbsp nbsp This article about an Arkansas politician is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James W Mason amp oldid 1191017641, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
