Mason, Charles H., 1830-1859

Charles H. Mason was born in Maryland about 1830. He moved at the age of 7 to Rhode Island, he graduated with honors from Brown University in 1850 and was recommended for the bar shortly after graduation. In September 1853 he was appointed Secretary of State and he came to West. As hostilities between settlers and First Nations peoples erupted he served the State as Acting Governor in time of war, from Oct. 1855 to Jan. 1856. From 15 May 1855 Mason assisted Stevens in the negotations of the Medicine Creek and Point No Point Treaties and was created as secretary of treaty commissions. He transported documents to the nation's capital to secure funding for territorial aid. He died in Olympia, WA after a brief illness on Jul. 22, 1859. His burial location, Union Cemetery in Tumwater, WA, was established by the Washington State Archivist from primary source material and his grave marked in 1997 following an extensive search. Mason County, WA was renamed in 1864 in honor of him.

Charles H. Mason was appointed the first secretary of Washington Territory in 1853 and served until his death in 1859. In 1855-1856 and 1858-1859 he served as acting governor for governors Stevens and McMullin.