Joseph Mason (settler)

Joseph Mason was born Joseph Messier on a farm near Montreal, Canada, tract of land from a Native American woman who was the recent widow of a man named Gangros. The land was located on the south side of the river a little over a mile northwest of present-day Fort Collins. In 1862, the governor of the Colorado Territory, John Evans, appointed Mason to the first board of county commissioners. ==Contributions to Fort Collins==

In June 1864, a flood destroyed the nearby Army camp called Camp Collins. When Lt. James Hannah and his men were looking for safer ground on which to relocate the camp, they encountered Mason, who suggested they relocate on land near his property. It was a two-story concrete sutler's store built on the south edge of the camp, and Mason was appointed as the sutler, or store keeper for the camp. Mason and his partner, Mr. Sherwood, also supplied horses to the army camp. When the post office was located in the sutler's store, Mason was also appointed as the first postmaster to the camp. In 1877, President Hayes reappointed Mason as postmaster but Mason resigned the office in 1879. In 1868, Mason was instrumental in getting the county seat of Larimer County to Fort Collins from Laporte. Once the county seat was moved to Fort Collins, the courthouse was located on the second floor of the Old Grout sutler's store building. In 1871, Mason was elected Sheriff of Larimer County. He was reelected to the position in 1873. During his time as sheriff, Mason arrested noted criminal Happy Jack, but he subsequently escaped custody. In 1872, Mason purchased the Lindell flour mill from Elizabeth Auntie Stone and Henry C. Peterson. Joseph Mason donated 50 acres of land to help build Colorado State University. Mason Street in Fort Collins is named for Joseph Mason. ==Personal life==

In 1861 in Denver, Mason took part in a duel with a Frenchman over a Native American woman. The Frenchman fainted before either party could draw their weapon, so no shots were fired. It is not known what became of the woman, but she did not end up with Mason. The woman's name was Mary Polzell Mason married Luella M. Blake, the daughter of George G. Blake on July 3, 1870. The couple had two children who survived to adulthood, Minnie Luella Mason and Albert J. Mason, and one child, Lizzie C. Mason, that died in early infancy. ==Death==

On February 9, 1881, Mason was kicked in the head by one of his horses. Local doctors removed 62 pieces of skull fragment from the wound, but could not save him. On February 11, 1881, Mason died of his wounds. He is buried in Grand View Cemetery in Fort Collins.