Pvt. Willis Enoch Mason, (CSA)

Willis E. Mason, who was born in South Carolina, married Ann B. Henderson before 1847, probably in Georgia. Willis and Ann were the parents of William, Martha, Thomas, Sarah, James B. and Jefferson. His two oldest children were born in Georgia. About 1850, he moved his family to Arkansas, residing first in Sevier County and then in Polk County.

Willis enlisted in the Confederate Army and served as a private in Company E, Arkansas 19th Regiment. He was taken prisoner of war at Polk County, Arkansas on 14 December 1863 and died at Camp Douglas. The cause of death on his service record is typhoid pneumonia, along with the following information: "Number of grave: 904. Locality of grave: Block 3 Chicago City Cemetery." His name appears on the memorial of those whose remains were removed to Oak Woods Cemetery: "MASON, W.E. E 19 ARK." (name/company/regiment)

The following excerpt is from pp. 225-226 of A History of the State of Oklahoma 1908 Vol II by Luther B. Hill (published 1910)

"Willis E. Mason, the father of James B., was an old-time overseer of South Carolina, who in the fifties migrated toward the southwest his destination being Texas. He stopped in Arkansas for several years, and was there overtaken by the Civil War, enlisting in the Confederate service and dying in the service. He married Annie B. Henderson, of Elbert county, Georgia, who died in Polk county, Arkansas, in 1901 (sic), at the age of seventy-one years. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Willis E. Mason: William, of Dyer, Arkansas; Martha, who died unmarried in that state; Thomas, who died in Texas; Sarah, who died single; James B., of this sketch; and Jefferson M. who died in Texas, the father of a family."

Source: Find-a-Grave