In April of 1907, newspapers announced that legendary financier James Henry "Silent" Smith had died suddenly, leaving an estate estimated to be between $50 million and $75 million dollars ($1.724 billion to $2.9 billion in today's funds).
William S. Mason, a resident of Evanston, Illinois, was James Henry Smith’s nephew (specifically, the son of Smith's sister). Upon the reading of the will in April 1907, it was revealed that Mason was bequeathed a staggering $6,000,000 (equivalent to roughly $200 million today).
While Smith’s widow received a significant portion of the estate (including their New York mansion and a large cash sum), the bulk of the remaining fortune was divided among Smith’s siblings and their children.
Mason’s uncle had been known for his quiet generosity toward his family; prior to his death, James Henry had already set up funds to ensure the "proper education of all his kin."
Let's take a look at the life of William S. Mason before he inherited $6 Million and his life after the legendary windfall.
William Smith Mason was born December 8, 1866 in Millburn, Illinois to Thomas Mason (1835-1872) and Margaret "Maggie" Smith (1845-1873). Thomas and Margaret had been married January 27, 1866 in Antioch, Illinois. They were blessed with four children: William Smith Mason (1866-1961), George Grant Mason (1868-1955) and Lucy Beatrice Mason/Mrs. Frederic P. Vose (1870-1965). There was also mention of a John Mason, but I was unable to verify if he existed or not. Thomas Mason was a farmer by trade.
William Mason makes his first appearance in the 1870 US Census. The Mason family was living in the Town of Newport, Lake County, Illinois. The family consisted of: Thomas Mason (34 years old), wife Margaret (24) sons Willie (3) and George (1). Also living with them was Bernard Bason (23) from Prussia. Thomas was a "Farmer" and Margaret "Keeps House." Thomas said he had Real Estate worth $3,000.00 ($75,000 in today's funds) and Personalty worth $800.00 ($20,000 in today's funds.)
William Mason's father Thomas Mason died May 21, 1872 in Millburn, Illinois. He was thirty-seven years old. He was buried in the Millburn Cemetery in Old Mill Creek, Illinois:
William was only five years old when his father died.
William's mother Margaret Smith Mason died just a little over a year later - on July 30, 1873. She was twenty-seven years old. Maggie was buried next to to her husband in the Millburn Cemetery. Here is her tombstone (with a horrible repair job):
So by the time William Mason was six years old, he and his siblings were orphans.
The 1880 US Census shows that William Mason and his siblings were now living with Maggie's parents, George and Beatrice Smith in Antioch, Lake County, Illinois. The family consisted of: George Smith (59 years old), wife Beatrice (52), daughters Ruby (17), and Mabel (14). Also living with them were William Mason (14), John Mason (12), and Lucy Mason (9), grandchildren of George and Beatrice, and John Jameson (19).
George Smith said he was a "Farmer," Beatrice was "Keeping House," the rest were "At Home" except for John Jameson who was a "Laborer."
In 1881 William Mason along with his brother George, enrolled in the elite Blackhawk School, Lyme, Connecticut. They graduated in 1885. Their Smith family connections in Chicago and New York enabled them to be enrolled in such a prestigious institution.
Immediately after graduation from Blackhawk, they entered Yale’s Sheffield Scientific School, graduating in 1888. For the next two years they attended Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.
In 1890 they came west to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and were hired by the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. They remained with the railroad until 1893 when William decided to pursue a different career path. George remained with the railroad but William decided on a career in Real Estate.
In 1893 William S. Mason moved to Evanston, Illinois where he lived at 1021 Lee Street:
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| 1021 Lee Street, Evanston |
On June 26, 1895 William Mason married Mary Anna Evans in Trinity Episcopal Church, Platteville, Wisconsin. The groom was twenty-eight; the bride was thirty.
From the Grant County (WI) Witness from 19 Jun 1895:
Mary Anna Evans (1864-1947) was born September 26, 1864 in Wisconsin to Jonathan Henry Evans (1830-1919) and Sarah H. Kilbourne (1832-1909). Jonathan and Sarah had been married in 1846 in Platteville, Wisconsin. Jonathan had held several public positions in his career: Registrar of Deeds of Grant County and President of the Board of Regents of the Schools of the State of Wisconsin among them.
Jonathan and Sarah were blessed with four children: Major Charles Rountree Evans (1859-1920), Harold K. Evans (1860-1944), Mary Anna Evans (1864-1947), and Thomas Clay Evans (1874-1937).
After their marriage, the newlyweds lived at the newly constructed 1307 Judson in Evanston (Evanston's first multi-family building):
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| 1307 Judson, Evanston |
When he first came to Evanston in 1894, Mason teamed up with two established Evanston businessmen, George A. Smith and Charles A. Morse. What did they call their business? Smith, Morse and Mason, of course. Here is a mention of the business in the Evanston Press from December 21, 1895:
In 1895 Charles L. Morse left the firm to become a missionary for the Methodist Church. After his departure the firm was called Smith & Mason, although their advertisements continued to use the name Smith, Morse & Mason until 1897.
In 1898 William S. Mason came out solidly against Evanston becoming part of Chicago:
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| Chicago Tribune - 15 Sep 1898 |
In 1899, William and Mary Mason moved to 1224 Maple in Evanston:
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| 1224 Maple, Evanston |
On November 22, 1899 the Masons welcomed a daughter, Dorothy Evans Mason/Mrs. Edgar Willrich/Mrs. Carl Croft (1899-1984) into their family.
The 1900 US Census finds the Masons at their home at 1224 Maple in Evanston. The family consisted of: William S. Mason (33), wife Mary (35) and their daughter Dorothy (6/12). Also living with them was Servant Laura Peterson, an immigrant from Denmark. The Masons reported this as the first marriage for them both and said they had been married for five years. Mary Mason said she had given birth to two children, only one of whom was still alive in 1900. William Mason listed his occupation as "Real Estate Agent." They said they did not live on a farm, and they rented their house.
The Evanston Index printed an article about Smith & Mason in its edition of September 14, 1901:
On January 15, 1903 the Masons were blessed with another daughter, Marion Mason (1903-1905).
Like last month's subject of this blog, James R. Smart, William Mason was also affiliated with the City National Bank of Evanston which had opened its doors June 21, 1900:
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| The Evanston (IL) Index - 17 Jan 1903 |
On May 12, 1903, William S. Mason was appointed as the City Controller for the City of Evanston:
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| Chicago Tribune - 13 May 1903 |
In May of 1904, the Mason family moved from 1224 Maple to 1629 Asbury Avenue in Evanston:
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| 1629 Asbury Avenue, Evanston |
On October 1, 1904, the firm of Smith and Mason was dissolved with the consent of both parties. All of the obligations of Smith and Mason have been assumed by William S. Mason:
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| The Evanston (IL) Press - 05 Nov 1904 |
Due to assuming increased responsibilities at his firm, William Mason decided not to serve another two year term as the City Comptroller of Evanston:
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| The Evanston (IL) Index - 14 Apr 1905 |
William and Mary Mason's two year old daughter Marion died from an unknown illness on July 29, 1905:
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| The Evanston (IL) Index - 04 Aug 1905 |
She was originally buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.
The Civic Federation of Chicago was founded in 1894. It was a direct response to the corruption, economic depression, and social unrest that gripped Chicago following the 1893 World’s Fair. It's purpose was to have local businessmen address local civic problems. William S. Mason was involved in the Civic Federation almost from its founding. In December of 1905 Mason was chosen for the National Affairs Committee.
Since 1904 when Smith and Mason was dissolved, Mason ran his real estate firm as a sole proprietor. Real Estate in Evanston was booming and he soon realized it was too much for one man, especially because of his other civic responsibilities. So, in October of 1905, William S. Mason formed a partnership with James R. Smart, the subject of last month's article in this blog. Mason & Smart was founded as a Real Estate firm but they did not just buy and sell real estate, they also specialized in bonds, mortgages, and insurance.
Late in 1905 the Masons moved again - this time to 1550 Oak Street in Evanston:
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| 1550 Oak Street, Evanston |
1550 Oak is now 1101 Grove - site of "The Plymouth" a multi-story condominium building built by well-known Evanston developer George J. Cyrus in 1965.
In 1907, William S. Mason was approached by a contingent of Evanston businessmen who wanted him to run for mayor. He refused, saying his current business responsibilities took up all of his time:
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| The Evanston (IL) Index - 02 Feb 1907 |
This brings us to the day when William S. Mason's life dramatically changed for the better: Monday May 6, 1907. The story made it to the Evanston newspapers for their May 11, 1907 editions:
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| Evanston (IL) Index - 11 May 1907 |
By the time William Mason walked into his office at Mason & Smart on Monday morning May 13th, the entire North Shore knew he was one of the wealthiest men in the country. You can just imagine what happened when the word got out that William Mason was Rich - R - I - C - H RICH!
The announcement made Mason a national celebrity overnight. When he returned to his home Monday evening, he was greeted by a "deluge of mail"—thousands of letters from strangers asking for money. It was estimated that in the first few days, Mason received over 13,000 such letters. The Evanston post office had to hire additional staff just to handle the bags of mail headed for Mason. Mason was also beset by the "cranks." Their pleas included everything from legitimate investment opportunities to bizarre pleas for money, marriage proposals (he already had a wife), and "get rich quick" schemes.
Mason eventually had to hire additional secretarial help just to sort the mail, most of which was reportedly burned or ignored. He became a "prisoner in his own home" for a short time to avoid the literal crowds of people who showed up at his door. Of course, the local press did not help. Here is their announcement from June 15, 1907:
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| The Evanston (IL) Press - 15 Jun 1907 |
If you hadn't been able to make your pitch to Mason yet, you were welcome to try again that afternoon.
It was not all smooth sailing with the inheritance. Because the fortune originated from the legendary miser George "Chicago" Smith and passed through the socialite James Henry "Silent" Smith, several branches of the family felt slighted. Relatives from as far away as Scotland and New York threatened to contest the will.
William S. Mason was named one of the four Executors and Trustees of the estate. This was a massive administrative burden that required him to spend significant time in New York managing the complex transition of railroads, real estate, and banking interests.
Mason did not immediately abandon his partner, James R. Smart, or their firm. However, the nature of the business shifted from Broker to Investor. Instead of just buying and selling houses for others, the firm became a vehicle for Mason’s own massive local investments.
During this period Mason’s work with the Civic Federation intensified. With his new wealth, he became a "power broker" who could fund reform efforts and influence Evanston’s development from the top down.
In 1908 Mason took off enough time from his financial duties to be one of the organizers of a William H. Taft Club of Evanston. The club was dedicated to the mission of getting Taft nominated for president in 1908 and then working diligently to get Taft elected president. The election was held on November 3, where Republican William Howard Taft defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan.
In its edition of June 6, 1908 the Evanston Index newspaper reported that the James Henry Smith estate had been finally settled. Distributions were as follows:
The Index was pleased to report that William S. Mason had inherited over $5 million dollars, and the state of New York had snatched almost one million dollars for various inheritance and transfer taxes.
It was not all work for William Mason. On March 20, 1909 the Evanston Index described an upcoming automobile trip for Mason and family:
Years ago, people of great wealth often donated land or funded projects for the welfare of all. For example the Shedd Aquarium (John Graves Shedd), the Adler Planetarium (Max Adler), the Field Museum (Marshall Field), the Museum of Science and Industry (Julius Rosenwald), the May Chapel at Rosehill Cemetery (Anna Wilson May), Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital (Edward Hines), and Buckingham Fountain (Kate Sturgis Buckingham). William S. Mason decided to donate and fully equip a playground for the youth of Evanston. The Evanston Press told the story on October 3, 1909:
It should be noted that Mason wanted to donate his gift anonymously, but nosy politicians demanded to know all the details. It is still in use today:
Over time, Mason donated three parks to the City of Evanston: Mason Park (1600 Darrow Avenue), Smith Park (2100 Ashland Avenue), and Acacia Park (2121 Florence Avenue).
The 1910 US Census Enumerator visited the Mason house at 1550 Oak in Evanston on May 6, 1910. The family consisted of: William S. Mason (42 years old), wife Mary E. (39), and daughter Dorothy E. (10). In addition there were two live-in servants: Hannah Ryden (30) from Sweden and Margaret Mahoney (34) from Ireland. The Masons said they had been married for fifteen years. Mrs. Mason said she had given birth to three children, only one of whom was alive in 1910. William Mason listed his occupation as "Real Estate Dealer." They said the lived in a house, not a farm, and that they owned the house free and clear.
One of the ways William Mason enjoyed his fortune was by collecting historical memorabilia - specifically material relating to Benjamin Franklin. It turns out that Mason had been interested in Franklin since his days at Yale. To a young engineering student in the late 1880s, Franklin wasn't just a Founding Father; he was the ultimate "Scientist-Statesman." Mason was drawn to Franklin’s identity as a self-made man who used his intellect to solve civic problems (like the lightning rod or the Franklin stove).
Mason believed in "scientific" city planning—the idea that a city’s health, parks, and utilities should be managed with the same precision Franklin used in his experiments. This led him to view Franklin as a philosophical guide for modern urban development.
As a result, Mason aggressively bid on every piece of Franklin memorabilia that hit the market, often frustrating established libraries and universities by outbidding them for a piece he particularly wanted.
Once Mason received his windfall, his casual interest turned into a scholarly obsession. He didn't just want to "own" old papers; he wanted to create a "working library." He hired a personal librarian at his home in Evanston to help him gather every letter, pamphlet, and portrait associated with Franklin. the goal was to centralize the disparate pieces of Franklin’s history. At the time, Franklin's papers were scattered across Europe and various American families; Mason used his wealth to systematically bring them back together.
The collection ultimately included over 11,000 books, 850 pamphlets, and 400 broadsides. Among the "rarest" items in his Evanston library were several pieces of global historical significance:
1. The Joseph Wright Portrait (1782)
This is arguably the "crown jewel" of the collection's artwork. Painted in Paris while Franklin was serving as the American Minister to France, it is considered one of the most accurate depictions of him in his later years. Mason kept this in a place of honor in his home.
2. The 1733 Poor Richard’s Almanack
Mason owned an incredibly rare original edition of the very first Poor Richard’s Almanack. Because these were "disposable" items used daily in the 18th century, very few copies survived. Mason’s copy is one of the few pristine examples left in existence.
3. Franklin’s Annotated Constitution
One of the most valuable items in the collection is a copy of the U.S. Constitution that contains Franklin’s own handwritten annotations. This provides a direct, physical link to Franklin’s thoughts during the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
4. The "Passy" Imprints
When Franklin was in France, he set up a private printing press at his home in Passy. He used it to print "bagatelles" (lighthearted essays), official passports, and diplomatic documents. Mason went to great lengths to track down these rare Passy imprints, many of which exist in only one or two copies worldwide.
5. Rare Scientific Manuscripts
Given Mason’s background as a Yale engineering student, he was obsessed with Franklin’s scientific legacy. His collection included:
Original letters on electricity: Personal correspondence where Franklin describes his kite experiment and his theories on "positive and negative" charges.
Maps and Voyages: Mason collected rare 16th and 17th-century maps and journals of explorers that Franklin himself had consulted when studying the Gulf Stream.
I have mentioned my various collections in stories I have written for this blog. While certainly not on the scale of Mason's collections (because no one has left me $6 million - yet) no one can understand a collector like another collector. The thrill of the chase when one receives news of an item coming on the market, and the elation of victory when one is the successful bidder by outbidding everyone else. The joy of displaying items in your collection for your personal pleasure as well as the fun of sharing your collection with others of similar interests. Money only becomes a means to acquire more items for your collection. Whether it was my boyhood collection of bottle caps, or my collection of memorabilia on silent superstar Rudolph Valentino, I cannot begin to tell you how much joy my collections have brought me.
One of the most important concerns for a collector is how to safely preserve and protect their collection from fire, theft or the ravages of time. Mason knew that his home at 1550 Oak while being a comfortable home, did not provide any security for his collection. So, in 1912 he bought the stately mansion at 1401 Ridge Avenue in Evanston. Readers of this blog probably know it best as the Lenox Lohr house.
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| 1401 Ridge Avenue, Evanston |
As beautiful as the house and surrounding grounds were, 1401 Ridge was not equipped to house a major collection either. It took two years but Mason had the house renovated so it became essentially a fortress for books. The library wing was fireproof, featuring steel shelving and climate control that was highly advanced for the time. He famously welcomed scholars from around the world to sit in his Evanston home and study these original documents. The renovations were completed and the Mason family moved in in 1914.
In 1914 Mason also became a Trustee of Pomona College in Claremont, California, a position he held until his death. Mason became acquainted with Pomona through his friendship with Judge Charles G. Neely. He also gave generously to Pomona College. He donated Mason Hall, a state-of-the-art facility which for years housed the Chemistry program at Pomona. He also donated a collection of books on early California history and provided money for magnificent new entrance gates at the north entrance of the college.
The 1920 US Census would be the last one for William Mason in Evanston. The family consisted of: William S. (53 years old) wife Mary E. (56) and daughter Dorothy (20). Also living with them were Servants Bertha E. Hernis (39). Martha Emerson (40), Henry E. West (58) and Cook Annie Emerson (47). Mason said he owned his home, and it did not have a mortgage on it. He listed his Occupation as "Vice President - Banking."
In 1921 William S. Mason decided to retire from his real estate business of Mason & Smart. The Evanston News-Index article from January 10, 1921 announced the formation of the successor company to Mason & Smart: Smart & Golee. James R. Smart now partnered with Christian Golee, who had worked for Mason & Smart since 1909. Here are the particulars:
In early 1922 the Mason family decided to take a six month vacation to Europe - Great Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Holland and Monaco. They sailed on the RMS Olympic. leaving New York, April 22, 1922. The Olympic was a sister ship to the Titanic.
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| RMS Olympic |
Here are the passport photos they had taken for their trip:
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| William S. Mason |
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| Mary Evans Mason |
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| Dorothy Evans Mason |
In October of 1923, William S. Mason donated $100,000 toward the establishment of an $5 million Endowment for Northwestern University:
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| The Belvidere (IL) Daily Republican - 23 Oct 1923 |
Northwestern's Endowment today is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $15.3 billion.
On October 27, 1923 Dorothy Evans Mason married Rodney Moore Bliss (1897-1959) in Evanston. The bride was twenty-three; the groom was twenty-six. Rodney Bliss had previously married actress Mabel Florence "Dixie" Dixon in New York in 1917. Mabel Dixon Bliss died in New York in January of 1922 under mysterious circumstances. Rodney Bliss worked for a brokerage house in Chicago as well as being a noted amateur golfer and athlete.
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| Chicago Tribune - 27 Oct 1923 |
They had one child, a daughter: Mary Frances Bliss/Mrs. Hugh G. Martin (1925-1967)
In 1924 Yale University awarded William Mason with a Master of Arts degree:
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| The Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph - 20 Jun 1924 |
On August 20, 1925 the Chicago Tribune published an article about Mason's Franklin collection:
In July of 1926 the City of Evanston, in its perennial quest to tax its residents as much as possible, levied a Personal Property Tax on William S. Mason based on a valuation of his personal property of $300,000 ($5.4 million in today's funds).
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| Chicago Tribune - 22 Jul 1926 |
This resulted in Mason paying a tax of $21,750 ($391,500 in today's dollars).
William S. Mason decided that he had had enough, and moved from Evanston to Pasadena, California in 1928. It was said that the high personal property tax valuation of 1926 likely accelerated his decision to leave.
Although Mason moved to California in 1928, his Benjamin Franklin collection did not move with him immediately. The collection remained in the specialized fireproof vaults at 1401 Ridge Avenue in Evanston for several more years. It was curated there by his personal librarians until it was eventually packed into hundreds of crates and shipped to Yale University to whom he had donated his collection in 1935.
Mason moved into a newly completed Italian Renaissance Revival mansion located at 100 Los Altos Drive in Pasadena. He hired Myron Hunt as architect, the same architect famous for designing the Rose Bowl and the Huntington Library. The house was completed in 1928 at a cost of $75,000 (roughly $1.35 million today), which was an astronomical price for a residence at the time. It was 10,277 square feet with 4 bedrooms, and 9 baths. Records from his early years in California show he maintained a live-in staff of five, including a chauffeur and a specialized nurse.
Although it surely looked different when Mason had it built, here are some photos of the home today. BTW it can be rented currently for $38,000 per month.
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Dorothy Evans Mason Bliss filed for divorce in Chicago on July 6, 1928. The divorce was granted on the grounds of "desertion," Dorothy was given custody of their daughter. Almost immediately after the divorce was granted Dorothy moved in with her parents in Pasadena, California.
The 1930 US Census finds the Mason family living on their estate in Pasadena, California: 100 Los Altos Drive. The family consisted of: William S. Mason (63 years old), wife Mary E. (65), son-in-law Edgar Willrich (36), daughter Dorothy M. (30), and granddaughter Mary (3). There were also Servants: Esther M. Isackson (36) Housekeeper, Margaret H. Goshey (30) Child's Nurse, Anne Olson (38) Cook, and Anna O. Rutland (52) Chambermaid. Lastly, there was a Lodger: Frank A. Mack (46) Chauffeur. Mason said they owned their home and it was worth $100,000 ($1.9 million in today's funds). They did have a radio. For Age at First Marriage, William said 29, Mary said 31, Dorothy said 23 and Willrich said 35.
On May 5, 1929, Dorothy Mason Bliss married Edgar Gebhard Willrich in the garden of the Los Altos property. The bride was twenty-nine; the groom was thirty-six:
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| The Pasadena (CA) Post - 07 May 1929 |
For Occupation, William Mason said "None."
He was cremated, and his ashes interred with his mother-in-law in the Great Mausoleum of Forest Lawn, Glendale:
From the Daily Northwestern of January 13, 1961:
and the Evanston Review from January 19, 1961:
Mason was interred with his wife, daughter and son-in-law in the niche at Forest Lawn Glendale, in the Great Mausoleum:
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Neither Dorothy's nor Carl's final disposition is known. I suspect they were cremated and their ashes spread over some scenic vista in California.
Dorothy and Edgar Willrich had two children: Ann Mason Willrich/Mrs. Robert D. Funk (1931-2015) and William Mason Willrich (born 1933)
After moving to Pasadena and donating his Franklin collection to Yale, William Mason's name was seldom in the newspaper. If there was a mention of Mason or his wife it was in connection with a social occasion.
The 1940 US Census shows that William Mason and his wife left their magnificent estate in Pasadena and relocated to a ranch on Highway Ninety-one in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was just William S. Mason (73 years old) and wife Mary (75).
Mason said he moved to Nevada for tax purposes and climate. Much like his move from Evanston to Pasadena in 1928, he was highly sensitive to state tax structures. In the late 1930s, Nevada began marketing itself as a "tax haven" for wealthy Americans, specifically advertising the absence of state income, inheritance, and gift taxes to attract millionaires from high-tax states like California and Illinois.
The climate in Las Vegas was another factor. As Mason entered his 70s and 80s, the dry desert air of Las Vegas was frequently recommended by physicians of that era for respiratory health and longevity, a common motivation for wealthy retirees moving to the American Southwest.
In Nevada, the Masons also had a smaller social footprint. In Pasadena, the Masons were high-profile social figures and their estate was a massive administrative undertaking. The move to Las Vegas allowed them to maintain a more modest but comfortable lifestyle while Mason focused on his ongoing correspondence and philanthropic legacies, including the finalization of his gifts to Yale.
The Masons remained in Nevada for nearly two decades. As Mrs. Mason's health began to fail, she and her husband William moved from Las Vegas back to Pasadena. Even though the Masons had not lived at 100 Los Altos Drive for close to two decades they must have retained ownership, because that's where Mary Mason died.
Mary Anna Evans Mason died May 20, 1947. She was eighty-two years old. Here is her obituary from the Pasadena Star-News of May 22, 1947:
Here is her obituary from the Evanston Review from June 05, 1947:
She was cremated and her cremains were interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn - Memorial Terrace, Columbarium of Memory, Space 19945. At the same time, they had the remains of their daughter Marion who died in 1905 disinterred from Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago and reinterred in the niche with her mother.
William Mason's son-in-law Edgar Gebhard Willrich died February 15, 1950 in Pasadena. He was fifty-six years old. Here is his obituary from the Los Angeles Times of February 20, 1950:
He was cremated, and his ashes interred with his mother-in-law in the Great Mausoleum of Forest Lawn, Glendale:
The 1950 US Census enumerator came to William Mason's home on May 5, 1950. The enumerator found William S. Mason living all by himself (so to speak) in the magnificent home he built at 100 Los Altos Drive in Pasadena. The "family" consisted of William S. Mason (83 years old) a widower. Also living there are: Helen Rademacher (63) cook, Bessie Frank (60) maid, and Mollie McDowell (53) maid. Mason reported that his home was not a farm, and was smaller than three acres. He reported no occupation.
On March 31, 1951 Dorothy Mason Willrich married Carl Wesley Croft (1901-1984). Croft was a Realtor, and Director of the Annandale Golf Club. Croft had been married twice before: to Leonora Elizabeth Pettis from 1924-1928 and Lucy Carlye Cease Miller from 1942-1948.
After their marriage, Dorothy and Carl Croft moved to the Val Sereno Ranch at Rancho Santa Fe, California. Val Sereno is said to be the hidden gem of North San Diego County. Adjacent to Rancho Santa Fe, yet minutes from the beach, it has tree lined streets and you are surrounded by multi million dollar estate homes. While not on a par with the Los Altos property in Pasadena, it is a truly magnificent place.
In 1953 William S. Mason joined the Crofts at Val Sereno Ranch. He did not live in the same house as the Crofts - he had his own small house with his own housekeeper. Mason would always tell friends when they came to call - and they came from many directions - that he was "living in Utopia." He was serenely happy with the country life in such beautiful surroundings.
William Smith Mason died at Val Sereno Ranch on January 11, 1961. He was ninety-four years old. His obituary was printed in most of the newspapers in this country. Here is one from the San Francisco Chronicle from January 12, 1961:
From the Daily Northwestern of January 13, 1961:
and the Evanston Review from January 19, 1961:
Mason was interred with his wife, daughter and son-in-law in the niche at Forest Lawn Glendale, in the Great Mausoleum:
The Evanston Review decided to follow up their lengthy obituary for William Mason with an editorial about him the week after his obituary appeared. Here it is from January 26, 1961:
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Some television shows today show what happens to lottery winners after they win huge jackpots. In many cases coming into that kind of money ruins the life of the "winner." This was not the case with William S. Mason. He was wise enough to retain his job with Mason & Smart at first, as well as his duties as an Officer and Director of the City National Bank. He also continued to live in the same house for seven years after the windfall until his Franklin collection and numerous visitors required a bigger house. And he stayed married to the same woman until her death.
Mason wasn't afraid to spend money, hence his Franklin collection and the Pasadena home but at the same time he gave plenty away to universities and three parks for Evanstonians to enjoy. His Franklin collection ultimately went to Yale where it is still a big draw today. It is not recorded for obvious reasons, but I sure he helped many people along the way who he determined needed help.
I think the Evanston Review provided an appropriate epitaph for Mason:
"A most humanly kind, generous gentleman of another generation and another way of life."
May he rest in peace.
"Demeure Par La Verite"
"Abide in the Truth"
THE REST OF THE STORY
William Smith Mason outlived his wife and eldest daughter. After his death, the only direct relative left was his daughter Dorothy Evans Mason Bliss Willrich Croft. She remained married to Carl Croft until her death on January 9, 1984. Carl outlived her by six months, dying in July of 1984. Dorothy and Carl were major contributors to the San Diego Opera Company. Here is Dorothy Croft's obituary from the Los Angeles Times of January 11, 1984:
Neither Dorothy's nor Carl's final disposition is known. I suspect they were cremated and their ashes spread over some scenic vista in California.
Thank you, as always, to Mike Kelly, researcher nonpareil for his assistance with this article.
NB: Google Artificial Intelligence (Google Gemini) was a valuable tool used in the preparation of this article. I mainly used it to confirm facts and dates I presented. Although it was incorrect several times (mainly in reporting dates) it was a big help in reducing the time needed for research. Research is what takes up the most time when I put these articles together. Actually writing the article itself takes a minimum amount of time. I will be using AI to help with future articles but I will verify in other sources everything AI tells me. In the words of the immortal Ronald Reagan, "Trust, but verify." Google Gemini is free to use at present.
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