Mason County, Texas: History
Original inhabitants Lipan Apache, Comanches
1847 Meusebach–Comanche Treaty
1851, July 6 – Fort Mason is established.
1858, January 22 – Mason County, named for Fort Mason, is established by an act of Texas state legislature. First post offices are established.
1860 Population of 630 includes 18 slaves.
1861,
February – County, spurred in part by anti-slavery sentiments of German residents, overwhelmingly votes against secession from the Union.
March – Fort Mason surrendered to the Confederacy, who leave it mostly vacant and thereby cause an uptick in Indian attacks on the area.
May 20 – Voters select town of Mason as County Seat.
1866–1868 Federal troops occupy Fort Mason, only to eventually abandon it.
1869 Courthouse and jail are erected.
1870 May 16 – Herman Lehmann and brother Willie are captured by Apaches, but Willie escapes within days.
1870–1898 The county had four women homesteaders: Louisa J. Hendryx, Mahala Hunnicutt, Sarah E. Morris and Priscilla Sparks
1872 The last Indian raid in the county happens.
1875–1877
County’s first newspaper begins publication.
Hoo Doo War over cattle rustling.
Most famous participant in the war is Johnny Ringo, who on September 25, 1875, kills James Cheyney.
Courthouse fire destroys all records.
1878, May 12 – Herman Lehmann, escorted by soldiers, finally returns to his family.
1880s Manganese is discovered. Wakefield Company opens Spiller mines. Iron ore is discovered. Prospecting begins for gold, silver and coal.
1882–83 Hereford cattle are introduced into the county. Provisions made for county wide road work.
1887 The county petitions for state aid for needy residents.
1890s County places a bounty on wolves, wildcats and mountain lions.
1902 Mason installs its first telephone in the county judge's office.
1918 October 3 – Eighteen months after United States Congress declares war on Germany, the Mason County Council of Defense draws up resolution to abandon the use of the German language in the county. The majority of County residents are of German heritage.
1919 First oil and gas lease in the county. Construction begins on the Mason County section of the Puget Sound-to-the-Gulf Highway.
1920s Radios come to Mason County.
1938 Pedernales Electric Cooperative is formed to provide rural electrification. Mason County joins in June.
1946 Local soil-conservation board organized. County schools consolidated.
2021 Mason County Courthouse (Texas), constructed in 1909, burns down as a result of arson.