James W. Mason
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James W. Mason | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 1841 |
| Died | November 1874 (aged 32–33) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Parent | Elisha Worthington |
James Worthington Mason (c. 1841 – November 1874) was a state senator, sheriff, and postmaster in Arkansas. In 1868 he was one of the first six African Americans to serve in the Arkansas House.[1] He also served in the Arkansas Senate[2] and was the first African American postmaster in the United States.[3]
James W. Mason was born in about 1841 in Chicot County, Arkansas.[4] His father, Elisha Worthington, was a Kentucky-born large landowner and the owner of the Sunnyside Plantation in Chicot County.[4] His mother was an African slave owned by his father.[4] As a result, he was a mulatto. He had a sister, Martha. They were both recognized by their father, and they studied at Oberlin College in Ohio.[4] He also studied in France.[4]
