Gaston, Joseph. "Portland, Oregon Its History and Builders." Vol. 3. Chicago and Portland, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 348. ARCHIE MASON Few men have contributed more toward the development and upbuilding of Portland in recent years than Archie Mason, well known as a general contractor. He was born in Tioga county, New York, March 15, 1861, a son of William W. and Esther (Brooks) Mason, his father being a native of New York, and his mother of Pennsylvania. The latter dying while he was still a boy, he came westward to Michigan and took up his home with Bradley Hayes, a farmer and lumberman, continuing with him for twelve years and working his way up until he was placed in charge of the lumber camp. At the age of twenty-five Mr. Mason decided to seek a new field for the exercise of his energies and selected the northwest as the region that presented the most favorable outlook for a young man. Coming to Portland, he entered general contracting on his own account, beginning upon a small scale. At the end of eighteen months he went to Salem, Oregon, and engaged in the sand and cement business in addition to handling such contracts as he could secure. He continued to make his headquarters there until March, 1897, since which time he has resided at Portland. In the course of the years that have passed since he began as a contractor in Oregon, Mr. Mason has performed a large amount of work that will stand for many years as an evidence of his energy and skill. He assisted in reconstructing the railroad of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, and in building a large portion of the Snake River line for the same company, and also portions of the Columbia Southern & Sumpter Valley Railroad, and the branch into Windland for the Southern Pacific Railway. He built the irrigation canal for the reclamation service of the United States government in connection with the Klamath project. In the early part of his career he was the builder of the Oregon Water Power line at Estacada and the portion of the Mount Hood Railroad, which has been completed. He has had charge of a large amount of sewer work and sidewalk construction and graded the grounds around the state house at Salem. While working on the Klamath project, he employed three hundred men. An important part of this work consisted of the construction of a tunnel through solid rock three thousand three hundred and fifty feet in length, which the contract required to be arched with cement. This he considers one of the most important undertakings with which he has been connected. Mr. Mason has Had charge of a number of contracts in this city for paving, grading and filling and has several contracts of that nature now upon his hands, among them the paving of Whitaker and First streets with concrete, the grading of the streets for the west half of Laurelhurst, and many other improvements in sewers, etc., for this entire addition. He has the contract for the Portage Railroad at The Dalles and also for grading Council Crest, and in his operations has shown an ability that places him in the first rank among large contractors of the Pacific coast. He is the owner of a two hundred and twenty-five acre farm in Washington county. On the 24th of December, 1880, Mr. Mason was united in marriage at Lansing, Michigan, to Miss Margaret Roach, who is a daughter of Michael and Ellen (Phipps) Roach, natives of Ireland and New York state, respectively. Five children have been born of this union, three of whom are living: May, the wife of Frederick Williams and the mother of two children, Clyde and Genevieve; Esther; and Arthur J. Mr. Mason is politically identified with the republican party and takes the interest of a public-spirited citizen in the election of reputable men to office. He is a member of the Masonic order and the United Artisans, and he and his wife are both affiliated with the Congregational church. He is a man of liberal tendencies, and one who is thoroughly interested in the permanent prosperity of the city, having contributed largely to the development and improvement of South Portland. His constant aim is to perform his duty according to the best of his ability, and as he has in his business dealings always been prompt, reliable and trustworthy, he has the confidence of the business men and the respect of the entire community. As a recreation, he enjoys hunting and fishing. --- Additional Notes --- This is the same biography as published in the following book: "Portland The Rose City, Pictorial and Biographical." Vol. 1. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 331. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2014 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.