He moved to Mantee, Webster, MS with his parents, when he was a child. He developed measles at age 12, which left him partially blind. He was a farmer and worked at the first cotton gin in Mantee. He worked the hand press. After all of their children were born, Mason became totally blind. He continued to work even tho he was blind. He had an old mule that took him to work and home. The mule seemed to know where to go. Mason's nickname was "Blind Pa". He would walk the roads to visit his family with only his cane to guide him.