Joseph Mason

Personal life

In 1861 in Denver, Mason took part in a duel with a Frenchman over a Native American woman. The Frenchman fainted before either party could draw their weapon, so no shots were fired. It is not known what became of the woman, but she did not end up with Mason. The woman's name was Mary Polzell

Mason married Luella M. Blake, the daughter of George G. Blake on July 3, 1870. The couple had two children who survived to adulthood, Minnie Luella Mason and Albert J. Mason, and one child, Lizzie C. Mason, that died in early infancy.

Death

On February 9, 1881, Mason was kicked in the head by one of his horses. Local doctors removed 62 pieces of skull fragment from the wound, but could not save him. On February 11, 1881, Mason died of his wounds. He is buried in Grand View Cemetery in Fort Collins.<ref name="auto2"/