It is with profound sorrow we announce the death of another of our oldest settlers and citizen in the person of Mason J. Tufts aged 87 years, 3 months and 29 days.

Mr. Tufts was born at Graham, New York on July 12, 1833 and was married to Isabelle J. Wyckoff at Hapewell, New York Feb. 4, 1857.

They moved to Sunbury, Pennsylvania in 1869 to Williamsport, Pennsylvania in 1877 and to Bradford, Pennsylvania in 1878 being engaged in Hotel business at all three places and at Bradford he also operated in oil.

They moved to Lexington, Nebraska in April 1883 and filed on a homestead northeast of Farnam to which they removed as soon as [a] house could be built living there and in Farnam ever since.

Five children were born to them of which three died in infancy and two daughters, Mrs. W. M. Johnston and Mrs. S. F. Parker with their mother survive him.

Mr. Tufts learned Machinist trade in early life and was also Railroad Engineer being in Government Employ as a Railroad Engineer at Nashville, Tennessee in 1864.

He was the last survior of a family of eleven children.

Mr. Tufts came to this country among the very first settlers and always kept open house to which all comers were warmly welcomed. He went thro the usual trials of pioneer days but never allowed them to depress his spirits and was always pleasant and good natured in spite of all discouragement.

Mr. Tufts was a good citizen, a model husband and a kind father. He lived a long and useful life and the world was certainly better for him having been in it.

He was buried from his late residence in Farnam on Saturday last at 1:30 p.m. The services being conducted by Bishop Beecher of the Episcopal church of which he was a member.

The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful testifying to the good will and respect of his many friends who while regretting his loss cannot keep but feel that he has gone to his well earned reward.

The Farnam Echo 17(50):1 Thursday, November 18, 1920