Private Benton Mason enlisted in the 26th OVI, Co C on January 24, 1862.  Prior to his enlistment, he was a farmer in Delaware County, Ashley, Ohio. He was the older brother of Jesse Mason, also of company C.

He contracted a disease of the left hip joint following the forced march from Nashville to Pittsburg Landing, in March- April, 1862.  The disease is said to have been the result of sciatica or rheumatism  and its effects. According to his commander, Captain Jesse Meredith, due to the injury, he was unable to accompany his  company on the advance towards Corinth.  He was treated at a military hospital in St. Louis, Mo, and apparently rejoined the 26th OVI in Louisville in September, 1862.

According to the records, he was captured by the Confederate forces near Bardstown, Kentucky on October 20, 1862.  It appears he was paroled at that time. He was mustered out on March 8, 1865.

The disease resulted in an atrophied condition of his left leg. As such, following the War, he was granted invalid pension of $ 8 dollars per month. According to the pension records, he was 5 ft 4 inches in height, 125 lbs in weight with a light complexion.

Following the war, he married Harriet R. Marrle on April 4,1866 at Delaware County, Ohio. They had eight children, Minnie, born 2/16/1867 and died 4/13/1883 (just two days afte her father's death), Jennie, born 6/4/1869 and died 8/6/1869, Uburn, born 7/17/1870 and died 8/6/1872, Dorsey, born 8/19/1872, Estella, born 4/11/1874 and died 8/6/1878, Almira D , born 12/16/1877, Franklin, born 10/24/80, and Laura Anna, born 6/2/1883.  He died two months before Laura Anna was born.

He died on April 11, 1883 at Hartford, Blackford County, Indiana.  Cause of death was listed as Hemiplagia of the left side. His age at the time of his death was listed as 41 years, 9 months, and 7 days.  He was initially buried in the Old Methodist North Cemetery located just north of the then Hartford City limits. However, in 1898, all remains buried there were exhumed to make way for a city park. In 2010, we discovered that his remains were reinterred at the Hartford City (Indiana) (IOOF) Cemetery.