Mason Todd . 1873-1943
Mason Todd He was born in Kansas on 16th March, 1873, and his parents Daniel and Henreitta (nee Sharp) were from Virginia. He married Carrie Martin, 16th December, 1899. She was of Mexican heritage and also went by the name of Clintonia ( USA Census 1910)
In the 1900 ( June) census data Mason was listed as a servant of Loureston W Brownfield who owned a Hotel in Garfield Buffalo, Nebraska, and he worked here as porter at the hotel, this was no doubt the experience that prepared him for his future career as a railroad porter in Lincoln.
Like most of the Lincoln African Americans during that time, Mason moved often, and also held more than one job at any time. In 1901, they rented their first house in Lincoln at 1533 O Street where Ina Martin, Carrie’s sister moved in to live with them. It was here Mason began to work for the Burlington and Missouri River railway, and nine years later in 1910 he transferred to working for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy line and moved to 730 N13th Street. He would stay with the CB & Q Railroad Company for the next three years moving the family to 1508 Vine Street, then 1841 S 11th Street and then back to 747 N13th Street where they would stay until the mid- twenties.
Pullman Porters were to serve their passengers with discretion and respect. Porters never entered a room occupied by a female passenger unless she was with her husband or a child, they were often praised for their honesty and subservience, and yet they were often wrongly accused of inappropriate behavior and theft. In 1913, Mason was falsely accused of stealing the rings of a passenger Mrs Sodberg, while working on the Denver railway route. He promptly sued her for $5000.00 for causing his arrest and false imprisonment. Not surprisingly, the following year 1914, Mason began working for as a laborer at Harpham Brothers Company which was the largest manufacturer of Saddlery & Harness Equipment located at 808 P Street. During this time, while they were living at 741 N13th street Mason was listed in the 1922 census as working as a packer in a ‘wholesale house’, but also continued his work with Harpham
1924 was an eventful time for the family as they purchased a house at 826 C Street, valued at $800.00. located a few yards away from Quinn Chapel, where they were active members. Like many of the respectable African American men in Lincoln at that time, Todd was also a member of Grand Lodge # 3 of AF & AM and spend a lot of time serving in the community. Clintonia began working for the first time as a clerk at Harphan Brothers, and the couple quietly settled into their home. Todd died at home, on August 30th, 1943 and is buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln.