Eber Mason: A Tale of Two Ebers (52 Ancestors #36)

Back in the day when we had to fill in ancestor charts by hand (after walking to and from school barefoot, in the snow, uphill, both ways), I noticed something interesting in the last generation on my first chart — two of my great-great-grandfathers were named Eber. (That stood out to me more than the fact that two of them were named John.) That they were each my great-great-grandfather on my dad’s side is about where their similarities end.

Eber Johnson, whom I’ve written about before, served in the Civil War; Eber Mason wasn’t born until 1859. Eber Johnson lived his entire live in southern Ohio. Eber Mason was born in (West) Virginia, moved to Washington County, Ohio by 1882, and then moved to Licking County, Ohio between 1910 and 1920.

Eber Johnson’s record consistently list his as “Eber.” Eber Mason went by “E.D.” a lot of the time. In fact, that’s how he’s listed in his obituary and on his tombstone.

One other important difference — I have no photos of Eber Johnson, but I do have some of Eber Mason.

Lavada Jane (McKitrick) and Eber Mason. Probably taken before 1924. Photo in possession of Amy Crow.

Lavada Jane (McKitrick) and Eber Mason. Probably taken before 1924. Photo in possession of Amy Crow.

Eber Mason was born in present-day West Virginia 19 March 1859, the son of Philip and Martha (Hibbs) Mason. He married Lavada Jane McKitrick in Washington County, Ohio on 19 June 1882. Eber died 26 July 1937 in Licking County, Ohio and is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newark.

3 thoughts on “Eber Mason: A Tale of Two Ebers (52 Ancestors #36)

  1. Ellen

    You don’t see many Levadas (that is the way myAunt’s name was spelled. I was told she was named after a Spanish girl who was a next door neighbor was killed in an accident ca 1910. Names can be so interesting!

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  2. Amy Morrison

    Amy I’m about convinced that our family trees must connect somewhere. Geographically our people seem to have been right on top of each other.

    The evolution and variation of names is interesting to me too. I don’t have a Lavada, but I do have a Lovisa. And I have several Delmonts, I’d love to know why they were given that particular name. Was it popular in the 1880s in NY/PA? I should conduct a Census study. :)

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