FIRST GENERATION
1. Clarence "Mate Smith" MASON was born on 30 Mar 1888 in Stevens Point, Portage, Wisconsin. (1) On Mate's Social Security application, he lists his parents as Clarence Mason Smith and Kate Spafford, and his birthday as 30 March 1888. He died. Clarence Mason (Jr.?) was known as Mate Smith throughout his adult life. He was orphaned at an early age and placed in an orphanage instead of being taken in by family members. He was adopted by the Gregg family, moved to DeQueen, Arkansas, and was renamed Vernon Gregg. When he ran away as a teenager he began calling himself Mate Smith and kept that name ever after.
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