Mississauga’s Tobias Mason Park

Tobias Mason Park sign

In the northwest corner of Mississauga, near the northern border of Ward 10, you will find Tobias Mason Park. We recently received an inquiry asking about the namesake for the park. The park itself is located today at 3274 Cactus Gate and was developed in the early 2000s. Historically, the larger farm property where the park is located was part of Lot 12, Concession 10, in the New Survey of Trafalgar Township.

The East Half of Lot 12, amounting to 100 acres, was granted by The Crown to Hugh Mason in 1842. In 1864, following the death of his father, the property was willed to Tobias Mason. So, in short, Tobias Mason Park is located on property that was historically part of Tobias Mason’s farm.

Tobias Switzer Mason (1834-1930) was the son of Irish immigrants Hugh Mason (1798-1864) and Eliza Switzer (1799-1887). Tobias’ father Hugh was involved in the early years of what is now Eden United Church (itself celebrating 200 years in 2024). So was Hugh’s (likely) cousin and local innkeeper David Mason. There were several Mason families who lived in close proximity to each other, although the exact relationships are uncertain. They all married into other early settlement-era families, including the Cheyne, Kindree, May, Switzer and Waite families, amongst others.

But what about Tobias himself?

Tobias was born in Canada in 1834. A year prior, in 1833, Hugh Mason purchased 100 acres in the East ½ of Lot 11, Concession 10 from Chapel Mason (relationship uncertain). In 1842 Hugh received the grant for the East ½ of Lot 12, which brought the family’s acreage to 200 acres in size. It is likely that Tobias was born on this property in 1834. Tobias farmed alongside his father, and following Hugh’s passing, Tobias inherited the farm.

Cropped image from the 1877 Historical Atlas of Halton County showing TS Mason farm on right

The Mason household must have been a busy place. Tobias and his wife, Jane Ann Cheyne (1840-1923), had welcomed at least six children: Clarice Bertha (1865-1948), George Willmuth (1868-1952), Joseph (1870-1871), Mary (1871-1949), Amy Eliza (1875-1965) and Edith Josephine (1877-1967). In addition, their household included Tobias’ widowed mother Eliza, and Tobias’ sisters Julia and Eliza. In addition, also on the property but in another dwelling were Tobias’ widowed aunt, Margaret, and her children: Joseph, John, Wesley, Eliza and Thomas. Assisting with the farm were labourers, over time, that included James Switzer and brothers Jessie and Edward Hammond, likely amongst others.

In 1874 Tobias granted a right-of-way through his property to the Credit Valley Railway. That right-of-way remains an active railway corridor today.

Tobias Mason Gravestone, Eden Cemetery, Mississauga

As Tobias’ eldest son George grew, he joined his father in managing the farm. In 1916 the property was granted to George Willmuth Mason, who in 1942 passed it on to his son, Wilmer Lorne Mason (1909-1995) and his wife Alice May (1913-1994). In 1965 the Mason family connection to the property ended when the farm was granted to Thomas McLean, who in 1967 sold it to Twelve Oaks Developments. The property was not developed immediately, and the former Mason house and farm were rented out for a number of years before disappearing under the swath of development.

Tobias Switzer Mason, the namesake behind the park, and who lived the majority of his life on the former family farm, is buried nearby his former home in Eden United Cemetery, alongside his wife and many of his children and grandchildren.