The Masset family
Lisa and Oscar Masset were born in Belgium. He was a coal miner who brought his family to the United States in 1894. He worked at Wilkinson in southeastern King County before relocating to Canada for better jobs in 1898. Oscar died in the Extension Mine explosion on Vancouver Island in 1909.
Nine sons were born to the couple, but only five survived to adulthood. At the time of Oscar’s death, the oldest ones were young men. Joe, Vic and Bill came to Issaquah in 1910 to work in the mines and the mills, and soon the rest of the family followed. Felix, the youngest, became the first family member with a diploma when he graduated from Issaquah High.
Family members were also able to purchase their own small acreage in the area near today’s sand and gravel pits, and some family members still live there.
The five Masset men were reknowned for their athletic skills. Felix lettered in all four sports at Issy, and the older brothers thought nothing of putting a hard day in at the mine or mill and then walking to Renton to find a soccer or baseball game.
They were also known for their nicknames. Bill was “Snooze,” Elmer was “Mutt,” pint-sized Felix was “Flea,” and anyone who tried to call Vic a nickname ended up with five knuckles in their mouth.
Two of the brothers never married. The other three have more than 17 descendents still living in the area, with a fifth generation of the family out there carrying on the athletic traditions.
