masters became a trustee of ohio city. he later helped william b. castle negotiate the merger between cleveland and ohio city. masters was a member of the cleveland city council and was the president of the city council three times and officially welcomed abraham lincoln when he visited cleveland in 1861. masters defeated his successor, edward s. flint, because of his republican views during the civil war. masters resigned from office in may 1864 when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. he subsequently sold his part of peck & masters shipbuilding company.