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BYRON PLYMPTON DAGUE 1853-1910
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1903-1904
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 71:’'
Byron Dague was born near Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, October 13, 1853. While he was quite young, his parents moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he attended public school from 1860 to 1869. He then completed his schooling by attending the preparatory department of Hillsdale College for one year.
In 1877, after spending six years in Colorado, he moved to Deadwood, Dakota Territory, and went to work in a bank. In 1893 he left the bank and organized his own insurance firm. He followed this line until 1903 when he sold out and later moved to Florida on account of his health.
He was married May 27, 1879, to Miss Mary E. Huey at Minneapolis, 1innesota. From this union there were born four daughters and one son.
He was made a Master Mason in Deadwood Lodge No. 7 on April 7, 1893. He was a member of Dakota Chapter No. 3, Royal Arch Masons; Dakota Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar; and LaCoTah Council No. 2. He belonged to Black Hills Consistory No. 3 where he attained the Rank and Decoration of 32nd Degree K.C.C.H. He belonged to Naja Shrine Temple in Deadwood.
1904
The thirtieth Annual Communication returned to the hall of St. John's Lodge No. 1 at Yankton in 1904. Grand Master Dague in his opening remarks said that this was the seventh time in thirty years that the Grand Lodge had returned to Yankton for their Annual Meeting.
The Grand Secretary reported that the membership continued to increase with a total now of 5,710, 266 having been added during the year.
In July the Grand Lodge Library and the office with supplies and fur niture had been moved from Flandreau to Sioux Falls. Office rooms had been secured in the Masonic Temple. With this more centrally located office, it would be more accessible to the Masons of the Jurisdiction.
The Grand Secretary reported that he had sent a letter to all Past Grand Masters asking them to contribute a large, framed portrait for the Library.
A charter had been issued for the lodge at Hartford and dispensations had been issued for lodges at Oldham, Wagner, and White Rock. At the request of Coteau Lodge No. 54, a cornerstone had been laid for a new Court House at Webster. Because the Grand Master could not be present, Past Grand Master Frank A. Brown had presided.
The Funeral Ceremony as prepared by a special committee was adopted and the Committee on Finance allowed $100.00 for printing. The Grand Master said and the Committee on Ritual concurred, "I feel very much pleased with the success attained by the Grand Lecturer Benj. F. Ives and I sincerely hope that this Grand Jurisdiction may be blessed with his assistance for many years to come."
