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WILLIAM J. McMAKIN 1856-1941
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1912-1913
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 87:
William Jefferson McMakin was born March 26, 1856 near Henry, Marshall County. Illinois. In 1868 the family moved to Madelia, Minnesota, and in 1874 to Minneapolis. He was educated in the public schools of Illinois and Minnesota.
He was employed in the mills of Minneapolis and for a time with a railroad. In 1877 he moved to the Black Hills where he was engaged in the mine and quartz mill of Homestake Mine.
He was raised in Central City Lodge No. 22 on June 1, 1882. He received the Capitular Degrees in Dakota Chapter No. 3, the Council Degrees in Black Hills Council No. 3 ,and was knighted in Dakota Commandery No. 1. He served as Grand High Priest and in the Commandery as Grand Commander. He also served as Grand Master of the Grand Council. He was a member of Black Hills Consistory No. 3 and received the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander Court of Honor. He was a Past Potentate of the Naja Shrine Temple of Deadwood and a Past Patron of Golden Gate Chapter No. 72, Order of the Eastern Star.
1913
In opening the thirty-ninth Annual Communication in Yankton in 1913, Grand Master McMakin said, "This session of the Grand Lodge ought to be of more than ordinary interest to the Masons of South Dakota. We have come to Yankton to join with the brethren of St. John's Lodge No. 1 in celebrating their Golden Jubilee; the fiftieth anniversary of organized Masonry in South Dakota." St. John's Lodge No. 1 had been founded December 18, 1862; chartered by Iowa June 3, 1863; and chartered by Dakota July 21, 1875.
The evening of the first day of the meeting was set aside for observation of the anniversary. Members of the Grand Lodge, delegates of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, and members of St. John's Lodge were in attendance. The program consisted of music and of extended remarks by Brother George W. Kingsbury, an early-day member and Past Master of the lodge; L. C. Sorrell, then the junior member of the lodge; and Past Grand Master William Blatt, a member and Past Master of the lodge. At the conclusion of Brother Blatt's remarks, he presented to Brother James Roane, the present Master of the lodge, the gavel which was used at the first Communication of the Lodge to be laid up in its archives.
During the year dispensations had been issued for lodges at Onida, Newell, Raymond, Brentford, and Java. Lodges had been constituted at Winner, Timber Lake, Faith, Lake Andes, Colton, Dupree, and Eagle Butte. Cornerstones had been laid for a Masonic Temple at Canton, a new auditorium at Deadwood, and a new Federal Post Office Building in Rapid City.
The Grand Master announced the death of Past Grand Master Oscar S. Gifford along with other brethren during the year.
With his thirteenth annual report, Grand Lecturer Brother Benjamin Ives reported a busy year. He had visited 79 lodges and had held 104 schools of instruction.
Duplicate charters had been issued to lodges at Draper and Doland. Fire had also occurred at the Castlewood Lodge but they had been able to save their charter.
