PLAINS SCOUT. BUFFALO HUNTER. PANHANDLE PIONEER.
MASON.
All of his life, William “Billy” Dixon exhibited the traits of a man to be depended on. From his first freighting jobs when only in his early teens, or at seventeen when he was asked to drive a freight wagon and accompany the Army to the Medicine Lodge Treaty gathering, or to being a full fledged freight hauler and muleskinner, he was always a man to be relied upon and depended on. His work ethic was undeniable and his quiet character and demeanor were always welcome at any camp.
Bro. Dixon later in life. Note the Square and Compass lapel pin.
Billy Dixon had become a man on the frontier in the Panhandle of Texas. His life was that of the true pioneer, settling in the Panhandle in it’s earliest days. Finally, in 1883, at fifty three years old, he returned to civilian life. He built a home at Adobe Walls, near the Battle site. In 1894, Billy married Olive King and they had seven children. There he served as Postmaster for twenty years, was the first Sheriff of the newly formed Hutchinson County and was also a Justice of the Peace and a State Land Commissioner.
In 1902, Billy and Olive moved their family to the nearby small settlement of Plemons, in the newly formed Hutchinson County, so their children would have access to schooling. It was in Plemons, shown at left, that William “Billy” Dixon was made a Mason.
Plemons Masonic Lodge-1903
On August 26th, 1903, Plemons Lodge U. D. (under dispensation) was set to work by R: W: George F Morgan, District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District No. 39 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas at the request of 10 unaffiliated Masons. Those brethren are as follows: John C. Chisum, R. Byrum, John Dodson, Frances M Drum, Samuel Edge, William P. Hedgecoke, B.C. Maddox, Jake Mathews, Issac McCormick, and Campell S. Terry.
William Dixon’s original Masonic Lodge petition. Courtesy of the Grand Lodge of Texas Library and Museum.
While the Lodge was working under dispensation, William “Billy” Dixon petitioned for the degrees and was raised as Master Mason on November 28th, 1903. He was the first to receive each of the three degrees in Plemons Lodge.
The reverse side of William Dixon’s Masonic Lodge Petition. Courtesy of the Grand Lodge of Texas Library and Museum, Waco, Texas
“To the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Bretheren of Plemons Lodge U.D. of Free and Accepted Masons the Petition of the Subscriber respectfully represents that, having long entertained a favorable opinion of your Ancient institution, he is desirious, if found worthy, of being admitted a member thereof.
His place of residence is 10 Miles N.E. of Plemons
his age is 52 years and by occupation a farmer.”
signed,
William Dixon
Handwritten on front of Masonic Petition; likely by Wm. Hedgecoke, as he and F. M Drum were the signers and recommenders.
The Lodge was Chartered on December 3rd, 1903 and signed by Most Worshipful W.W. Booth, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas.
On January 22nd, 1904 after traveling from Clarendon Texas by train to Panhandle, Texas and taking the mail hack to Plemons, R: W: George F Morgan District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District 39 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas, set Plemons Lodge No. 877 to work, by installing the following officers:
- Worshipful Master: W.P. Hedgecoke
- Senior Warden: F. M. Drum
- Junior Warden: B. B. Byrum
- Secretary: C. S. Terry
- Senior Deacon: Issac McCormick
- Tiler: William Dixon
The Lodge met in the District Court Room during the time it remained in Plemons, and the stated meetings were held on the Saturday on or before the full moon of each month.
The Lodge was moved from Plemons to Stinnett in December 1927 and was located in the Starnes Building on Broadway across the street from the Ricky Hotel. It was later moved from the Starnes building to the Tom Parks Building on Main Street and remained until March 14th, 1939 when it voted to move to the 114th District Court Room in the County Courthouse where it remained until 1955.
THE FIRST OFFICERS OF PLEMONS No. 877
It might be noted that R: W: GEORGE F. Morgan, who was the District Deputy Grand Master of District 39 in 1903, and installed the first Officers of Plemons Lodge No. 877 was also District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District 98, and five years later, installed the first officers of the newly formed Pampa Lodge No. 966 on January 3rd, 1908. He then went on to be elected as Grand Master of Masons in Texas in 1920.
Willis Paschal Hedgecoke, the first Worshipful Master of Plemons No. 877, was born in Hopkins County, Texas March 6th, 1853. He moved to Hutchinson County in 1898, where he was the Special Deputy Surveyor for the Wheeler Land District at the time Hutchinson County was being organized. Soon after, in 1901 the town site of Plemons was organized, and in 1904 Plemons Masonic Lodge was Chartered.
He also served as Post Master in 1900, when a Post Office was opened in what was referred to as “Bugbee Fort”. It was previously the home built by Thomas Bugbee, founder of the second ranch in the Panhandle. Built sometime after 1876 about five miles east of Adobe Walls north of the Canadian River, the home had stone walls twenty five inches thick with two rifle ports in every room.
He and his wife Fannie also operated a drug store in Plemons. Hedgecoke and his family left Plemons in 1926.
Issac McCormick, the first Senior Deacon at Plemons Lodge, moved to what would become Hutchinson County in 1899.
The home was built in 1899 with materials hauled at great peril across the Canadian River – then without a bridge. It was the first frame structure in the county. Mr. McCormick, his wife Capitola, and 8 children lived in a covered wagon and a tent while they put up their house. Known as the Birthplace of Hutchinson County, the home became the cradle of county government when, in 1901, it was the site of the County’s first election- the organization of Hutchinson County, which was previously joined to Roberts County for judicial purposes. It was also the polling place when Billy Dixon was elected first Sheriff of Hutchinson County.
The home was first moved to town 1928; and moved again to it’s present site, north of the Hutchinson County Court House, and was donated by Edgar Britain, 1964. Local volunteers funded it’s restoration for a museum and it was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark – 1967.
Issac McCormick, seated in the center of this family photo passed away in 1914, while in Portales, New Mexico, at his daughters home. Due to the complications of transferring deceased persons in those days, he was buried in Portales with Masonic Honors.
State of Texas Historical Marker
Issac McCormick Obituary
Issac McCormick’s Headstone, Portales, NM
Plemons Lodge eventually merged with Adobe Walls Lodge in 1989. Adobe Walls Lodge and Ishom Lodge merged and formed Unity Lodge No. 1242, one of the most active Masonic Lodges in the Panhandle.
In 1956, Masons in Fritch, Texas asked Mrs. Olive Dixon for permission to name their newly formed Lodge after her husband. She granted that permission, and on September 14th, 1956 Billy Dixon Lodge No. 1369 A.F. & A.M. was set to work under special dispensation by Texas Grand Master M:W: W.W. Boothe. The Lodge received it’s Charter on December 6th, 1956 and was set to work under Charter January 4th, 1957. by M.W. Grand Master Bro. Paul Turney, with forty three Charter members.
The three Principal Charter officers were: W.M. Bro. H.J Walker, Senior Warden Bro. J.E. Wright, and Junior Warder Bro. W.D. Kay. It was reported the Lodge was named after Bro. Dixon because he was the first man to petition and become a Master at Plemons Lodge.
In 1957 when Billy Dixon Lodge No. 1369 was chartered, Billy Dixon’s Great Grandson presented the Lodge with the famous painting of Billy Dixon in later life. The painting features a greying and distinguished Dixon in coat and tie. On his lapel is the universal sign of Masonry, the square and compass. This portrait is still proudly displayed in the Lodge room today.
Billy Dixon Lodge No. 1369, Fritch, Texas
Close up of Square can Compass on Billy Dixon’s headstone
“What we have done for ourselves alone, dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal.”
Bro. Albert Pike