THE FIRST 100 YEARS
OF
SACRAMENTO LODGE No.40
MAJOR JEFFERSON WILCOXSON
Jefferson Wilcoxson, an original petitioner of Sacramento
Lodge, was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, on February 24, 1809. At the age of
ten he went to Missouri with his parents, one year before Missouri became a
State and remained there for nearly thirty years. Records indicate that he was
one of the charter members of the Christian Church at Carrollton, Missouri
established in 1840. His title as Major was acquired during his service in the
Indian Wars. Being in ill health, he left Carrollton, Missouri and came
overland to California by ox-team during the 1849 gold rush with his brother
Jackson and a friend Jesse Curl Stovall. Enduring many hardships he arrived at
Weaverville, Trinity County September 4, 1849 where for a time he engaged in
mining. In March, 1850 he came to Sacramento and with his brother Jackson
conducted a mercantile business on lower J Street. Later the brothers became
associates of Jesse Curl Stovall in raising sheep, cattle and horses in Yolo
County, but due to insufficient range, they purchased government land in Colusa
County ultimately acquiring about forty thousand acres. Jackson died about 1855
and five years later the Major and Jesse Stovall incorporated under the name of
Stovall-Wilcoxson Company and soon established the Bank of Williams at Williams
in Colusa County. The firm took great interest in the town of Williams and
assisted in the construction of a mill and conducted a grain business, built
warehouses and invested in several business concerns. Jefferson maintained his
residence in Sacramento whence he supervised his many interests in Colusa,
Placer and Yolo Counties. He was reputed to have been a millionaire but
distributed the bulk of his estate to his relatives prior to his death. He
never married. At our stated meeting of March 6, 1891 Brother R. B. Harmon
presented Sacramento Lodge No. 40 with a check for $500 on behalf of Brother
Jefferson Wilcoxson who was unable to attend because of ill health. It was the
wish of Brother Wilcoxson that no publicity be given; it was his intent that
only the members then present should know of it. A vote of thanks and
appreciation was transmitted by action of the Lodge through the Worshipful
Master. Jefferson Wilcoxson passed away in Sacramento on April 8, 1898 after a lingering
illness. His remains were borne by special train to Woodland. Funeral Services
were conducted at Woodland on April 10 under the auspices of Sacramento Lodge
No. 40. Fellow members of Sacramento Chapter No. 3, Royal Arch Masons, members
of Woodland Lodge No. 156 F. & A. M. and of neighboring Masonic Lodges were
in attendance. Where Brother Wilcoxson received his degrees in Masonry is
uncertain. It is said that he was a Past Master of a Lodge in Missouri and the
records of our Lodge indicate that he was a member of Wakanda Lodge No. 52 A.
F. & A. M. at Carrollton, Missouri, but the Grand Secretary of the Grand
Lodge of Missouri reports no record of a Jefferson Wilcoxson in its files.
Records of the Grand Lodge of California indicate that Bro. J. Wilcoxson
was one of the representatives of Western Star Lodge No. 98 (later Western Star
Lodge No. 2 of the State of California the charter for which was granted by the
Grand Lodge of Missouri), to the convention at Sacramento for the purpose of
forming the Grand Lodge of California. However the Secretary of Western Star
Lodge No. 2 under date of January 19, 1953 informed us that the Lodge Historian
Bro. Raymond Jackson, after diligent search, found no evidence of his having
been a member of that Lodge. The obituary committee appointed to prepare
suitable resolutions upon the death of Bro. Jefferson Wilcoxson reported the
following on May 6, 1898. "Whereas it has pleased the Great Architect of
the Universe to remove from our midst our late brother Jefferson Wilcoxson, and
Whereas it is but just that a fitting recognition of his many virtues should be
had, therefore be it Resolved by Sacramento Lodge No. 40, F. & A. M. that
while we bow with humble submission to the will of the Most High, we do not the
less mourn the loss of our brother who has been taken from us. Resolved that in
the death of Jefferson Wilcoxson, this Lodge laments the loss of a brother, (a
charter member) who was ever ready to proffer the hand of aid, and the voice of
sympathy to the needy and distressed of the fraternity; in the past, an active
member of this society, whose utmost endeavors were exerted for its welfare and
prosperity, a friend and companion who was dear to us all, a citizen, whose
upright and noble life was a standard of emulation to his fellows. Resolved
that the heart-felt sympathy of this Lodge be extended to his relatives in
their affliction. Resolved that these resolutions be spread upon the records of
the Lodge, and a copy thereof be transmitted to the relations of our deceased
brother."
M. J. CURTIS, H. W. BRAGG, H. D. NASH,
Committee.
Transcribed by Sally
Kaleta.
Proofread by Betty
Vickroy.
© 2007 Sally Kaleta.