As Related by Janet Maxine Beal Davis
Transcribed by Steve Cherry, PM, Billie Mosse Lodge # 1152, and
Edited by Bob Rhoden, PM, Billie Mosse Lodge #1152
William Turner “Billie” Mosse
William Turner “Billie” Mosse was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 20, 1853, and moved to Oswego, Falls, New York with his parents 3 years later. Later in life, he moved to Toronto, Canada, where he met, and married Maggie LaGrow, and became a prominent Mason. Billie and Maggie moved to Denison, Texas sometime between 1876-1877.
Billie Mosse was associated with the Tignor & Mosse Company, first located on Main Street and later moving to the 300 block of Chestnut. The company handled wagons, buggies and harnesses. He also did some blacksmithing. The blacksmithing business was located where the Rialto Theater now sits.
Masonic and Other Affiliations:
Mosse was one of the most prominent members of the Masonic fraternity in the area, and well and favorably known in the Masonic circles in both Texas and Oklahoma. He was
- Past Master of Lone Star Lodge #403, Denison, TX
- Past Eminent Commander, Denison Commandery #24, Knights Templar,
- Past Thrice Illustrious Master of Denison Council #183, Royal and Select Masters,
- Past High Priest of Denison Chapter #138, Royal Arch Masons,
- Past Worthy Patron of Gate City Chapter #77, Order of the Eastern Star,
- A member of Hella Temple AAONMS (Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine),
- Inspector Adjutant of Ancient Scottish Rite of Galveston,
- And for 2 years, Grand Visitor for Royal Arch Masons for the 4th
Mosse was also a member of Live Oak Camp #11, Woodmen of the World, and a member of the Episcopal Church.
Having filled every office in the different Masonic bodies in Denison is a token of the esteem and respect in which his fellow Masons held him. He was never too busy to respond to a call for his time from his Lodge or from an individual member. He was always a loyal and faithful worker, a model husband, a kind and indulgent father, and an upright and model citizen.
Billie Mosse Masonic Lodge #1152 A.F. & A. M. was named in his honor.
Family Life:
While in Canada, Mosse met Toronto native Maggie LaGrow, and married her in 1875.
Maggie LaGrowe Mosse was born in Toronto, Canada, September 13, 1857, and had 4 brothers and 3 sisters. After she and Billie moved to Denison, she resided there for 37 years, and was loved by everyone that knew her.
She was a member of the Eastern Star, Woodmen Circle, and the Episcopal Church. Maggie died in 1916, and is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Denison, Texas.
Billie and Maggie had eight children.
Their first child, Arthur, was born February 20, 1876, in Toronto, and died on February 22, 1961, in a Tom Bean rest home. He was also a Master Mason.
Their second child, Susan, was born in 1877, after they moved to Denson. She died in 1878.
Six more children were born in Denison: Charles, Roy, Mable, Fred, Maude, and Blanche.
Charles William Mosse was born in 1893 and died in 1958. He never married. He was a retired railway mail clerk, a member of the Episcopal Church and was a member of Billie Mosse Masonic Lodge. Charles’ Masonic key ring is in the possession of Steve Davis, Billie Mosse’s great-great-great grandson.
Roy Acheson Mosse was born November 18, 1899 in Denison, and died about 1976 in Denison. He served in the Army during World War 1. After the war, he moved to Parsons, Kansas. He and his wife, Lora had one son, William Billie Mosse, who married Anona Muriel Miller.
Mable Margaret Mosse was born in Denison on October 5, 1898 and died September 21, 1979. She married Dick Pyburn in Denison, and after his death, moved to Bristow, California and married a Mr. Anderson. She was an accomplished pianist, and frequently attended Liberace concerts. She was a civil service employee and a member of the Episcopal Church.
Fred Mosse was born in 1879 in Denison and died in 1881.
Maude Mosse was born in 1883 in Denison and died in 1885.
Blanche Mosse was born July 27, 1898 in Denison, and graduated from Denison High School in 1904. She never married, and resided in the old home place at 1200 W. Woodard (the house her father built).
She attended Sam Houston State College in Huntsville, Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and Austin College in Sherman, Texas.
She became a school teacher, and retired after 43 years. She taught in several places in Texas, including Sam Houston Elementary and other Denison schools. She also taught in Port Arthur, Rio Grande City, Texas City and Alpine, Texas.
She was a charter member of Delta Kappa Gamma, serving as its President from 1933-1935.
She was a member of the B&PW, Retired Teacher’s Association, Eastern Star, XX1 Club, and the Episcopal Church. She was also a talented pianist.
She also won numerous medals in “expression.”
She visited all the continents except Australia, accomplishing this during her summer vacations.
She had a doll collection which was known all over, and was started by a doll given to her in a gypsy camp. She kept this collection all her life, adding to it with dolls given to her by her students. When she died on January 2, 1981, her will stated that she wanted her doll collection to go to the Denison Public Library or Austin College, with the stipulation that they be displayed from the least expensive to the most expensive, and there were many expensive ones. When neither institution agreed to do this, the dolls were divided between her 4 nieces and 1 nephew.
Billie Mosse had one brother, Arthur J. Mosse of Denison, whose daughter, Mae Mosse was the heroine of the “Chambers Creek Train Wreck.”
When Mae was 18 years old she was the first female student from Denison to attend the University of Texas at Austin. She taught school in Honey Grove for 30 years. She married Samuel Gardner, Mayor and Past Master of Honey Grove Lodge. She died in 1964.
