Stephen Fuller Austin was born on this day in 1793 in Virginia. He was an American colonizer and political leader who worked to make Texas a state of Mexico but later helped Texas settlers gain their independence (1836) he is known as the 'Father of Texas' and the “Father of masonry in Texas.” He was born in 1793 in Virginia. He ran for President of Texas in 1836 but was defeated by his Masonic brother Sam Houston.
In 1815 Austin became a member of Louisiana Lodge No. 109 at Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, the first lodge west of the Mississippi. He later transferred his membership to St. Louis Lodge No. 111. He entered the Celestial Lodge on December 27, 1836.

On this day in 1896 Mason William McKinley was elected 25th president of the United States. He was born on January 29, 1843 in Niles, Ohio. He was educated at Poland Academy and Allegheny College. He taught in public schools, and at the outset of the Civil War, enlisted as a private in the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, rising through grades to captain in 1864, and brevetted major by President Lincoln on March 13, 1865, for gallantry in battle. Although a Union Army major, he received his degrees in a southern lodge during the war. He was protecting and managing the army hospital at Winchester, Virginia, and was struck by the ties which he saw existing between the Union surgeons and Confederate prisoners. When he learned the reason for such a brotherly spirit in spite of war and hatred, he asked to be admitted to the Craft. His petition was presented to Hiram Lodge No. 21 of Winchester, Tennessee and he was initiated May 1, 1865, passed May 2, and raised May 3. J. B. T. Reed, a Confederate chaplain, served in the East. On August 21, 1867 he affiliated with Canton Lodge No. 90, Canton, Ohio and on June 2, 1868 became a charter member of Eagle Lodge No. 431 of Canton, Ohio. The lodge was later named in honor of him as William McKinley Lodge. He was grand orator at the dedication of the Masonic Temple, Canton, Ohio on June 25, 1890; and on December 14, 1899, while president, he delivered an address at the Masonic fraternity's centennial anniversary of the death of President and Mason George Washington. On February 7, 1900 a delegation headed by J. T. Taylor, Master of Columbia Lodge No. 2397, London, England, visited the White House and presented him an engrossed certificate of membership in the English Lodge. On May 22, 1901 he attended a reception given in his honor by California Commandery No. 1, San Francisco. The gold invitation card presented to him is now in the library of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and was presented on May 12, 1913 by John Wanamaker. While visiting in Adams, Massachusetts, September 7, 1897, McKinley received the brethren of Berkshire Lodge and autographed the record book of that lodge. He was made an honorary member of the Illinois Masonic Veterans' Association on October 28, 1898; on his death this group presented a gold memorial plate to his widow. He was an honorary member of the New York Veterans' Association. On October 23, 1899 he tendered a reception to the Supreme Council, AASR (SJ) at the White House. On May 23, 1900 he received the members of the Mystic Shrine at a reception at the White House, during an Imperial Council meeting in Washington, D.C. In speaking at the centennial of Washington's death he said: "We have just participated in a service commemorative of the one hundredth anniversary of the death of Mason George Washington. Here at his home, which he loved so well, and which the patriotic women of the country have guarded with loving hands, exercises are conducted under the auspices of the great fraternity of Freemasons, which a century ago, planned and executed the solemn ceremonial which attended the Father of his Country to his tomb. . . . Masons throughout the United States testify anew their reverence for the name of Washington and the inspiring example of his life . .. the Fraternity justly claims the immortal patriot as one of its members; the whole human family acknowledges him as one of the greatest benefactors. He was shot by the anarchist, Leon Czolgosz, on Sept. 6, 1901 at Buffalo, N.Y. and died Sept. 14.He was shot by the anarchist, Leon Czolgosz, on Sept. 6, 1901 at Buffalo, N.Y. and died Sept. 14, 1901." Five cornmanderies of Knights Templar escorted McKinley's remains from the White House to the Capitol on September 17, 1901 and at the immense funeral on the 19th, 2,000 Knights Templar in uniform formed the fourth division of the funeral escort. He entered the Celestial Lodge on September 14, 1901.

Lyndon B. Johnson was initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason at Johnson City Lodge #561, Johnson City, Texas, on October 30, 1937. He never completed the other two degrees which did not entitle him to be considered a full-fledged mason.