William Henry Best was born November 24, 1849; at Philadelphia, PA to Thompson and Selina "Brackin" Best. He was the oldest of 12 children, 8 of whom are still alive. He married Abbie W. Hall on August 17, 1876 in Minneapolis MN. Together they had 5 children: Will, Sadie, Ina, Emir and Mary.

For the first time in the history of the Grand Lodge a brother who has occupied an elective Grand Office in this Grand Lodge has passed away. Bro. William H. Best, Grand Master of this Grand Lodge 1895-96, Grand Junior Warden 1894-5 and Grand Lecturer from 1890 to 1895, died at his home in Fargo on Tuesday afternoon, May 3rd, 1898, 3:32 p. m., in the forty-eight year of his age. Bro. Best at the time of his death was a member of Casselton Lodge No. 3, at Casselton, North Dakota, of which Lodge he had been Master for two terms. He was one of the best known Masons in the State, having attended the territorial Grand Lodge before the division, and having been in attendance on every Grand Communication of this Grand Lodge since its existence.

Bro. Best's duties as Grand Lecturer had taken him to all of the Lodges in the State several times. His labors in the field of promulgating our esoteric and monitorial work was eminently successful, and wherever he went for that purpose not only left behind him a greater knowledge of our Ritual, but left an enthusiasm which helped to incite the Lodges to better work and better deeds.

His term as Grand Master is marked by many decisions which are now a part of the regulations of this Grand Lodge. He was a man of inquiring mind, and was not satisfied with a superficial knowledge of duties which came to him to perform, and, consequently, as a Mason and as a Grand Officer he gave the Craft the benefit of inquiry and study into the laws, customs and regulations of our Fraternity. Bro. Best will be greatly missed, not only by individual Masons, but by this Grand Lodge; for his labors and Masonic knowledge during our Grand Communications have been invaluable.
(Extracted from 1898 Proceedings, Page 262, "Fraternal Deaths")

7th Grand Master of Masons of the Grand Lodge AF & AM of North Dakota in 1895-1896.
Was also a former Chief of Police in Fargo ND