The National Society of the
Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or
DAR) is a non-profit, non-political, volunteer
women's service organization. The Washington
Chapter, NSDAR, was organized on November 13,
1906. The seventeen charter members included:
Mrs. Lorie M. Rickey Cook, Mrs. Elizabeth
Fisher Harwood, Miss Hallie Berdo, Mrs.
Clelland White, Mrs. Martha Clarissa White
Wilson and Dr. Ida Holson Bailey, who was
elected as the first chapter regent.
The chapter celebrated its 100th anniversary
in 2006 with a banquet and a presentation with
our State Regent, DiAnne Lerud-Chubb. Several
of our ladies were 90 years of age or older
and they add a wealth of information when we
discussed our program, "Remembering Our
History."
The June meeting is held in the Central Park
with a Flag retirement ceremony. It has been
widely attended as many people have had Flags
that needed to be disposed of properly. The
Boy Scouts have been instrumental in disposing
of the Flags.
|
The log cabin was built in 1840 by Alexander
Young in Washington County. His sons, Robert
and Hueston Young, gave the cabin to the
Washington Chapter, NSDAR, in 1912. On
August 14, 1973, the cabin was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places, and
was marked by the chapter on June 2, 1974.
Since 1912, the DAR has also sponsored the
log house/cabin located in Sunset Park in
Washington, Iowa. The DAR members were
instrumental in helping to move the log
cabin from the southwest corner of the
county to its present location. Many people
have donated money and items for the cabin
which help visitors to visualize how hard
life was in the past. This year, the DAR
will open the cabin by appointment for
visitors and teachers who would like to
bring their classes to see what life was
like in earlier years.
|
 |
In 1938, the Washington Chapter, NSDAR,
planted a ginkgo tree to honor George
Washington and to beautify the city of
Washington, Iowa.
Each Memorial Day, the DAR places more than
1,000 Flags on veterans' graves at the two
local cemeteries. The Boy Scouts and local
people help to set out the Flags each year.
The American Legion is now helping with the
purchase of the Flags.
Revolutionary War Soldiers Buried in
Washington County
Timothy Brown was born on April/May 30, 1762,
in New Jersey. He died on January 3, 1852, in
Washington County, Iowa. He was originally
buried in a pioneer farm cemetery known as
Todd Cemetery. In 1903, his gravesite was
discovered by the editor of the Washington
Democrat. The editor recognized that
Brown had been a Revolutionary War soldier,
who had served for three years under General
Washington. His body was then moved to Soldier
Circle in Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington,
Iowa, where re-interment services were held on
October 19, 1903. In 1908, a monument, paid
for by the Iowa State Legislature and local
citizens, was dedicated in his honor. The
Washington Chapter, NSDAR, is responsible for
perpetual care.
Samuel Lewis was born in 1776 in Ireland or
Maryland. He died on December 21, 1851, in
Washington County, Iowa, and was buried in
Hillcrest Cemetery at Brighton, in south
Washington County. The Washington Chapter,
NSDAR, added a boulder on his grave with an
inscribed bronze plaque that read, "Samuel
Lewis, Revolutionary War Soldier 1766-1851."
This dedication was performed on June 14,
1957. |
|
