Dodge County GaArchives History .....History of D. A. R. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 28, 2004, 11:26 am COL. WM. FEW CHAPTER, Daughters of the American Revolution. THE COL. WM. FEW CHAPTER, D. A. R., so named for one of the two signers of the Constitution of the United States from Georgia, was organized on the morning of April 23, 1913, at the home of Mrs. Valeria Sauls Peacock, mother of the organizing regent, Mrs. Bessie Peacock Wilkins. Fourteen women had qualified for membership, of whom ten were present at the organization meeting. With the organizing regent presiding, the following officers were elected to serve for one year: Regent, Mrs. Bessie Peacock Wilkins; First Vice-Regent, Mrs. Ethel King Hurst; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Fannie Rudisill Bealer; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Ina Fisher Hall; Registrar, Miss Fannie Kate Persons; Treasurer, Mrs. Mamie Sapp Prince; Historian, Mrs. Clifford Peacock McRae. The charter members of the chapter (several having joined the chapter before charter was acquired) are as follows: Mrs. Bessie Peacock Wilkins, Mrs. Valeria Sauls Peacock, Mrs. Mabel Dye Williams, Mrs. Mamie Sapp Prince, Mrs. Clifford Peacock McRae, Mrs. Fannie Rudisill Bealer, Mrs. Ethel King Hurst, Mrs. Rosalind Waite Atwill, Mrs. Mittie Lucas Edwards, Miss Fannie Kate Persons, Mrs. Estora Peacock Stevens, Mrs. Ina Fisher Hall, Mrs. Isabel Jane Dye, Mrs. Addie Davis Cobb, Mrs. May DeLacey Jessup, Mrs. Mattie Me Williams Anderson, Mrs. Lillie Mae Peacock Smyley, Mrs. Pearl Peacock Mathers, Mrs. Julia Peacock Fitzgerald, Mrs. Ophelia Edwards Peacock, Mrs. Georgia B. Lee Whaley. Of the twenty-one charter members only ten remain members of the chapter at this writing. The infant chapter began its work along educational and constructive lines, and during the first years of its existence established a record for interest and effort in these endeavors. Medals for the highest average in the study of United States history were offered in the different grades of the public school and this precedent has been followed throughout the following years. Another custom which has been established and followed yearly is the singing of the Christmas carols by the children of the town. The first band of carolers were trained by the regent, Mrs. Wilkins, and the vice-regent, Mrs. Hurst. It has now become a custom to make an offering to the carolers, this fund being sent to the Georgia orphans' homes. Mrs. Bessie Peacock Wilkins, organizing regent and first regent, served the chapter four years, and her administration was marked by a number of outstanding events, the most notable being the erection of markers at the graves of two Revolutionary soldiers, John Daniel and Stewart Hamilton, and a bronze tablet erected at the court house to the memory of Wm. E. Dodge and William Pitt Eastman for whom the county and town are named. A chapter library was established; a flag pole was erected at the city school and a flag presented; a rest room for country women was maintained at the county court house, and the Christmas charity work established which sent hundreds of bags of candy, fruit, and toys into the homes of the poor of our community. In 1916 Mrs. Leroy Pharr was elected regent of the chapter, and is known as our "war regent," she having guided the chapter through the most trying and strenuous year of its life, doing this so well and with such ability that the war work of the Col. Wm. Few Chapter is one of which we are justly proud. During her one year's administration $40.00 were contributed to the Third Liberty Loan Drive; $25.00 to the purchase of an ambulance the Georgia D. A. R. were presenting; the maintaining of Marcel Girard, a French war orphan was undertaken; a $25.00 scholarship to the State College of Agriculture was presented a county Canning Club girl, and a splendid flag pole and flag were presented to the county and erected at the court house grounds with appropriate ceremonies. Every member was doing Red Cross work and the chapter's individual contribution was two dozen glasses of jelly. Aside from this every phase of the routine work of the chapter was kept up. In 1919 Mrs. W. B. Daniel, loved by the entire membership for her loyalty and faithful service, first came to us as regent. The splendid war work was continued under her wise guidance. It is interesting to note from a report from her at this time the work of the War Relief Committee of the chapter, which is as follows: Number of garments knitted 44 Comfort bags 20 Property bags 29 Housewives 5 Number glasses of jelly 77 Number of soldiers entertained in homes 57 Money for French war orphans $383.25 Money for Tilloloy fund 20.00 Money for Crawford Long bed 15.00 Money for Allies 28.00 Number garments sent French refugees 42 Cash to Red Cross $534.50 Hospital garments made 130 Number Garments knitted 12 Amount invested in Liberty Bonds $8400.00 Amount Liberty Bonds sold $110000.00 This is not the full report but enough is given to show the zeal and purpose of the chapter in those stirring days. A service flag, in which stars were arranged to form the D. A. R. insignia, was presented to the county at a beautiful and impressive service. Mrs. Wright Daniel, daughter-in-law of the former regent, was elected in 1921 to guide the chapter, and during her one year's administration gave herself unsparingly to the work, continuing along lines already begun. The third scholarship to a Canning Club was presented this year and contributions to all State calls were generously made. Mrs. W. B. Daniel was again elected regent of the chapter and served in this capacity until 1926. These five years mark the reconstruction period in our chapter life—the readjustment in manner of living from the strenuous war period to the quiet times of peace; the effort to refill our chapter's diminished coffers. To this end a Christmas bazaar, a Kiwanis banquet, and many other things were sponsored, netting the chapter treasury a goodly sum. Much interest centered in the celebration of Armistice Day and the sale of poppies. On one occasion a large memorial parade was sponsored by the chapter. Other noteworthy undertakings were the presentation of a $200.00 scholarship; the planting of five memorial trees on the school grounds; the marking of the grave of lea Atkins, Revolutionary soldier, and a Child Welfare class which resulted in a higher standard in the child health of our town and county. A memorial chair in honor of Mrs. Bessie Peacock Wilkins was presented to the new Constitution Hall in Washington, D. C. In 1926 Mrs. Edwin Jessup became regent of the chapter and served faithfully and capably for one year. To Mrs. Jessup's broad knowledge of the work and wide grasp of the chapter's problems is due a year of splendid accomplishment. As first vice-regent during the enforced absence of the regent, it was Mrs. Jessup's duty to carry on the work during a part of the two previous years, and to her justly belongs the credit of many fulfilled hopes and dreams in our chapter life. For the past three years Mrs. W. B. Daniel has again been directing the affairs of the chapter, and these years mark a period of harmonious work. It is a source of gratification to the chapter that two of its regents have been called into service as state officers; that it has always stood ready to answer any call for service from town and county; that it continues to function when other organizations have failed. This, we believe, is due to an unsurpassed loyalty and a devotion to the principles for which Daughters of the American Revolution stand. Mrs. T. J. Sappington is the newly elected regent of the Col. Wm. Few Chapter, D. A. R. Mrs. Sappington was Mary Frances Berger, daughter of James Hurt Berger and Fanny Elizabeth Clark Berger, and was born and reared in Charlotte County, Virginia. She is a graduate of Blackstone College for Women, Blackstone, Virginia. She came to Georgia as a school teacher. It was while teaching in Sparks College, Sparks, Georgia, that she met and married Col. T. J. Sappington, and came to Eastman to make her home. Mrs. Sappington has been active in church work as well as in club work. She is District Secretary of the Woman's Missionary Society of the Methodist Church, teacher of the young ladies' class in the Methodist Sunday School. She was instrumental in re-organizing the Woman's Club, and served two years as its president. In May of this year she was elected regent of the D. A. R. chapter. Roster of Members—D. A. R. Name Number Ancestor Anderson, Mrs. C. A. L. (Mary E. Edwards) 104281 Elija Ball Arthur, Mrs. J. M. (Helen Willcox) 260076 John Willcox Atwell, Mrs. C. W. (Rosa Waite) 100858 John Peacock Bohannon, Mrs. J. M. (Mattie Homes) 163178 John Williams Bozeman, Miss Estelle 149693 John Willcox Burch, Mrs. R. F., Jr. (Belle Moore) 165415 Levi Harrell Brantley, Mrs. George (Dora Calhoun) 242903 Stewart Hamilton Clark, Mrs. W. H. (Elizabeth Daniel) 184458 Aaron Daniel Cobb, Mrs. W. P. (Addie Davis) 102131 Lt. Lewis Hall Coffee, Mrs. A. L. (Leila Williams) 145196 Coffee, Mrs. A. T. (Emmie Lumpkin) 216146 John Wentz Coleman, Mrs. C. L. (Mary Goodmiller) 24540 John Tucker Coleman, Mrs. W. A. (Christine Edwards) 67186 Elija Ball Cook, Mrs. Romulus (Edith Sterling) 260077 James Stanley Cummings, Mrs. Harry (Margaret Holmes) 57783 Robt. Farquar Daniel, Mrs. W. J. (Minnie B. Knox) 128016 Herod Gibbs Daniel, Mrs. W. B. (Mary Mitchell) 108092 Stephen Mitchell Daniel, Mrs. John (Irene Butler) 122404 Thomas Rowland Denney, Mrs. E. R. (Annie Maude Burch) 67645 Levi Harrell Dickens, Mrs. H. E. (Mona Coleman) 125730 John Tucker Edwards, Mrs. T. H. (Annie Burch) 120843 Thomas Wiley Fitzgerald, Mrs. Julia Peacock 101146 John Peacock Gallemore, Mrs. L. L. (Nora Adams) 205669 James Gilmore Gentry, Mrs. 0. A. (Birdie Baxter) 104724 William Barton Harrell, Mrs. Jno. D. (Annie L. Brumby) 60078 Richard Asbury Harrell, Miss Edna M 193447 Levi Harrell Harrell, Mrs. Alice Powell 112278 John Kendrick Harrell, Miss Gussie 131265 Levi Harrell Harrell, Miss Mittie 131266 Levi Harrell Harrell, Mrs. Jeter A. (Gertrude Clements) 63976 Daniel McArthur Hinson, Mrs. J. E. (Lillian Swinney) 163977 Moses Newton Jessup, Mrs. W. L. (May DeLacey) 102132 Lt. Lewis Hall Jessup, Mrs. E. H. (Lee Cheney) 187401 Thomas King Methvin, Mrs. C. M. (Eugenia Bone) 109068 Daniel McArthur Milner, Mrs. J. H. (Hattie Harrell) 120815 Levi Harrell McDonald, Mrs. J. H. (Verna Harrell) 130071 Levi Harrell McGee, Miss Marjorie 137081 John Peacock McGee, Miss Valeria 137082 John Peacock O'Callaghan, Mrs. H. M. (Birdie Daniel) 107178 Aaron Daniel Peacock, Mrs. L. M., Sr. (Valeria Sauls) 100559 Reddin McCoy Persons, Miss Fanny Kate 98935 William Persons Ragan, Mrs. R. T. (Elsie Wilkinson) 260079 Levi Harrell Roberts, Mrs. J. H. (Annie Adams) 205670 James Gilmore Sappington, Mrs. T. J. (Frances Berger) 256240 Jacob Berger Skelton, Mrs. M. P. (Jeanet Harrell) 171960 Levi Harrell Smiley, Mrs. S. C. (Lillie M. Peacock) 100963 John Peacock Sterling, Mrs. R. Z. (Sara Obedience) 116639 Stephen Mitchell Ursery, Mrs. Helen Methvin 220094 Daniel McArthur Wilkins, Mrs. A. L. (Bessie Peacock) 84018 Nicholas Coker Wilkins, Mrs. W. J. (Annie Woolen) 106246 Daniel McArthur Williamson, Mrs. J. G. (Georgia Lee Graham) Lt. Lewis Hall Willcox, Miss Ethel 260080 John Willcox Wynne, Mrs. Robert (Jessie Little John) 105452 John Middlebrooks, Jr. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF DODGE COUNTY COPYRIGHT 1932 By MRS. WILTON PHILIP COBB Printed by FOOTE & DAVIES CO., ATLANTA. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/dodge/history/other/gms555historyo.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 13.3 Kb