Dubois County Daughters of the American Revolution to celebrate 100 years of service
The Dubois County Chapter, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, will celebrate its Centennial with an Open House on Sunday, October 16, 2022, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Old Town Hall, 309 North Geiger Street, Huntingburg. All current and prospective members, past members and their families, and anyone interested in learning more about the National Society and its work are cordially invited to attend.
The Dubois County DAR was officially chartered on October 17, 1922, under the leadership of organizing regent Mrs. Wilhelmina Rothert, a great-granddaughter of Huntingburg founder Col. Jacob Geiger. A total of 14 charter members initially formed the chapter, with seven more added by the official charter date. Other members continued to join throughout the first charter year.
The Chapter initially chose the name of Capt. Toussiant Dubois, the first white man to own land in Dubois County. Ten days after the Chapter’s first meeting, however, Regent Rothert was notified by letter from the National Organizing Secretary General, Mrs. Wallace W. Hargar, that another chapter at Lawrenceville, Illinois, had already chosen that name. As a result, the new chapter’s name was then changed to Dubois County.
Capt. Dubois, a Frenchman from Vincennes, Indiana, first came over to America from France with the Marquis de Lafayette of Revolutionary War fame. On February 16, 1809, Thomas Jefferson, president of the United States, issued a land patent to Capt. Dubois on a part of a section of land first settled by William McDonald, great-grandfather of Dubois County charter member Mrs. Edna Traylor Harris. At that time, the land was located within the boundaries of Pike County, which later was redrawn to create present-day Dubois County.
One of the first projects undertaken by the new chapter was to locate and mark the graves of the seven Revolutionary War soldiers known to be buried in Dubois County, along with the daughter of one soldier. Beginning with James Harbison in 1923 in the Dwine Cemetery north of the Buffalo Trace marker in Harbison Township, other graves were also identified for William Anderson, Real Daughter Lucindia Anderson, Luther Adams, Richard Stilwell, Lewis Powers, Hugh Rodman, Sr. One grave, that of John Hill, remains unknown.
In 1935, the Chapter mounted a bronze plaque on the east wall of the Dubois County Courthouse naming these soldiers, and in 2019, then Vice Regent and current Regent Karen Adams cleaned the plaque to restore it to its original luster. Continuing its tradition of honoring these Revolutionary War Patriots, the Chapter visited their graves on the nation’s bicentennial in 1976 and again in 2018.
Chapter members have been instrumental in preserving local history. Initially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, the 1886 Italianate structure that once housed the city jail and town offices needed extensive restoration. Beginning in 1978, chapter members Marion McMurtrie and her daughter, Phyllis Menke, spearheaded the building’s renovation taking place from 1978 to 1991. The Old Town Hall remains a centerpiece of Huntingburg’s historic downtown Fourth Street district, consisting of two city blocks also on the National Register.
Throughout its 100-year history, the Chapter has continued to promote the education and patriotism of youth through its annual American History essay contest for students in grades five through eight; its annual DAR Good Citizen awards reception for outstanding high school seniors; its DAR Youth Citizenship award for outstanding eighth-grade students; and its ongoing support of DAR schools through board membership and financial contributions.
In 2021, the Chapter commemorated the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier through the establishment and dedication of three Never Forget Gardens in Ferdinand, Huntingburg, and Jasper, and dedicated a fourth such Garden in May of 2022 in St. Anthony.
Other efforts of the Chapter include laying a wreath at the grave of Nancy Hanks Lincoln at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial every February; assisting at naturalization ceremonies; marching in local parades; attending Veterans Day and Memorial Day events; donating funds for the laying of wreaths on military service members’ graves each December in the Wreaths Across America program; participating in national efforts such as the Ellis Island Restoration Committee and national speakers staff; holding of various state and national offices, including that of Indiana State Chaplain and State Regent; (national) Vice Chairman of Lineage Research; (national) Vice President General and Historian General; and serving in various state and national leadership capacities.
Founded in 1890, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a service organization that promotes education, historic preservation, and patriotism. Any woman aged 18 and over who can verify her lineage back to a Patriot of the Revolutionary War is eligible.
The Dubois County DAR invites the community to celebrate this milestone as the Chapter looks ahead to the next hundred years in which to continue its long tradition of community service. To RSVP, please contact Angela McDonald, Centennial Committee Chairman, ph. 812/630-2885; email angela.k.mcdonald@gmail.com.
