WABASH CHAPTER
HISTORY
Wabash Chapter
NSDAR was organized on June 18, 1930.
Our
chapter name, “Wabash,” was chosen for the river that runs through
White County, named by the Shawnee Indians. “Wabashiki” meaning
“gleaming
white”
because of the bright limestone in the upper part of the river.
Wabash
Chapter history began with the recognition of Talitha Catherine Harrell
Dartt (her name is misspelled in the photo above),
daughter
of Revolutionary War soldier Joel
Harrell, as the last ”Real Daughter” in Illinois in 1927. She received
a small pension through a DAR chapter in Springfield. Mrs. Dartt's
history is recounted in the History of Enfield at http://home.midwest.net/~cbconly/enf1.htm,
as well as http://genealogytrails.com/ill/white/soldiers/revolution_daughter.htm.
Suma Randolph Powell was the
organizing regent of the chapter on June 18, 1930, with 26 charter
members. She was
the state vice regent in 1934 and also served as district VII director.
Others who have been past district directors are Bernice
Rice, Barbara Karger, and Marjorie Brown. Sue Ellen Wallace
served as
district VII regent for 2011-2013.
A 1958 photo, taken at the Robinson Stewart house museum shows the
close relationship between Wabash Chapter and the White County
Historical Society. DAR member Mary Jane Stewart opened her home for
one of the first historical society fundraisers, and at least three of
the guides had been regents of the local chapter. Wabash Chapter
currently uses the home for some meetings, and members have
been known to portray Miss Mary Jane.
In
1935, Little Wabash Society, Children of the American Revolution, was
organized and continues to work
with youth projects with success in the state of Illinois and NSDAR's
North Central Division.
Wayne
Prairie Chapter received its name from Wayne County, with “Prairie”
referring to the prairie State of Illinois and the flat land of the
Fairfield area. Wayne Prairie was
organized on April 17, 1965, by Organizing Regent Charlene French
Tickner. She
served as state historian (1977-79), and state chaplain
(1971-73). Lula
Jane
Crain
Feller served as state historian (1977-79) and as district VII
director. On September 12,
2002,
Wayne Prairie Chapter, Fairfield, merged with Wabash, headquartered in
Carmi.
Web hyperlinks to
non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR,
the state
organizations, or individual DAR chapters.
