Toussaint du Bois Chapter, NSDAR

About Us

The Toussaint du Bois Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR), held its organizational meeting on October 13, 1919, with Berenice Pinkstaff Bennett Nelson as the organizing regent. Twenty members including a Real Daughter and Real Granddaughter of American Revolutionary War soldiers were in attendance  Lucinda Melton Harris Porter was the daughter of American Revolutionary War soldier, Benjamin Melton, and the granddaughter of American Revolutionary War soldier, Christopher Coy. Berenice Nelson, Organizing Regent, died on January 3, 1924. Her grave has been marked by the DAR.

Our chapter placed a marker at the site of Toussaint DuBois, Jr.’s, house at the corner of 12th and Walnut Streets in Lawrenceville where the first court was held. The graves of Benjamin Melton, William Melton, and Christopher Coy have also been marked with a large stone and marker at the site of the Melton Cemetery. A plaque was placed on the courthouse listing the American Revolutionary War Patriots buried in the county.

On June 14, 1938, our chapter dedicated a monument at the site where Abraham Lincoln, his father, and his relatives crossed from Indiana to Illinois. The Illinois State Organization, NSDAR, purchased the monument and presented it to the State of Illinois. In 1988, the monument was restored and rededicated with State Regent Mary Jo Mordhorst presiding. In 2009, the 200th Anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, the monument was again restored. A ceremony was held to rededicate the Memorial with State Regent Mary Jo Mordhort delivering the keynote address.