Clay County, Missouri - Chapter 20: Daughters of the American Revolution, 1920

OBJECT - ORGANIZED IN 1909 - COU ALEXANDER DONIPHAN - ACTIVITIES - MEMBERS HONORED BY STATE ORGANIZATION - WORLD WAR WORK - ACTIVE RESIDENT MEMBERS - NON-RESIDENT MEMBERS - TRANSFERRED TO OTHER CHAPTERS - WITHDRAWN - DECEASED.

Alexander Doniphan Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, an organization devoted exclusively to patriotic and historical interests, was formed in Liberty on March 6, 1909, receiving from the National Society D. A. R. the chapter number of 848. In choosing a name, the charter members honored Col. Alexander Doniphan, who was a resident of Liberty at the time of the Mexican War and who led a regiment of Missouri volunteers in a victorious expedition to Old Mexico in 1846- 1847, bringing fame to himself and to his men.

The activities of the chapter have been three-fold. Americanization worlc has been carried on by encouraging students at William Jewell College, Liberty Ladies' College (before it burned) and the High School to give special effort to work in American History, in essay contests for gold medals.

valuable county history data. To aid in this work pioneers of the county were persuaded to write articles dealing with conditions and life in the county's youth. In 1912, Mr. Dan Carpenter, who came to Clay County in 1845 at the age of twenty years, wrote a series on the churches, the schools, the mills, the cemeteries, the social customs and the homes of Clay County. These articles were published in the Liberty Tribune.

A government marker was secured for the grave of Richard P. Simms, a soldier of the Revolution who is buried seven miles north of Liberty. After being properly inscribed, it was placed, in 1912, by his great-great-grandson, Robert S. Withers, the regent's husband.

As a patriotic organization, Alexander Doniphan Chapter, D. A. R., has even been to the front with inspiring celebrations of special days in our nation's history. Washington's Birthday and Flag Day, June 14th, have witnessed many beautiful spectacles and interesting fetes. Sometimes the program has featured patriotic addresses, at others music has been the chief interest, again family heirlooms and precious relics have held the center of the state and yet again charming hospitality alone has gi-aced the occusion.

On Feb. 22, 1919. the Chapter held a memorial service for the nineteen Clay County men who died in service in the World War. This was the only service held in the county for all the county's gold star men and was earned out in the most tender and inspiring manner. At the close, the Honor Roll, a very artistic production from the pen of Robert S. Withers, was unveiled and crowned with a wreath of leaves. Later it was placed at the south entrance of the Court House, where it hangs under its glass cover, as yet. the only memorial erected in honor of our World War dead.

One thing done by the Liberty D. A. R. in 1912 called for editorial comment in the Kansas City papers and received newspaper publicipf as far as New York.

No Star-Spangled Banner had floated over the Court House since the Federals were in possession of the county during the Civil War. The Daughters of the American Revolution, true to their code of patriotism, deplored this and petitioned the County Court to buy a United States flag and p)ovide a staff. The court granted the petition and on Novem- ber 4, 1912, Old Glory was unfurled above the Court House at Liberty for the first time in fifty-one years. Mr. John Will Hall, State Commander of the Confederate Veterans, a resident of Liberty, officiated as flag raiser. This was an interesting point in the ceremonies, as he had also been the one to hoist the Confederate flag above the same Court House in 1861. Such captions as "Into the Union at Last" appeared in the headlines of metropolitan papers and the event was heralded as a real news item.

The Daughters presented a handsome United States Hag and oak case to the Liberty Public Schools at the same time and instiftuted the Flag Salute and proper observances among the school children.

The progressiveness of the local Chapter has met with recognition away from home, different members having been appointed to important state and national committees. Mrs. Ethel Massie Withers sei-ved as chairman of State Credentials Committee in 1914, and chainnan of Reciprocity Bui'eau in 1914-1915. Mrs. Temperance Lightburn Thomason sei-ved a term as state chairman of International Relations Committee.

The Chapter has been honored with one state office, Mrs. Ethel Massie Withers having been elected State Historian in 1915 for a temi of two years. As State Historian her work received conimendatiion from the National organization. Her biggest work was the preparation of an illustrated lecture "Pioneering in Missouri." This covers the period from 1735 to 1860 and gives a comprehensive view of early settlements and development. With it go 157 slides depicting the earliest scenes, many of the first buildings, typical homes and portraits of the pioneers themselves. This lecture was given by Mrs. Withers at the State Conference in Louisiana, Missouri, in October, 1916, where it was heard by Floyd C. Shoemaker, who gave it favorable mention in the Missouri Historical Review. Later the lecture was sent on tour and was given in many towns of the State, including St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Kirksville, Marshall, Liberty, etc. The lecture manuscript in printed form and the slides are now with the Missouri State Historical Society at Columbia.

In 1916, Governor Major named Mrs. Withers as one of the members of the Missouri State Centennial Committee of One Thousand, and in 1920 she was appointed to represent Clsy County on the Centennial

During the World War, the women of the D. A. R. joined intensively in all war activities and gave leaders to many. Mrs. Margaret Woodson Haiper had charge of all Red Cross sewing in the county. Mrs. Ethel Massie Withers was chairman of the Clay County Woman's Committee, Council of Defense, County Food chairman, and member of the County Council of Defense. Mrs. Gladys Cook Davidson waa county chairman of Women's Registration, member of the County Council of Defense and secretary and publicity chairman of the Liberty Branch of the Red Cross. Mrs. Anne Ellis Fleet was county chaimnan of Speakers in the Woman's Committee Council of Defense. Mrs. Margaret Thomason Smith and Mrs. Loutie Clark Soper were chairmen of Kearney and Liberty townships in the Woman's Committee Council of Defense. Every member gave valiant individual service.

In peace, as in war, Alexander Doniphan Chapter furnishes leaders in public activities. Mrs. Harper and Mrs. Davidson continue on the official board in the Red Cross Home Sei-vice work; Mrs. Withers succeeded Mrs. Soper as Democratic Committeewoman for Liberty township, and is pi'esident of the local Woman's Democratic Club ; Mrs. Luella Hoffman Goodson is in her second very successful year as president of the Liberty Fortnightly Study Club. Preceding Mrs. Goodson's regime, that office was held by Mrs. Soper for three years, she being the club's second president.

The membership roll from date of organization in March, 1909, to the present time, November, 1920, is as follows, notations at the siide showing what changes have come with the years. There are at present thirty-one active resident and non-resident members - Americans all, proud of our heritage which has come through generations of loyal American ancestors who have formed the wai-p and woof of our nation's glory and whose work it is our duty to carry on.