Lexington, Nebraska
Organized February 26, 1913
Meetings are the second Tuesday of each month, October - June
Meetings are the second Tuesday of each month, October - June
Chapter Officers
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Regent
Margaret Bader Vice Regent Debra Hatfield Chaplain Melanie Sloger Recording Secretary Jacqueline Ohlmann |
Treasurer
Sandra Mittelstaedt Registrar Cheryl Clark Librarian Judith Linden |
Honorary Chapter Regents
Margaret Bader
Cheryl Clark
La Donna Doughty
Jacqueline Ohlmann
Sherilyn Ward
Cheryl Clark
La Donna Doughty
Jacqueline Ohlmann
Sherilyn Ward
Honorary State Regents
Cheryl Clark
Jacqueline Ohlmann
Jacqueline Ohlmann
Our History:
Bonneville Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution located in Lexington, Nebraska, was named for Captain Benjamin Louis Eulalia Bonneville.
Captain Bonneville was a diligent wanderer. He was born in France in 1796, and was brought to this country as a small boy by his mother. His father was detained in France by Napoleon after issuing controversial political pamphlets. Bonneville was appointed to West Point, graduating in 1819. Following graduation he became a staff member of General Lafayette, with whom he toured the United States, and afterwards went to France as his guest. He saw some service in the American Army on the Frontier, but wishing to engage in the fur trade, secured a leave of absence. He took a party of about 100 with 24 horse wagons over the Oregon Trail in the spring of 1832. This was the first wagon over that part of the trail known as the cut-off between Independence, Missouri, and Grand Island, Nebraska, thus connecting the two ends of the route destined to carry thousands of pioneers across the continent.
Bonneville traveled over the whole northwest mountain region, including the Columbia River country, until the spring of 1835. The gallant captain was a conspicuous figure in the Seminole War, and later went with his command into Mexico.
Captain Bonneville died at his farm near Fort Smith, Arkansas, on June 12, 1878.
Bonneville Chapter of the Daughter of the American Revolution was organized February 26, 1913, at the home of Mrs. E. A. Cook. A letter from Washington, D.C., appointed Mrs. B. B. Baker as organizing regent of the chapter. Charter members were: Maude Willis Smith, Ella Maxwell Cook, Mina Mullin Volk, Ella Rankin Campbell, Ogla Martin McFarland, Verna Stibbins Grennslit, Avis Wilcox Stebbinns, Elva Bennett Evans, Jennie Reynolds Temple, Luella Reynolds Spencer, Annette Mallett Jacobson, Eleanor J. Ridgway, and Eleanor Peale Baker.
In 1931, the chapter became interested in marking the site of Turkey Leg Massacre, an Indian raid on a Union Pacific train west of Plum Creek, now Lexington. The idea was abandoned because of lack of funds. This project was revived in 1938. The regent, Mrs. C. C. Rosenberg, contacted Mr. William Jeffers, president of the Union Pacific Railroad, who agreed to bring a Wyoming boulder to the site of the raid. The installation was done and a bronze plaque telling the story of the raid was placed on the boulder. The premiere of the film Union Pacific, in Omaha, coincided with the dedication of the marker and the observance of the first Plum Creek Days celebration. The Bonneville Chapter rededicated the Turkey Leg Monument in July 2004.
During the years of World War II, the chapter members did Red Cross work, such as knitting, buying bonds, working at the North Platte Canteen, the USO, and contributing to the blood plasma program. Nebraska State DAR adopted the crew of LCI #581, and the name Henry M. Hill, Lt. M3c was assigned to Bonneville chapter. Monthly letters were written to him and boxed food and small gifts were sent from time to time.
After World War II, the chapter began the task of copying tombstone records in all the cemeteries in Dawson County. The records of 35 cemeteries were completed in 1951. Chapter member Mrs. Robert Zulauf typed them. Three copies were made and bound.
Mrs. Ruby Hollingsworth worked for some time platting and identifying graves in the oldest cemetery in Dawson County, the Evergreen Cemetery, a few miles east of Lexington. Where there were no markers, but the graves were identified, she persuaded local groups and the city of Lexington to place white wooden crosses with the name painted in black. These cemetery records have been typed and bound.
Today, Bonneville chapter. remains a viable and active chapter. We have members who are presenting genealogical workshops, copying genealogical records, honoring our flag, participating in American History projects, and supporting our military and the goals and ideals of the National Society.
Captain Bonneville was a diligent wanderer. He was born in France in 1796, and was brought to this country as a small boy by his mother. His father was detained in France by Napoleon after issuing controversial political pamphlets. Bonneville was appointed to West Point, graduating in 1819. Following graduation he became a staff member of General Lafayette, with whom he toured the United States, and afterwards went to France as his guest. He saw some service in the American Army on the Frontier, but wishing to engage in the fur trade, secured a leave of absence. He took a party of about 100 with 24 horse wagons over the Oregon Trail in the spring of 1832. This was the first wagon over that part of the trail known as the cut-off between Independence, Missouri, and Grand Island, Nebraska, thus connecting the two ends of the route destined to carry thousands of pioneers across the continent.
Bonneville traveled over the whole northwest mountain region, including the Columbia River country, until the spring of 1835. The gallant captain was a conspicuous figure in the Seminole War, and later went with his command into Mexico.
Captain Bonneville died at his farm near Fort Smith, Arkansas, on June 12, 1878.
Bonneville Chapter of the Daughter of the American Revolution was organized February 26, 1913, at the home of Mrs. E. A. Cook. A letter from Washington, D.C., appointed Mrs. B. B. Baker as organizing regent of the chapter. Charter members were: Maude Willis Smith, Ella Maxwell Cook, Mina Mullin Volk, Ella Rankin Campbell, Ogla Martin McFarland, Verna Stibbins Grennslit, Avis Wilcox Stebbinns, Elva Bennett Evans, Jennie Reynolds Temple, Luella Reynolds Spencer, Annette Mallett Jacobson, Eleanor J. Ridgway, and Eleanor Peale Baker.
In 1931, the chapter became interested in marking the site of Turkey Leg Massacre, an Indian raid on a Union Pacific train west of Plum Creek, now Lexington. The idea was abandoned because of lack of funds. This project was revived in 1938. The regent, Mrs. C. C. Rosenberg, contacted Mr. William Jeffers, president of the Union Pacific Railroad, who agreed to bring a Wyoming boulder to the site of the raid. The installation was done and a bronze plaque telling the story of the raid was placed on the boulder. The premiere of the film Union Pacific, in Omaha, coincided with the dedication of the marker and the observance of the first Plum Creek Days celebration. The Bonneville Chapter rededicated the Turkey Leg Monument in July 2004.
During the years of World War II, the chapter members did Red Cross work, such as knitting, buying bonds, working at the North Platte Canteen, the USO, and contributing to the blood plasma program. Nebraska State DAR adopted the crew of LCI #581, and the name Henry M. Hill, Lt. M3c was assigned to Bonneville chapter. Monthly letters were written to him and boxed food and small gifts were sent from time to time.
After World War II, the chapter began the task of copying tombstone records in all the cemeteries in Dawson County. The records of 35 cemeteries were completed in 1951. Chapter member Mrs. Robert Zulauf typed them. Three copies were made and bound.
Mrs. Ruby Hollingsworth worked for some time platting and identifying graves in the oldest cemetery in Dawson County, the Evergreen Cemetery, a few miles east of Lexington. Where there were no markers, but the graves were identified, she persuaded local groups and the city of Lexington to place white wooden crosses with the name painted in black. These cemetery records have been typed and bound.
Today, Bonneville chapter. remains a viable and active chapter. We have members who are presenting genealogical workshops, copying genealogical records, honoring our flag, participating in American History projects, and supporting our military and the goals and ideals of the National Society.
Charter Members
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Maude Willis Smith (Mrs. M.B.)
Mina Mullin Volk (Mrs. George W.) Verna Stibbins Greenslit (Mrs. R.A.) Elva Bennett Evans (Mrs. A.H.) Eleanor J. Ridgway Annette Mallett Jacobson (Mrs. J.E.) Luella Reynolds Spencer (Mrs. Charles) |
Ella Maxwell Cook (Mrs. E.A.)
Ogla Martin McFarland (Mrs. V.E.) Avis Wilcox Stebbins Jennie Reynolds Temple (Mrs. H.V.) Eleanor Peale Baker (Mrs. B.B.) Ella Ranklin Campbell (Mrs. A.P.) |
Chapter Regents
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1913-1915 Eleanor Barker
1915-1916 Lue R. Spencer 1916-1917 Ella Cook 1917-1918 Weir Smith 1918-1919 Maude Betzer 1919-1921 Elva Evans 1921-1922 Delia Adams 1922-1923 Annette Jacobson 1923-1925 Olga McFarland 1925-1927 Mina Volk 1927-1929 Elizabeth Fagot 1929-1931 Joy Johnson 1931-1933 Helen McKee 1933-1935 Sevilla Fagot 1935-1937 Opal Burnett 1937-1939 Esther Rosenberg 1939-1940 Joy Johnson 1940-1942 Marion Bates 1942-1944 Ethyle Wisda 1944-1945 Fancis Meyer 1945-1947 Weir Smith 1947-1949 Nina Miller 1949-1951 Olga McFarland 1951-1953 Helen McKee 1953-1955 Lille Zulauf 1955-1957 Joy Johnson 1957-1958 Francis Meyer 1958-1960 Bertha Sherrill 1960-1962 Lucy Bixler 1962-1964 Joy Johnson |
1964-1965 Lucy Bixler
1965-1967 Ruby Hollingsworth 1967-1969 Lillie Zulauf 1969-1971 LaDonna Doughty 1971-1973 Roberta Burmood 1973-1976 LaDonna Doughty 1976-1978 Marion Bates 1978-1980 Donna Heaton 1980-1982 LaDonna Doughty 1982-1984 Iona B. McFarren 1984-1986 Marcia Morgan 1986-1990 Cheryl Clark 1990-1992 Sherilyn Ward 1992-1994 Jacqueline Ohlmann 1994-1996 Jean Sands 1996-1998 LaDonna Doughty 1998-2000 Sherilyn Ward 2000-2002 Jacqueline Ohlmann 2002-2004 Debra Hatfield 2004-2006 Margaret Bader 2006-2008 Linda Mins 2008-2010 Margaret Bader 2010-2012 Debra Hatfield 2012-2012 Margaret Bader 2014-2016 Donna Hall 2016-2018 Sandra Mittelstaedt 2018-2020 Margaret Bader 2020-2022 Margaret Bader 2022-2024 Margaret Bader |
