NEBRASKA STATE SOCIETY, DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
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Bonneville Chapter

Contact Us

Lexington, Nebraska

Organized February 26, 1913
Meetings are the second Tuesday of each month, October - June

Chapter Officers

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

Honorary State Regents

​Cheryl Clark
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.

Charter Members

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

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

Contact the Webmaster
Nebraska State Society, NSDAR
Website maintained by Jen Miner

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This website was updated on
November 12, 2023
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  • Home
    • Today's DAR
    • Virtual Tour
    • Memorial Continental Hall
  • Membership
    • Junior Members
  • Chapters
    • District I >
      • Evergreen
      • Fort Sidney
      • Katahdin
      • Point of Rock
      • Sandhills
      • Sioux Lookout
    • District II >
      • Betsey Hager
      • Bonneville
      • Fort Kearney
      • General George A. Custer
      • Loup Trail
      • Niobrara Butler-Johnson
      • Shelton
    • District III >
      • David City
      • Lewis-Clark
      • Mary Katherine Goddard
      • Nancy Gary
      • Omaha
    • District IV >
      • Deborah Avery
      • Major Isaac Sadler - La Belle Vue
      • Otoe
      • Quivera
      • Reavis-Ashley
      • St. Leger Cowley
    • Thirty-Seventh Star
  • About Us
    • Executive Board
    • Committees
    • Miss Nebraska Doll
    • Project Patriot
    • Libraries
    • C.A.R.
  • Historical Daughters
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Join
  • Members Only
  • Link Page