The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-03

The initiative Taken by Mrs. II. NJ,
Newport at the Suggestion of the
Late Judge Albert EdgertOn--
Formation of Other Chapters
With the Names OF the Leading
Officers.
The Minnesota Society of the Daugh-
tiers of the American Revolution was
organized Oct. IL, 1891, at the sugges-
ton of Judge Albert Edgerton, whose
death was mourned by half the people
of st. Paul something like a year ago.
Judge Edgerton was an active men,
Der of the Sons of the American Revo-
luton and was very anxious there
should be a society of Daughters in
the state. He suggested the matter
first to Mrs. d. A. Monfort, urging her
to send her papers to Washington and
organize state society. Mrs. Monfort,
while heartily favoring the formation
of state organization, thought some
one else might be selected better fitted
to undertake the work, and upon her
advice Judge Edgerton brought the
matter before Mrs. r. M. Newport, who
at first felt as did Mrs. Monfort, but
who later consented to assume the re-
sponsibility, and the first meeting Of
the St. Paul chapter, D. A. r., was
called Oct. II, 1891, at Mrs. Newport
nome on Summit avenue, the chapter
being the first formed in the state and
the third in the United States.
The charter members were: Mrs. r.
NJ. Newport, Mrs. J. w. Edgerton, Mrs.
+. G. Foster, Mrs. c. E. Riggs, Mrs.
M. H. Gilbert, Mrs. E. S. w. Soule,
Miss Mary NJ Newport, Mrs ]. O..
Adams, Mrs. Julia Waters johnson,
Mrs. D. A. Monfort Mrs. B. S. Cowen,
Mrs. A. P. Moss, Miss Elizabeth Bir-
cue, Mrs E. E. Hatch, Mrs. William
]. R. Mcmillan.
Mrs. Newport being the promoter Of
the society was, Of course, the state
regent, and Mrs. John Quincy Adams
was the first regent of the ST. Paul
chapter. Mrs. Mason, wife of Gen.
Edwin G. Mason, was unanimously
chosen second regent and the third
presiding officer was Mrs. D. A. Mon
fort, under whose efficient leadership
the chapter made rapid progress.
Mrs. George Squires is the present
regent, having held office but a short
time.
The charter of the society was grant
ed March A., 1892. and is No. II.
In 1892, the year following the or
ganiZation of the st. Paul chapter the
Minneapolis chapter was formed in
Minneapolis, and during this year the
first trouble in D. A. r. circles began
The question of COLLATERAL and IineaI
descendants was being actively agftated
by the national society and the ma
Jority Of the Daughters were firm in the
conviction that only lineal descendants
should be allowed to become members
of the society. Mrs. Newport and sew
eral others in the Minnesota chapters
favored the admission Of collateral de-
scendants, and the matter became so
warmly contested in Minneapolis that
new chapter resulted in a. short time
known as the Colonial chapter. In the
st. Paul chapter the matter was put
TO vote at a meeting at Mrs. New
ports home and the ballot stood IL to
80 odd in favor of lineal descendants
Mrs. Newport felt the matter so keen
ly she requested that the women write
their names on their votes.
The national society stood by the
lineal descendants, and from that time
forward Mrs. Newport was not in har-
mony with the work in Washington
Mrs. Christian was the first regent of
the Colonial chapter, and the present
regent is Mrs. Isabel c. Marston Mrs.
Rich, is. the regent Of the MINNEAPOLIS
chapter. The two Minneapolis chap
tiers together have about 100 members.
The ST. Paul chapter is not only the
81.
having a membership of LIS women.
= In Duluth there are two chapters,
the Greysolon du Lhut, Of which Mrs.
Julia M. Barnes is regent, and the
Daughters Of Liberty, which was form
ed about year ago, Of which Mrs. D.
B. Smith Jr. is the regent.
Mrs. Page Morris is a member Of
this chapter, and 1t has been a source
Of some pride to this chapter that they
have been the first to have as mem
Der the wife Of an official in Washing
ton during the winter, who could be
identified with the national society, to
give the state some representation. I'm
til two years ago no regent from Min
nesota had ever attended the national
congress, and the state regent had
never attended a congress until the
one in February last.
Thus the state has not been as close
ly in touch with the workings of the
national society as many other states
have been.
The Winona chapter has for regent
Mrs. w. H. Gale, and at FaribauIt
there is chapter, of which Miss Stel-
la Frances Cole is regent. These are
the only chapters in the state.
Just previous to her retirement as
state regent Mrs. Newport appointed
the following ladies as regents in towns
in the state to organize chapters: Mrs
R. L. Gale, ST. Cloud; Mrs. Maria My
gait Brown, Fergus Falls; Mrs. w. H.
Brown, Mankato; Mrs. E. w. Durant,
Saltwater.
The Nathan Hale chapter was form
ed Oct. 80. 1895, by seven members re-
firing from the ST. Paul chapter and
by several new Daughters. The first
meeting was held at the home Of Mrs.
J.E. McWilliams, who was made regent
and has held that office ever since The
organizers of this chapter were Mrs.
j. E. McWilliams, Mrs. Hascal R.
Brill, Mrs. Henry Schumacher Mrs.
Rufus Davenport, Miss Angelina AS
penwall, Mrs. B. S. Cowen and Mrs.
D. F. Polk. The other charter mem
bers were Miss Elizabeth Cornish, Mrs.
W. D. Cornish, Mrs. Hamilton Bur-
rows, Mrs. F. E. Rice, Mrs. Charles S.
Fee, Miss Alice Andrews, Mrs J. D.
Sawyer, Mrs. Walter S. Alexander,
Mrs. Charles E. Smith, Mrs Walter
Sanborn, Miss Grace Sanborn, Mrs.
ston and the following were the charter
officers:
Mrs. ]. E. McWillams-Regent
Mrs. Hascal R. Brill-Vice Regent.
Mrs. Henry misunderstanding Secre-
tary.
Mrs. Rufus Davenport
Miss Angelina Aspinwall.
Mrs. Benjamin S. Cowen-Corresponding
Secretary.
Mrs. Duyal F. Polk-Treasurer.
Miss Alice Andrews-Registrar.
Mrs. Walter S. Alexander-Chaplain
Mrs. Charles E. Smith-Historian.
This society was formed for the sys
tematic study of history and also for
the direct furthering Of patriotic mem
orials, and the intentions of the chap
ter have been carried out by a course
of American history. beginning with
the early settlements and studying
them In or5pr Monx, IJo ooroc.