Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-25
THEY ARE PATRIOTIC
Something Regarding Sons OF
American Revolution.
ELEVEN MEMBERS In oTTUMWA.
Meeting Held Thursday Night for Or
ganization-What Constitutes Eligi-
biIity for Membership-The ottum-
wa Members.

In Friday evening sCourier appeared
small notice of the organization of
the Ottumwa chapter of the Sons of
the American Revolution. The meet
ing was held at the Office of w. H. H.
Asbury Thursday evening. Following
this up it will be interesting to note
what this patriotic society is, and to
learn something as to it's history To-
cally and nationally.
The local members have all been on
the roll of the state and national So
cieties for some time, but until the
meeting Thursday evening no organi-
cation was ever perfected in Ottumwa.
Local Membership Roll.
The membership is small, there be-
ing only eleven in the city and about
125 in the state. Those constituting
the roll of honor in the Ottumwa
chapter are:
]. H. Merrill Jno. B. Dennis,
w. HI. H. Asbury, Frank Trotter,
F. B. Clark, J. G. Manchester,
Frank Simmons, S. B. Evans,
]. G. Mitchell, w. G. Wyman,
Leo Stevens.
Two former Ottumwans, M. Lippin-
colt and Geo. H. Wheelock, who have
changed their residences, were mem
bers as was also Levi Hills, now de-
ceased, whose kind interest in the So
ciety will always be remembered by
the present members. The National
society is only ten years old but
promises, in time, to rank along side
the best bodies of the kind in America.
Banquet Annually.
An annual state banquet for the
lowans is held each year at the Saw
cry house in Des Moines and only
members are present. The objects of
the organization are to perpetuate the
memory of the men who by their SER
vices during the war of the American
Revolution achieved the independence
OF the American people; to unite and
promote fellowship among the de-
scendants; to inspire them and the
community at large with more pro-
found reverence for the principles of
the government founded by their fore
fathers; Ito encourage historic research
in relation to the American Revolu-
ton; to celebrate the anniversaries of
the prominent events of the war; to
foster true patriotism. to maintain
anc extend the institutions of Amer
lean freedom, and to carry out the in
functions of Washington in his fare
well address to the American people.
Those Who Are Eligible.
There are undoubtedly many men
in this vicinity who are eligible to
membership, who have never taken
the trouble to look up their ancestry.
Eligibility consists only of being able
to prove direct descendancy from an
ancestor who at all times was unfail-
ing in his fidelity to and rendered ac-
tual service in the cause of American
Independence, either as soldier or
seaman or a recognized patriot who
performed actual service by an overt
act of resistance to the authorities OF
Great Britain. The local members all
have warm place in their hearts for
the society and will willingly give ali
the information they can in aiding
others to obtain the necessary proofs
/ to be able to join the society. AS
time goes on it will be harder to prove
up the records made by ancestors
and this organization will be appre
ciated more by the next generation
than by this the present one.