Evening star., 1911-01-30

The funeral Of Miss Mary Desha, a
founder of the Daughters OF the 1ameri-
can Revolution, who died suddenly last
night, may be held I'm Continental Me-
mortal Hall. on 18th street northwest.
Mrs. Matthew T. Scott. president gen
eral of the ID. a. r.. suggested today
that the funeral be held In the home OF
the society. and has named the following
committee TO make arrangements: Mrs
Thomas X. Noble. chaplain general.
chairman; Mrs. George Smallwood, re-
gent Of the District of Columbia, and Mrs
Ben Johnson. regent OF the state of Ken
tucky.
The arrangements will he completed OIL
the arrival here of Norman chalkley
nephew OF Miss Desha. and the burial
will most likely be at Miss Desha's for
mer home near Lexington, Ky
The president general has called meet
ing of the national officers for this after
noon at O'clock in the board room al
Continental Memorial Hall 20 take suit
able action on Miss Desha's death.
Miss Desha was stricken while walk
ing near Calvert street and Adams Mil
road about I::D o'clock last night and
died almost instantly. She resided at
the Mendoza apartment house, 3rh street
tives in this city. Mr.. Chalkley. who is
dean Of the Law College OF Washington
and Lee University. at Lexington, Va.
a nephew and the nearest living relative
or Miss Desha, was notified at once OF his
aunt's death.
BY direction of the president general
Of the d. A. r. the flag on Continental
Memorial Hall will be at half staff dur
ing the funeral services.
Besides being honorary vice president
general OF the Daughters Of the Ameri-
can Revolution. Miss Desha filled every
important office in the aft OF the So
ciety except that Of president general
for which office she was frequently
mentioned, but was obliged to decline
the honor because OF her other duties
Miss Desha was born i'm Lexington.
KY, her father, DIR. John Randolph
Desha, being a prominent physician and
politician of the Blue Grass state. She
was about siXty-five years of age She
came to Washington from Kentucky
about twenty years ago to accept a
position in the office of the commits
sioner of Indian affairs of the Interior
Department. Later she was transferred
to the general land office, where she
was employed up to the time of her
death.
Breckinridge's Sister-in-Law.
Miss Desha was sister-in-law OF
W. C. p. Breckenridge. who was a ma
tional figure in the House of Repre-
sentatives some years ago 1t is re-
called that following disagreement
between Miss Desha and Mr.. Breckin-
ridge during the latters canvass for
reelection to Congress open letters
written to the voters OF the state, OPP
posing his election. resulted in his sub
sequent defeat. During the civil war
Miss Desha and a sister. since deceased.
enlisted as nurses in the Confederate
army and saw long service on many of
the battlefieids.
Miss Desha was well posted i'm the at
,s.,Sf,
of the country. She was educated in
Sayre Institute and the Kentucky State
College, and was finished linguist.
After the death of her father she taught
in the public schools of her native state
for about twelve years. When she re
linauished her school work in 1856 she
came to Washington and entered the
service Of the government.
Probably the greatest distinction came
to Miss Desha i'm having conceived the
idea Of forming the Society of the DauGh-
ters of the American Revolution and as
sisting in the successful organization and
Of the powerful body. She
was one of the three founders OF the
ID. A. r. Miss Desha was not only an
active and most potent factor In the or
ganization. but was regarded by all or
her fellow-workers In the society as
ranking first among the woman parlfa-
law at George Washington
University.
Organized Hospital Corps.
During the Spanish-American war Miss
Desha distinguished herself again by or
ganizing the ID. A. r. Hospital Corps and
was the assistant directress. having about
| 600 nurses under her charge.
Miss Desha organized the Albert Sidney
Johnston Chapter OF the United Daugh-
ters of the Confederacy, of which she
was for a number OF years president. The
Mary Washington Memorial Association
also owes its existence to Miss Desha's
efforts, as also the Pocahontas Memorial
Association, of which she was recording
secretary up to the time of her death.