The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-11-24
3t,story 3obn Eames Chapter. Jonesville. S. G.

hero worshippers. To us has been
given the glorious heritage of being
heirs of the greatest heroes the Unit
ed States has ever produced. l speak
to you of the untarnished inheritance
left us by the Confederate soldiers.
To perpetuate the memory of the
valor, honor, integrity and noble at
tributes of the Confederate army; to
teach to the rising generations a
true history of the bitter struggle be-
tween the States; to instill in these
coming generations proper appreci-
alton Of the chivalric achievements of
their ancestors; to assist the needs of
the Veterans and their families; to
help educate the descendants of Vet
Grams; to cement the ties of friendship
between the women whose fathers,
sons and brothers gave themselves to
protect the fundamental principles of
the government; yes, for these varied
purposes was the U. D. C. organized.
It had its origin in Nashville, Tenn,
in 1894.
During the early years of its ex-
istence it's development was slow.
Like all great orders it had to strug-
gle to establish itself. The hearts of
Southern women were touched and
responsive chord vibrated its approval.
Here and there over this Southland
Chapters were organized. Interest
was gradually aroused. Publicity was
given to it's work. In this way the
women of Jonesville were interested
in the honor that might be theirs and
of the duty that was theirs. And so
in 1901, definite plans were made to
perfect the organization of local,
chapter. Miss Anna Hames took the
initiative steps and invited the women
of Jonesville to mass meeting to
discuss the advisabilty Of forming such.
Chapter. This resulted in an en-
thusiastic gathering Of women in the
Presbyterian church on August g,
1901. Mrs. Willie Southland Scott was
asked to take the chair. At that time
she was the president of the Winthrop
College Chapter, and so was familiar
with the work of the u. D. G.. The
purposes of the meeting and the order
were explained and letter from Mrs.
Thomas Taylor, then State President,
was read. 1t was unanimously de-
cided to apply for a charter. Fol-
lowing the custom of older Chapters
we selected hero in whose honor we
should name our Chapter. This we
gladly gave to Capt John Hames, who
poured out his life's blood on the bat
tlefield of Manassas for his country.
To US he was the highest type of a
hero and to him we shall always pay
homage.
The Chapter was organized with 26
charter members, which were as fol-
lows: Mesdames J. L. McWhirter,
N. B. Eison, j. E. Lindsay, T. L.
Hames, ]. B. Foster, w. H. S. Harris,
G. B. Fowler, M. w. Chambers, E. C.
Crawford, J. F. Altman, J. M. Gault,
William Jeffries, d. B. Wood and E.
r. Aycock, Misses Mollie Littlejohn,
Lille Foster, Etha Hames, Grace Lit
tlejohn, Belle Littlejohn, Mildred
Lindsay, Marie McWhirter,, Grace
Farr, Carrie Southard, Sue Eison,
Anna Hames and Name Jeffries.
Officers were nominated and re-
suited in the election of Mrs. J. L.
~McWhirter, president; Miss Mollie
Littlejohn, first vice-president; Miss
Lille Foster, second vice-president;
Miss Etha Hames, corresponding sec
retary; Miss Grace Littlejohn, record
ing secretary ,and Mrs. N. B. Eison,
treasurer.
Mrs. Scott was requested to draft a
constitution and bylaws and submit
to the chapter. Thus was organized
the first chapter in Union county, the
second in the Piedmont District, the
thirty-fifth in the State and the three
hundred and ninety-fourth in the gen.
eral u. d. C..
The first task set before the chap
ter was the erection of monument.
Again to Miss Anna Hames was the
initial honor. She was elected del
egate to the State convention in 1901,
and some of the members contributed
a small sum towards her, travelling
expenses. This she proposed to de-
posit in the bank as a nucleus for a
monument fund. Our ingenuity was
put, to the test to raise a sum suf-
-ficient to erect monument that we
should deem worthy of the cause. We
resorted to popular subscriptions, ba-
zaars, teas, dinners, recitals, parties,
etc. Our financial aim of $15OO.O0
was finally realized, and with the as
sistance Of an advisory committee of
the following gentlemen, Messrs. J.
l.. McWhirter, J. J. Littlejohn, John
Jeffries and Drs. H. T. Hames and
w. o. Southland, the chapter purchased
and erected in the street near the
Southern depot in Jonesville the first
znonument to the Confederate dead Of