Evening star., 1940-05-19

Frank B. Steele, registrar gene,
DR.. Mark F. Finley.
its present home at 1927 Sixteenth
street, which was bought by the
society in 1927. The record of this
building indicates that it was built
by the Norman Williams family,
Mrs. Williams being the sister of
the second Mrs. Marshall Field,
and here resided Mrs. Williams
and her daughter and son-in-law,
Gen. Wesley Merritt. During the
congress here in the next few days,
bronze plaque is to be placed in
the headquarters with appropriate
ceremonies, upon which will appear
the names of those who contributed
$500 or more for the purchase of
this building.
President General.
The president general of the
National Society is Messmore Ken
dali, of Dobb's Ferry, N. Y. in some
way connected with the Kendall
family of Washington, planted here
by Amos Kendall, one of WASH
ington's benefactors, who, although
born in Massachusetts, came here
from Kentucky, and for his faith
fulness to Andrew JaskSon was made
Postmaster General in Old Hickory's
cabinet.
The resident secretary general
and registrar general, Frank B.
Steele, who has been a national
officer for a long while, has his
Office in the national headquarters.
which is well equipped for the time
being for carrying on the work in
volving the keeping of the records
of the 48 States societies, the District
of Columbia, Hawaii, and France.
Mr.. Steele is very efficient regis
trar, and the writer wishes to
acknowledge his many courtesies,
as well as his appreciation to his
fellow compatriot, William Alex
ander Miller, for his warm friend
ship.
The District of Columbia Society,
Sons of the American Revolution,
selected for its first meeting April
19, 1890 the 1l5th anniversary of the
Battle of Lexington, April 10. TITS.
the invitation being extended by
William o. Mcdowell. vice presi-
dent general of the National Society.
The meeting place was the home of
Admiral David D. Porter, ITO H
street N. w. Admiral Porter was
made chairman of the meeting.
and Dr. F. o. st. Clair, secretary,
and, permanent organization
having been effected, Admiral
Porter was elected president and
DR.. st. Clair, secretary, together
with Gen. Adolphus w. Greely,
and Gen. Marcus J. Wright as
vice presidents; Marshall Mcdonald,
treasurer; G. Brown Goode, regis
trar, and A. Howard Clark, as
sistant registrar.
The first board of management
included Gen. J. G. Breckinridge,
Gen. H. v. Boynton. Prof. William
D.'Cabell. Gen. James Dana, Capt.
r. c. Dubois, Gen. H. v. Boyton,
Prof. William P. Frye. Arnold B.
johnson, Gen. M. c. Meigs, Levi P.
Morton, Col. Myron M. Parker, Col.
Felix A. Reeve, John Sherman. Rich
ard H. Spencer, Gen. E. D. Town
send, Gen. Duncan S. Walker, and
Rear Admiral J. l.. Worden.
Organizing Task.
At the first meeting, G. Brown
Goode and Mr.. Mcdowell were ap-
pointed to prepare a set of bylaws.
Soon afterward, on April 28, an ad-
journed meeting was held in the
Arlington Hotel, where is now the
Veterans Administration Building,
and upon this occasion Admiral
Porter, Mr.. Mcdowell, w. H. Arm
ouk, j. M. Sotelo and Prof. Cabell
made patriotic addresses.
Letters from Levi Morton, vice
President of the United States, Gen.
M. c. Meigs and others expressing
the newly formed society, were read.
About 100 men attended this meet
ing.
Other early meetings we're held on
May 5 and July 4, and on July Is,
at the home of Gen. Greely, 1914 G
street. Thomas F.. Bayard, James G.
Blaine, S. j. Field, ]. S. Henderson,
w. w. Henry, j. E. Johnston, B. T.
Johnson, w. H. F.. Lee, T. S. Phelps,
Henry Strong, H. H. G.. Tucker, z. B.
Vance, and j. C. yelling we're rec
commended for honorary member
ship. and elected. Indeed, from
the very beginning this organization
has been privileged to have within
its ranks many men of national and
local prominence, all lineally de-
scended from worthy Revolutionary
sires-the principal prerequisite for
membership.
Admiral David D. Porter was one
of the most celebrated officers of the
American Navy, though his most dis
tinguished service was rendered dur
ing the Civil War. His old home on
H street, which is still standing, was
built in 1926 by Richard Rush, minis
ter to England and Secretary of the
Treasury. From 1858 to 1865, it
was occupied by Lord Lyons, minis
ter from Great Britain, and here
King Edward VII was a guest on
October S. 1860, when he was Bri-
tain's crown prince. Hamilton Fish,
Senator from New York and Secre-
tary of State, once made his home
here.
Admiral Porter died in Washing
ton on February 13. 1891. His father,
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