Daughters of the Republ ic of Texas Volume 22, Issue 1

March 2009

Daughters ’ Ref lect ions

This officer had a very busy summer and fall attending all the district work-shops except the two that were can-celled due to the hurricane and its aftermath. It was a very pleasant experience meeting members from all over Texas and seeing their dedica-tion to our organization and promot-ing its goals. Particularly heartwarm-ing were the chartering of the new chapter in Brady and two new CRT chapters in Brady and Laredo. We are expecting to be present for two other CRT charterings in Georgetown and Wichita Falls this spring thanks to the encouraging efforts of Faye Chism and Barbara Stevens. We have conducted two successful meetings electronically. The first one replaced the officers and Library Chairman who had resigned. We were fortunate to have dedicated DRT members step up to fill the va-cancies (Carolyn Reed, 4th Vice President General, Sylvia Kennedy, Historian General, and Connie Impel-man as Library Chairman). The sec-ond one ratified the appointments to the Alamo Capital Campaign STF Committee: Suzie Brooks, Darlene Glover, Judy Tannehill, Dolores Tamez, and Barbara Wright.

(Continued on page 6)

This year’s Nominations Committee chose to include every name nominated by their chapters who meets the qualifica-tions. They present the following slate of officers to be considered for election at the May convention:

President General: #21430 Patti Atkins (Franklin Hardin, IX)

First Vice President General: #10007 Helen Kelso (George W. Stell, III)

Second Vice President General: #24156 Monica Ann Cotter (Hally B. Perry, I) #25005 Roxanne Schoen (Frontier, I)

Third Vice President General: #13406 Teri Lee Roberts (George W. Stell, III)

Fourth Vice President General: #24608 Tammie Smith (Ft. Concho, I)

Fifth Vice President General: #15672 Shirley Burnett (Stenson-Simpson, VII)

Chaplain General: #16268 Evelyn Rein-inger (Wm. B. Travis, VIII)

Recording Secretary General: #23745 Stephanie P. Gault (San Agustin de Laredo, VII)

Corresponding Secretary General: #20889 Elizabeth White (James W. Brown, IX)

Treasurer General: #18777 Karen Clogston (New Kentucky, VI)

Registrar General: #9916 Marjorie Lee Burnett (Elizabeth Z. Kent, VIII)

Custodian General: #23909 Betty Bird (Wm. B. Travis, VIII)

CRT Registrar General: #21280 Lanelle Killebrew (Texana, VII)

Historian General: #9870 Karen Thomp-son (Martin Wells, VIII)

President General’s Message

BOM Nominations Committee Report

Nominations Committee Members, Back row: Edith Shelinbarger, Lois Welch, Donna Johnson, Rowena Rose, Mary Walker and Sandra Meier. Seated: Jane Knapik, Jo Ann Moore, Gerry Smith and Eleanor Garrett.

Page 2 Volume 22, Issue 1 Volume 22, Issue 1

The Vision Team has been working hard to generate funds for the Republic of Texas His-tory Complex Vision. Since the Vision’s inception two years ago, we have received pledges of $47,000 and donations of $89,943 totaling $136,943. Contributors include two local foundations ($35,000), private individuals, DRT Chapters, Board and general DRT mem-bers.

In the past few months, the Vision team has submitted three grant requests totaling $1,250,000 and six letters of interest to other private founda-tions. A grant request to the Travis County Commissioners Court for $400,000 has been put on a two- year moratorium. The Team continues to visit with city, county, and state or-ganizations and elected officials to keep them informed about the Vision and encourage their support.

We need your help with money, pledges, and ideas. For instance, Gina Mundy, Wil-liam Barret Travis Chapter, volunteered to send letters to well-known people who were born in Texas. She mailed out the final 127 letters in Decem-ber at her expense. We thank Gina for all her work on this project. We have received do-nations from many DRT chap-ters and as well as many DRT members for which we are grateful.

Please contact the Vision Team if you would like addi-tional information. We regret that Pat Jones had to resign from the team for health rea-sons, but we are happy to an-nounce that John Ellen Becker has joined us in Pat’s place.

Nancy Shurtleff, Chair, nshur-tleff@austin.rr.com; Cindy Anderson, ANDERSONLC@ aol.com; John Ellen Becker, bpath1@aol.com; Betty Bird, bbird@austin.rr.com; Pat Horridge, patriciahorridge@austin.rr.com; Gayla Lawson, lawsong@swbell.net

REPUBLIC OF TEXAS HISTORY COMPLEX

VISION

The Alamo Capital Campaign Special Task Force There are now 7 new mem-bers to The Alamo Capital Campaign Special Task Force (STF). Co-chairs are Virginia Van Cleave and Mary Carmack of San Antonio. Other mem-bers are Suzie Brooks from Argyle, Judy Tannehill from San Marcos, Darlene Glover and Dolores Tamez and Bar-bara Wright, all from San Anto-nio.

The STF has been working on a Business Plan and Financial Plan which must be in place before major donors may be contacted. Once those plans have been established, the STF will begin researching and looking for individual donor contacts to support our efforts to preserve the Alamo, support

buildings, and areas around the Alamo.

At this time, the STF is al-ready promoting a joint project with the San Antonio chapters and all DRT chapters to host a Gala in the year 2010. All DRT members and chapters are encouraged to join in on this project. Please be thinking how you and your chapter can promote this activity! The more participation---the greater the success---the better for the Alamo.

Another project being devel-oped by the STF is one called “Change for the Alamo.” This project too would bring in par-ticipation statewide from each of you and your DRT chapters

and your local school children. Children from the schools in your district and town would be making their own contributions to the restoration of the Alamo by donating their spare change. The more participation---the greater the success---the better for the Alamo.

We hope to see you at con-vention in Killeen where the members will vote on the STF goals and rules and have an opportunity to meet with com-mittee members to share ideas.

God Bless Texas and The Alamo and our descendents who we honor by being members of this wonderful organization.

The French Legation Museum, the oldest home in Austin and one of the few Republic-era structures open to the public, has had a very eventful year in offering a variety of programs. In addition to increased school and specialty tours, Museum and Archeology Day, and the Evening Under the Oaks musi-cal series, the Museum is pre-senting four new histori-cal holiday celebrations.

On Halloween night, 400 visitors were enter-tained and educated at Hallow’s Eve at the Old Legation, which featured a concert, movie screen-ing, and special tours of the House exhibiting Victorian mourning prac-tices. In December, 200 visitors toured the House and grounds and at-tended “Christmas Tid-ings”, a free community event. Dozens of chil-

dren had their photos taken with Père Nöel, the traditional French Santa..

On Valentine’s Day, The His-tory of Love, featuring the his-tory of marriage in Texas, will be held in the Carriage House loft with catered wine, chocolate and other treats along with a contemporary art show, historic

wedding pho-tography exhib-its, and a pri-vate concert with the jazz duo Grand Ho-tel. On Feb. 28 and March 1, the Legation will be Celebrat-ing Texas with a two-day picnic and celebration featuring edu-cational lec-t u r e s , r e -enactors, mu-sic, book sign-

ings, and other one-of-a-kind experiences to celebrate the Republic of Texas. If you’re in Austin, come on over for this special event.

Besides the new programs, the FLM Gift Shop is selling a new jewelry item - a custom-ordered sterling silver Texas charm bracelet with Texas-themed charms hand cast by a Texas artisan. Please visit the G i f t S h o p ’ s w e b s i t e www.frenchlegationmuseum.org to view the bracelet. Credit card orders may be made over the phone at 512-472-8180 or the order form may be printed and returned with payment to the FLM, 802 San Marcos St, Austin 78702. These bracelets make a wonderful gift for yourself or a special friend.

Check the website above for details of Camp History on the Hill, June 8-12 from 9 to 12 for ages 6 to 12. Cost is $25 per day or $100 for the full week.

The French Legation Museum Presents Holiday Programs

With the support of the BOM, Special Task Force, Alamo Mission, Alamo Heroes and Alamo Couri-ers Chapters and Daughters throughout the State we will host an Alamo Gala in October 2010. The planning will begin very soon and we want YOU to be involved by sending in your suggestions and ideas and we need YOUR help. If you are interested in lending a helping hand as we plan for a great event please contact Bette Hamby, bette_hamby@sbcglobal.net, (210) 845-8049

Alamo Gala 2010 in Planning Stages

Daughters ’ Ref lec t ions Page 3

2008 was the fifth anniversary of the Na-tive Texan License Plate, a project con-ceived by Elaine Vetter and implemented through her attention and perseverance. She reports that she still gets goose bumps every time she hears of a new project that has received a grant or every time she sees a NTLP on cars on the roads of Texas. It took several years for the legislation for the Native Texan License Plate to be approved, and in September 2003, while she was serving as Historian General, the first Native Texan License Plate was sold to Elaine.

As of January 2009, DRT has realized $299,840 including interest from Texas De-partment of Transportation—“Not bad for a project which costs nothing, does not re-quire DRT to buy, maintain, sell or deliver inventory and has the organization receiving a check four times a year for projects. The biggest issue this project raises is for the BOM to decide how to distribute the funds!” says Elaine.

To date, here are the groups that have benefited: The Alamo ($49,300) including funding for the Long Barracks Project, land-scape renovation and Texas history educa-tion aids; DRT Library ($24,000) restored an 1837 map, digitized photos and art, put in a fire suppression system, produced a Bi-National Conference, and added computers and storage; Republic of Texas Museum ($23,200) has added climate control to their vault, mounted a new exhibit, purchased technology equipment and provided mone-tary awards for their art contest; Headquar-ters ($11,500) has microfilmed membership

applications for preservation, bound 72 vol-umes of DRT/CRT applications, and pro-duced and printed NTLP brochures; DRT, Inc. has awarded $9,000 to the schools represented by 4th and 7th grade History Teachers of the Year; The French Lega-tion ($56,000) has done restoration and maintenance on the buildings and grounds, developed a curriculum guide for elemen-

tary schools, provided summer programs for children, conducted advertising campaigns for site rental, and produced information programs for the general public; The Cradle ($6,500) has made repairs; Gaines-Oliphant House ($30,000) maintenance; J.B. Wells House ($20,000) repairs and plumbing; San Jacinto Chapter Log House ($13,000) repairs; Hostess House in Lampasas ($5,000) refinished floors; Indianola Cemetery Restoration Project ($7,500); Glenwood Cemetery Project ($5,300); and $4,750 has been provided to erect historical markers and medallions.

Treasurer General, Karen Clogston says, “The Native Texan License Plate has pro-vided the opportunity for the Daughters to do many good things in the area of preserv-ing Texas historical sites and educating the public about our history. If you do not have a Native Texan license plate on your car, you are missing an opportunity to support this wonderful cause and to publicly display that you are proud to be a Native Texan.”

This is one of the easiest DRT projects to support. A Native Texas License Plate costs $30. DRT receives $22 from each $30 plate and the payments continue with each renewal. To order yours, click on http://rts.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASApp/t xdo t r t s /Spec ia lP la teOrderServ le t?grpid=60&pltid=93 or to obtain a faxed copy, call toll free at (888) 232-7033 and enter fax form number (0999) and a return fax num-ber when prompted. Call Headquarters, 512 472-8180 to receive a brochure by mail.

Native Texan License Plates Have Been Around Five Years

Elaine is a Captain in the Texas State Guard, Alamo Medical Response Group, Texas Medical Rangers, a special group that responds to terrorist threats and disasters in Texas such as the recent hurri-canes. The group had drills at The Alamo Jan. 17 when this photo of Vetter holding the first Native Texan License Plate was taken.

In September the board ap-proved the appointment of “Duties of Oversight” to all au-dits of all DRT entities. These duties will be the responsibility of a minimum of two members of the finance committee, the Treasurer General, the Presi-dent General, and at the sug-gestion of our auditor, an advi-sor with financial expertise who is not a member of DRT. Tax attorney, Robert Mancha of Dal-las, will serve pro bono as an advisor. Mr. Mancha has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas in Austin. Nelle Still of the Alamo Mission Chapter, and Caroline McSpadden of the Mary Ann Lawhon Chapter, will oversee

DRT audits.

In addition, the BOM approved assigning “Duties of Oversight” to the financial investments of DRT, Inc. These duties will belong to a minimum of two members of the finance Com-mittee, the President General, and the Treasurer General. Melissa Goodrich, of the William Barrett Travis Chapter, and Diane Neal, of the Palo Duro Chapter, will serve in this area.

DRT chapters are now re-quired to file a Form 990N. This is a postcard filing which can be done directly through the IRS website (www.irs.gov). You will need your chapter’s Federal ID information, address, and gross receipts for the fiscal year (June

1 through May 31). When filing, the chapters will observe the same fiscal year as the Daugh-ters of the Republic of Texas, Inc. More information will be available for the chapters at the DRT Convention in May.

Many years ago, the Daugh-ters were bequeathed land in Cherokee County. In the 70’s, DRT sold the land, but retained the mineral rights. This past fall, DRT received $14,423.06 from a company for leasing our min-eral rights. In addition, DRT will receive a percentage of any profits as a result of this con-tract. This was unexpected good news.

MOP requires itemizing recipients of funds from NTLP from 2/2008 until the present: French Legation Museum, $8,750 to paint

the Carriage House; Republic of Texas Museum, $480 for monetary awards in art contest; Sam Houston Chapter, $641.27 for historical markers in Belton; Relics and Old Trails and Historic Sites Committee, $1864.91 for La Bahia Trail marker; Alamo, $7,500 camcorder, still frame camera, video editing software, Adobe Photoshop; San Antonio chapters $1600 for historical marker for grave of Adina de Zavala; San Jacinto Chapter, $3108 to repair Pioneer Memorial Log House Museum; Oran Milo Chapter $5,000 refinish floors of Hostess House; DRT Library, $1,391.96 purchase stackable storage cabinets for library; eadquarters, $1,179.84 print NTLP bro-chures; DRT, Inc., $2,000 4th and 7th grade History Teacher awards to schools; Eliza-beth Lawrence Aldrich CRT chapter $650 for Bell County Medallion; Alamo, $3650 Patio surface repair; Alamo, $3686, Reno-vate Gardens; Republic of Texas museum, $5,000 Art Contest awards; French Lega-tion, $6875, four programs for general public; Gaines Oliphant House, $15,000 install historical doors and trim.

Treasurer General’s Report

Page 4 Volume 22, Issue 1

The Cradle of Texas Chapter of Freeport hosted a birthday celebration in honor of Stephen F. Austin, the “Father of Texas” on Novemeber 3. The celebra-tion, including a flag ceremony and the placing of a wreath, took place at his death site near West Columbia, Texas. More than one hundred gathered to cele-brate. Students who dressed as Native Americans, early Texans, Stephen F. Austin and Santa Anna sang patriotic songs and danced, and the Brazoria County militia fired a salute in honor of Austin’s 215th birthday.

The Chapter plans a June 2009 meeting aboard the Brazos Bell, a recently restored paddle boat on the Brazos River. Captain Michael Leebron will recount the rich history of the area where Stephen F. Austin brought his three hundred colonists and home of the first capitol of the Republic of Texas. The paddle boat will travel from Fort Velasco to Orozimbo, passing Perry’s Landing and the Osceola Planta-tion. The Brazos River is rich with early Texas history. For information on the boat, see www.brazosbelle.com.

Stephen F. Austin Birthday Celebration

Emma Jean Tanner was named a Distinguished Alumna in 2008 and inducted into the Bay City/Hilliard Hall of Fame for having achieved highest honors within her chosen pro-fession, for making significant contributions to the advance-ment of her profession and soci-ety, and for being a superb rep-resentative of those that have grown up in the community.

Tanner is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin with degrees in education and sociology and has done post-graduate work at the University of Houston and the University of Southern California. She taught thirty-two years and was pre-sented the Texas Retired Teacher Award in 1988 by for-mer First Lady Barbara Bush.

As president of District IV Texas State Teachers Associa-tion she served as the Vice President of the TSTA District Presidents’ Council. She re-ceived two gubernatorial ap-pointments to the Texas Teach-ers Professional Commission. She chaired the Council Area Teacher Center at the Univer-sity of Houston.

She was born on San Jacinto Day, and became a member of DRT on Texas Independence Day. She is a fifth generation Texan of Brazoria County w h o s e g r a n d d a u g h -ters Francesca and Peyton

are members of Children of the Republic of Texas and her grandson Cameron is a life member of the Sons of the Re-public of Texas. She served DRT as Awards Chair, as Pub-licity Chair she designed the brochure to promote the Native Texan License Plate, she has served as scholarship chair and recording secretary of the Cra-dle of Texas Chapter. Four times (before it became a DRT project) she coordinated the annual Flag Rededication at the Stephen F. Austin “Father of Texas” death site.

She is a member of the Brazo-ria County Historical Commis-sion, and is president of the Brazosport Symphony Council Board of Directors.

High Achiever

The aftermath of Hurricane Ike necessitated the delay of the District IX workshop until January. Six chapters were represented when forty three members met at Monument Inn Restaurant in LaPorte. Patti Atkins is District IX Representative.

Nancy Matlock and Elizabeth White (James W. Brown), Linda Davenport (Soloman Barrow), Sybil Andrus (Cradle of Texas), Karen McNair and Patti Atkins (Franklin Hardin), Linda Huskey (Soloman Barrow) and Laura Lanigan (Sidney Sherman)

John Tilley Edwards Chapter Honors Volunteers

DRT Member Ruth Lawrence has often commented how lucky our chapter is to have men that are willing to help us. Our men are true supporters of John Tilley Edwards and Texas History who are will-ing to help us to be a successful chapter. Just to list a few accom-plishments; wrote software for the state convention, worked the sales table, hauled in boxes, punch bowls, flowers and other items for different gatherings, set up tables and chairs, set up displays and then to stayed to help clean up and take out the trash. They have helped not only with our programs, conventions, workshops, garage sales but the biggest being our 1st annual Texas Independ-ence Day Celebration and displays. The list goes on........

At the annual Christmas Party, the following volunteers were pre-sented with certificates of appreciation, Steve Bridges, Sam Burt, Barney Hilburn, and Ron Nader, who are husbands that have al-ways been willing to help our chapter. We are very lucky to have such fine men as volunteers to help the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

District IX News

Daughters ’ Ref lec t ions Page 5

This two-story hewn-log residence constructed of square notch logs two rooms wide and one room deep with a dogtrot, or central hall was built on the El Camino Real about 1840 by Samuel Flournoy for his wife Minerva (Wadlington) and their family who moved to Nacogdoches County from Mississippi. Flournoy who was ap-pointed as a Republic of Texas postmaster in 1843, purchased the land that was originally a part of Jose Antonio Chirino’s grant from 1792. Flournoy continued as postmaster when the postal system became part of the US Postal Service and his home served as the post office until 1852. The early mails were carried by mail riders, and as stagecoaches began to contract for the mails, Flournoy’s was a stop on the stagecoach route between Nacogdoches and San Augustine, Texas.The property changed owners several times until 1917 when H. R. Granberry purchased the house; it remained in his family until 1981. The house was restored through the efforts of local citizens. The significance of the Flournoy-Granberry House is derived from its architecture, its association with prominent early settlers, and its service to the Chireno area as an early post office. Development of any frontier is dependent upon immigration, settle-ment, and the enhancements of civilization provided by transporta-tion and communication. The arrival of the mail was a public event. Because of its location and use as a post office, the house would have been an important community gathering place. Mail was also significant because it created the need for mail routes which ad-vanced the highway system, stage coach services, and other links between communities.

K. Jenschke, District IV Representative, Bernadine Haney, Dixie Hunt, Willie Murray, Fran Bazar, Della Burkhead, Letitia Holt, Lily Stone

Halfway Inn (Flournoy-Granberry House) Chireno San Jacinto Activities

The Official State of Texas, Battle of San Jacinto Com-memorative Ceremony will be Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 10:30 am at the San Jacinto Monument. The event is free and open to the public.

The San Jacinto Chapter, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and the Sons of the Re-public of Texas will present scholarship awards. The San Jacinto Chapter, SRT will pre-sent the enlisted sailor of the year for USS San Jacinto and the Sam Houston Chapter, SRT will present the enlisted sailor of the year for the USS Texas. There will be a Laying of the Memorial Wreath. Come join us as we celebrate this most sig-nificant Honor Day commemo-rating the most decisive battle of the Western Hemisphire. Vic-tory at San Jacinto – A New Republic of Texas.

The San Jacinto Festival and Battle Reenactment wil be April 25 from 10-6. The Festival is a full day of music, entertainment, food, games, and fun set amidst living history. The Reenactment of the Battle takes place on the San Jacinto Battleground at 3:00p.m. The Battle Reenact-ment is one of the largest in the state, complete with cannons, muskets, horses, pyrotechnics and hundreds of reenactors - dressed in uniforms that dupli-cate the real dress of the day.

FOUNDER’S DAY LUNCHEON SIDNEY SHERMAN, NO. 1

SAN JACINTO, NO. 2

On November 11, over 30 members of the Sidney Sherman Chapter and the San Jacinto Chapter, DRT met for a Founders’ Day luncheon planned by Linda Cooper, 1st VP, Sidney Sherman Chapter at Gaido’s Restaurant in Galves-ton. During the ceremony, a candle was lit for each chapter, Sidney Sherman and San Ja-cinto while the third candle was lit to honor all DRT chapters. As each of the founders’ names was read, a yellow rose was

placed in a vase in honor of their memory.

We remembered 117 years ago, the ladies from Galveston and Houston, the founders of both our chapters who met to-gether and formed our organiza-tion. These ladies had the fore-sight, the vision to define the mission of perpetuating the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved and maintained the independence of Texas. Of the 17 ladies who gathered on November 6, 1891 at the home of Mary Jane Briscoe, approximately half came from Galveston. During the ceremony we recited our pledge and reaffirmed our com-mitment to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Patti Atkins, District IX repre-sentative, and Linda Cooper presented information on Betty Ballinger and Hally Bryan Perry. Eron Tynes, President, San Jacinto Chapter, spoke about Mrs. Anson Jones. Ann Tanner talked about Mary Jane Briscoe and her daughter, Adele Loo-scan. Luanne Zacek presented information about Mrs. J. R Fenn and her daughters, Mrs. J. J. Mc Keever and Belle Fenn. During the luncheon, Eron Tynes spoke about our DRT history and Lauren Lanigan, President, Sidney Sherman Chapter, presented a report on the Cradle. Margaret Meek, Chaplain, Sidney Sherman Chapter, opened the Luncheon with the invocation and Marilyn Chapman, CRT Registrar, San Jacinto Chapter, gave the clos-ing prayer. Prior to the luncheon, the San Jacinto Chapter members and guests went to Lakeview Ceme-tery to visit the first monument placed by the Daughters in honor of Sidney Sherman and David Burnet. After the lunch-eon we then toured the Cradle, which survived Hurricane Ike with minimal damage.

Page 6 Volume 22, Issue 1

Among the DRT functions at-tended have been Alamo, DRT Library, French Legation and Headquarters Committee meet-ings, Alamo Capital Campaign Special Task Force meetings, the Alamo employees’ Christ-mas Party, the French Legation/Headquarters Luncheon, the Siege of Bexar luncheon, and a meeting with the auditors and Treasurer General to finalize the audit. The President General represented DRT speaking at a Tejano Texas Heritage event and accepted a plaque thanking the Daughters for furthering the study of Tejano history. She attended the wine tasting cere-mony to introduce the Mission Wine developed by Ed and Susan Auler and was their guest later at a delightful dinner honor-ing HEB officials; and repre-sented DRT and the Alamo Committee at the DRT Library when David and Paul Carter donated family papers and pho-tographs of Florence and Sarah Eager. Florence was the very first Custodian of the Alamo. When she married a soldier, her mother Sarah took her place. The family home was close by and many times these ladies would open the Shrine at any time upon request from a visitor. This collection is truly a wonder-ful gift to add to our records of the early years of our custodian-ship. At the request of an official who is working on a commemorative quarter for Davy Crockett’s birth-day, we hosted an after hours Alamo tour for her and the for-mer British Ambassador to Ja-pan. He was particularly excited to see the Japanese memorial on the Alamo grounds and pre-sented a copy of Churchill’s notes on a page of his book, The American Southwest, for the DRT Library. Texas Highways Magazine mentioned a January Alamo event and also gave publicity to our Alamo Capital Campaign. They have indicated that they are interested in including the Alamo in a future series they are

doing on “revisiting Texas icons”, and especially want to showcase the current preserva-tion work in progress. The Austin City Times had a wonderful arti-cle that showcased Nancy Vernon and our DRT Museum. Members of the Headquarters/Museum and French Legation Committees continue to make progress on the Vision for the Republic of Texas History Mu-seum Complex. We have some good news con-cerning finances. We received $14,000 from mineral rights on an oil lease that DRT owns in Cherokee County. And the 1992 judgment of stolen funds has finally been recovered. We re-ceived a check for $35,255, most of which will go to the DRT Museum. The President Gen-eral’s Project has donated funds to Headquarters, the Alamo gar-dens, and the French Legation. The remaining donations will be announced at Convention. The schedule for DRT events prior to Convention is quickly filling up. As we go to press, events are planned for marking graves of real daughters, cele-brating the Siege of the Alamo, Texas Independence Day, and the Battles of Goliad and San Jacinto. It will be an exciting time for the Daughters to promote Texas History. In order to have more efficient BOM and Convention meetings, we have purchased the car-bonless motion forms recom-mended by the National Parlia-mentarians’ Association. They allow the maker of the motion to retain a copy, as well as the secretary, parliamentarian, and president. These will solve sev-eral problems. They will be fur-nished to committee chairmen for their recommendations. If a member desires a form prior to convention, please contact your President General. We have a lot to accomplish between now and May and at Convention. No doubt it can be done if we all work together to protect our his-tory by planning for the future.

Madge Roberts, President General 2007-2009

(Continued from page 1) Pres. General Dilue Rose Harris Chapter

Front, Mary Lynn Skinner and Ann Warner, chapter president. Back, Ann Smith, Carolyn Hastedt, Laura Ann Rau, Dianna Foster, and Millicent Cordes.

The DRT Chapter in Columbus celebrated the 150th anniversary of the home of their chapter’s namesake, Dilue Rose Harris. The house was built in 1858 by Ira and Dilue Harris. Mary Lynn Skinner appeared as the title character in “The Dance Card of Dilue Rose,” reminiscing on her younger days when she went to dances and even got to dance with Sam Houston. Members of the Board of Directors of the Columbus Preservation Trust were also present.

Members of the James Bowie Chapter traveled to English, Texas, for a program on “Texas Shooters” presented at the Bad-lands Bar 3 Ranch of English by members of the Single Action Shooter Society (SASS.) SASS members spoke about the heri-tage and culture of early Texas and the frontier and displayed vintage and replica firearms pre-dating 1900. After Chapter members were treated to a pic-nic, they moved to the Badlands shooting range for a demonstra-tion of SASS champions in ac-tion. A program of timed target shooting included single pistols, two handed pistols, and shot-guns. Many Chapter members tried their hands at target shoot-ing and did surprisingly well. Special guests attending this educational meeting were Helen Kelso, District III Repre-sentative and Rhonda White, President of the Anson Jones DRT Chapter in Mount Pleasant

Retired longtime Bowie County Texas Ranger Howard Dunham presented a program about the origin and history of the Texas Rangers. He spoke of the his-tory of the Rangers during the Texas Republic and of their ser-vice to the people of Texas up to the present time. Dunham shared some of his experiences and circulated mementos from his tenure.

Helen Kelso, District III Representative

James Bowie Chapter Programs

Page 7 Page 7 Daughters ’ Ref lec t ions

Children of the Republic of Texas' Seven Flags Chapter Chartered at Alamo

Founding members include front row, left to right, Sherry Gia Gutierrez, Andrea Deborah Palacios, Sophia Mariana Hall, Ava Martin Gutierrez, Alyssa Renee Palacios & Alexandra Cristina Weathers. Second row, left to right, Joshua Thomas Gault, Alegra Lamar Volpe, John Austin Weathers, Arturo Thomas Volpe, Anna Marie Volpe, Andrea Victoria Gutierrez, Sofia Christina Gutierrez, Stephan Cole Weathers, Micayla M. Weathers., Natalie Lynd Reed & Mia Alaliese Reed. Top row, left to right, Kyle Blake Pichot, Mariana Vela, Sophia Belle Weathers & Bryson Mar-shall Weathers. Not present were Thomas Albert Gutierrez & James Thomas Reed.

January 3, 2009, at the Alamo, Children of the Republic of Texas installed one of the larg-est CRT groups ever chartered, Seven Flags Chapter, spon-sored by Laredo’s San Agustin d e L a r e d o C h a p t e r . CRT President General Aaron Lee Evan Noack installed the 24 new members, joined in the ceremony by Faye Chism, DRT 3rd VP General, Barbara Ste-vens, CRT Registrar General, Ana Flores, president of the sponsoring chapter and mem-bers of the CRT Board of Man-agement. Also present were President General Madge Rob-erts, Virginia Van Cleave, Past President General, Willa Peek,

District VII Rep., Ann Collin, Past District VII Rep., Patti At-kins, District IX Rep., Melinda Navarro, District VII Representa-tive elect, and Dorothy Perez and Marie Rollin, members of t he L ib ra ry Commi t tee . In a second ceremony, Chief Vince Phillips of the Alamo Rangers swore in the new Seven Flags members as "Honorary Alamo Rangers, whose mission is to protect the sacred spot where Texans fought and died for Texas' inde-pendence from Mexico on March 6, 1836." Each Seven Flags member received an hon-orary Alamo Ranger pin.

Blair Quadruplets Welcomed into Children of the Republic of Texas

Waco Village Chapter, CRT, sponsored by Sterling C. Robertson Chapter of Waco, is delighted to an-nounce four very special new members: the quadruplets, Nicholas, Andrew, Matthew, and Avery, children of Michael and Kristen Dunham Blair of Missouri City. It is believed that these are the only quadru-plets ever to have been wel-comed into a CRT chapter. The children, born April 4, 2007, are the descendants, through their father, of Moses Hughes and his father Brad-ford Hughes, who both arrived in Texas in 1835, and who settled, after the Revolution, in

Washington County and then in Burleson County. Moses Hughes, considered the first white settler of Lampasas County, moved west for his wife's health. She drank the waters of the springs around Lampasas and recovered her strength. Hannah Hughes was the daughter of John Berry, also an early Texian colonist, who arrived in the Liberty area in 1826-27. Berry took his fam-ily to Bastrop in the early 1830s, where he built a black-smith shop. Family legend states that David Crockett stopped in Bastrop on his way to the Alamo to have "Old Betsy" repaired by John Berry.

Nicholas, Andrew, Matthew, Avery

Below, from left are Mary Ellen Guenzel Murdock holding grandson Evan Ross Murdock, Jessica Chambless, Carrie Tonroy holding daughter Remy Maclaren Ton-roy, Layla House holding Blythe House and Delitha Acker Guenzel, mother, grand-mother and great grandmother. Children standing in front of Layla are Kennison Chambless, Sidney Chambless and Harrison House, to Sidney's right is Aniston Murdock and Drea Marie Tonroy.

The annual brunch is March 14, 2009 in New Braunfels. The pur-pose of this event is to raise funds for scholarships awarded by the chapter to four deserving graduates, one Senior from each Comal County High School and one direct descendant from a Chapter member. It is also this chapter’s opportunity to present an out-standing speaker/author of Texas History to our community. This year we are honored and thrilled to have Dr. Bruce Winders, histo-rian and curator of The Alamo, as our guest speaker. The brunch starts at 9:30am at the First Protestant Church in New Braunfels. The cost is $20.00 per person. Please join us and bring a friend!

Members of the chapter and the Catherine Overton Jennings CRT Chapter are pictured, left, in front of the CRADLE in Galves-ton in August 2008.

Ferdinand Lindheimer Scholarship Brunch

Page 8 Volume 22, Issue 1

Memorial Tributes The Alamo Mission Chapter continues its tradition of ensuring that an Ivy Star wreath is made and taken to the funerals of deceased members. The Ivy Star Wreath Committee gathers ivy from the grounds of the Alamo to cover a Styrofoam star wreath. The beautiful wreath is then com-pleted with the addition of a small Texas flag. It is then taken to the funeral home or grave site for the funeral services of the deceased member. This is a loving tribute to commemorate dedicated service to the Alamo Mission Chapter.

Frances Cooke Van Zandt Chapter

Nancy Stowe, Frances Cooke Van Zandt Chapter President, participated in the cere-monial planting of a Stephen F. Austin oak tree on the Tarrant County Court House lawn on November 7, 2008 in Fort Worth along with Sam Houston IV and Vaughn Oliver, President of the Sons of the Repub-lic of Texas.

This tree was donated by Mr. Billy F. Price, owner of the property in Brazoria County where Stephen F. Austin died. Sev-eral years ago, Mr. Price began a project to plant trees grown from acorns of a large live oak tree located on his property which was growing on the site in 1836. These trees have been planted on the grounds of the State capitol, the Texas State Cemetery, most courthouse lawns in the State and in many other locations.

Cedar Mountain Chapter Genealogists

Norma Thacker, of the Cedar Mountains Chapter, organized and conducted a semi-nar for the Johnson County Genealogical Society in Cleburne, TX. Lana Henslee Filgo and Peggy Latham Anderson, mem-bers of Cedar Mountains Chapter, intro-duced researching techniques for begin-ners to over thirty registrants. Some of the topics covered were family group sheets and charts, vital statistic records, church, deeds and census records.

Lana Henslee,,registrar, Peggy Anderson, president

Frances Cooke Van Zandt Chapter was named for the wife of Isaac Van Zandt, member Texas Congress, chargé d’affaires to United States, negotiator of the annexation treaty. He died while campaigning for Governor in 1847, leaving Frances and 5 children. A courageous pioneer, she died at 93 in Fort Worth with son Major K. M. Van Zandt.

In December of 1821 the "Lively" boat came from New Orleans to Texas and left the passengers on Galveston Island. These men scouted up the Brazos River and settled at a protective bend in the river. A cabin was built by March 1822 and became known as the Fort Settlement; settlers stayed here until they received land titles and moved to their land. Thus, Fort Settlement Chapter has a name.

Information regarding submission of articles for the July edition of Daugh-ters’ Reflections will be available fol-lowing the installation in May of the 2009-2011 Board of Management.

3611 Alisa Posey Lewis, 10/19/08 4070 Vivian Doris Wharton Wilson, 9/28/08 4100 Rosa Catherine Woolsey Chote, 2/17/09 4321 Rowena Totten Darter Looney, 12/11/08 4391 Cordie Mae McFarland Edwards, 7/14/08 4430 Marian Karen Prestbo Beckham, 6/5/08 4647 Lanell Sansom Skinner, 12/30/08 4767 Emilie Elizabeth Hughes Nixon, 1/10/09 4848 Pauline B. Curtis, 6/5/07 5755 Virginia Jenkins, 8/18/08 5829 Anne Ross Lackner, 8/20/08 6010 Margie Joan Hash McCreary, 2/20/09 6303 Dorothy Doris Davis Donovan, 9/27/08 6466 Patsy Margaret Hayes Edwards, 10/20/08 6620 Sarah Anne Tedder Baker, 1/14/09 6865 Gail Irby Blackmon, 7/31/08 7865 Johnnyrea Luker Fite, 12/3/08 7988 Eva Jane Peveto Dowdy, 10/26/08 8093 Annie Maxine Bergfield Baenziger, 12/30/08 8364 Sara Katherine DeWees Gray, 12/21/08 8576 Florence Julia “Nina” Wilson Bruns 9/22/08 8886 Artie Ona Skinner, 7/22/08 8915 Dessie Parsons Knott, 1/28/09 9087 Dorothy Mae Wallace Albrecht, 1/31/09

9240 Ophelia Laura Kessler Harp 1/15/09 9615 Hazel Wright Sowell, 7/15/08 9745 Dorothy Legendre Smollen Goff, 9/25/08 9796 Mary Linn Brown Reider, 12/21/08 10207 Maureen Miller Doyle, 7/26/08 10295 Elane Burton Jelly, 8/19/08 10360 Ruth Carlisle Squyres Grant, 8/23/08 10961 Sarah Alice Mathews Bergen, 11/24/08 11018 Mary Margaret Merchant Kirkpatrick, 9/21/08 11259 Mildred Ella Kisinger Barker, 12/23/08 11635 Mary Gene Martin Murr, 7/22/08 11827 June Carver Hansen, 5/27/08 11972 Jeanell Campbell, 12/29/08 12838 Neva Malcomesius, 10/11/08 13673 Mabel Bryant Leyda, 11/21/08 13681 Jimmie Ruth Woodfin, 5/11/08 14469 Corinne Pierce Philley, 10/3/08 15134 Imogene Allene Winn Reed, 11/16/08 15477 Selma Margaret Needham Nicholas Gartrell, 12/25/08 16162 Elizabeth Maverick Huth Ormsby, 6/13/08 16496 Ruth McShan Curry, 12/18/08

16538 Marion Ruth Sasse Pearson, 9/25/08 16812 Jean Law Jamail, 9/25/08 17320 Jessie Burns Levy Foss, 3/3/08 18357 Orene Le Blanc Hirth, 8/10/08 19422 Julia Ruth Whatley Kemp, 6/11/08 19725 Mary Louise Acord Reimschissel, 10/13/08 20241 Gladys Jean Chatham May, 7/4/08 20773 Patricia O’Tyson Forney, 6/18/08 20836 Nancy McLernon Francisco, 7/29/08 22225 Sandra Sue Dempsey Willy, 1/14/09 22346 Clara Elizabeth Vardeman Wooten, 8/12/08 22428 Rose Mary Fisk Smith, 8/31/08 22703 Dorothy White Zumwalt Pennino, 9/18/08 23091 Audry June Prince Brewster, 12/12/08 23697 Jocquelyn Nesom Young, 7/19/08 23707 Elouise Cozby King, 10/27/08 23863 Mae Jean Fitzpatrick Canion, 1/23/09 25154 Helena Muir Hurst Harrison, 4/26/08 25677 Norma Harvey Gray, 8/30/08 25969 Helen Clara Daugherty Wyngarden, 9/6/08 26429 Mary Louise Turner, 11/17/08

Information provided by Chaplain General, Billie Beth Moore

IN MEMORIAM

Page 9 Daughters ’ Ref lec t ions Page 9

Pin sales are a reliable source of income for many chapters. The Chapter Sales link on the member’s website is a virtual catalog of those currently avail-able. Click on http://www.drt-inc.org/members/. Shop the sales tables at convention to see and touch the latest.

Lanelle Killebrew started buy-ing pins as soon as she be-came a member in 1995. She buys to support the organiza-tion and is attracted to the pins’ beautiful artwork. While she tries to purchase every pin available at workshops and conventions, she has missed some she hopes to acquire eventually. She estimates she has spent from $3,500 to $6,000 on her 119 chapter pins which normally range in price from $15 to $35. But she has purchased some for more from antique shops and eBay where she spent over $100.00 for the San Jacinto Chapter pin that has been out of production for a number of years. Lanelle finds she can no longer wear the collection due to its weight, but displays them in shadow boxes and uses them to teach friends and family about Texas history.

Her Texas roots run deep with five family members at the Alamo, six at Goliad, five at San Jacinto and others in-volved in the Runaway Scrape. Among DRT and CRT chap-

ters, those named for her an-cestors are Gordon Jennings, Catherine Overton Jennings, and Davy Crockett, (not Lineal but still an ancestor).

Sue Callies’ collection was started by her mother, Dorothy D. Donovan, who purchased two of each of the pins she liked. When Sue became chairman of The Cradle Com-mittee in 1999, she expressed her thanks to the chapters that gave donations to The Cradle by purchasing their pins. She estimates she has invested about $2,060 in the 103 pins she now owns. Members are familiar with Sue’s collection, which she wears on a tartan vest at the District Workshops and Conventions she attends.

Sue’s mother, Dorothy Dono-van, died September 28, 2008 after being evacuated from Galveston during Hurrican Ike.

Gratitude

Sue and her family express their gratitude for the cards and memorial donations to The Cradle received in her mother’s memory. After nine years as chair of the Cradle, Sue has relocated to Mexia and re-signed her position.

Edited by Karla Smith karlasmith@suddenlink.net

DRT Pins Collectors Chapter Sales

Are you aware that chapters can advertise their sales items on the Members’ Website free? Send a picture of the item(s) with a description, size, and how to order, amount, where to send check, etc. Email in Word format with the photo attached to Julia Parker julia.parker@drtmuseum.org. To order these items and many more, go to: Chapter Sales, DRT Members Only website http://www.drt-inc.org/members/ User name: Alamo , Password: 100YearS (both are case sensitive)

Gen. James Smith Chapter is selling Republic of Texas im-printed leather coasters, natural color, 3 7/8 inches in diameter.

Moon-McGehee Chapter is proud to announce the “True Women” pin (approved 2008). It honors member Janice King Woods Windle’s literary contri-bution about pioneer women in Texas history.

The Peter James Bailey chap-ter is pleased to announce the new Grapevine Springs pin, commemorating Sam Hous-ton’s Indian Peace Treaty camp of 1843. Village of Salado Chapter is celebrating their 7th birthday with the Friendship pin. It will be for sale at convention.

BOM CANDIDATE FORUM

The Stephen F. Austin Chapter has a project to support complete and uniform informa-tion about every candidate sub-mitted by the Nominating Com-mittee and any known who plan to run “from the floor” for offices on the Board of Management. We will ask each candidate to submit a response to the same set of questions for each office and provide a brief statement of her purpose or goals. We hope that this service will encourage total membership awareness and participation in the election process from an informed basis. This information will then be put on the SFA website for easy use or downloading.

Toward that end, we ask your chapter to submit questions that they want answered. What in-formation would they want? We will combine these suggestions into a uniform format for each candidate. We hope to have all this accomplished by mid-March. Please send sugges-tions to SFA President at law-song@swbell.net.

Visit the website now to be-come familiar with it. http://www.stephenfaustindrt.org You might enjoy seeing our pins and items for sale/donation as well. Thanks for participating in our collaborative project. Your ideas and input are welcome. DRT has a pure purpose – may we all strive to be worthy!

Ferdinand Lindheimer immigrated to America in 1833. He was attracted to the struggle for freedom taking place in Texas, and he made his way there, arriving at San Jacinto the day after the battle. He served in the Texas Army until Dec 1837. He roamed Texas collecting native plant species. 38 plants bear his name in their scientific nomenclature. In 1844, Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels asked him to help lead a party of German immigrants to a new col-ony on the Comal River. In 1845, he settled in New Braunfels.

Scholarships

Frances Cooke Van Zandt Chapter gives a $500 scholarship each year which is awarded in March.

Elizabeth Zumwalt Kent Chapter of Smiley sponsors the Andrew Kent Chapter, CRT and members receive a $100 scholarship upon graduation from high school.

Page 10 Volume 22, Issue 1

On July 8, 1907, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas filed a lawsuit in Houston, Harris County. The defen-dants listed in this case, the leading spirit Miss Adina de Zavala, Mrs. Willard Simpson, Miss Nellie Lytle, Miss Whar-ton Bates, Miss Mary Briscoe, Mrs. Sue LeCord, Mrs. L. Del Tuttle, Mrs. W.J. Redding, Mrs. Alminta Abney, Mrs. W.C. Craddock, Miss Annie Hume and Mrs. Lucy Craig composed the self elected DRT executive committee es-tablished after the 1907 DRT conven-tion adjourned “sine dye”. Also Mrs. Adele Looscan was named in suit, having resigned as Historian General; she did not return the gold snuff box of Santa Anna to the DRT.

At the 16th Annual DRT meeting on April 19, 1907 in Austin, TX., Mrs. An-son Jones, the President General, was ill and could not attend the meeting or preside. Mrs. Rebecca Fisher, the First Vice President General called the meet-ing to order but asked Mrs. L.B. Alford to preside. Mrs. Wharton Bates the

Second Vice President General was present in the hall as well as the Third and Fourth Vice President Generals. Mrs. Adele Looscan and Miss Adina de Zavala strongly objected to a member of DRT, Mrs. Alford, but not an elected officer presiding. Much confusion and rancor occurred. The Credentials Com-mittee report was given. Their report was accepted by the members with a majority vote. Mrs. Looscan and Miss de Zavala loudly protested. Much con-fusion and rancor continued. Mrs. Fisher convened the meeting for lunch. The afternoon session was convened by Mrs. Fisher with her asking Mrs. Alford to preside. Mrs. Wharton Bates was present and ready to begin but Mrs. Fisher gave the gavel to Mrs. Alford. Much confusion and rancor continued. So Mrs. Fisher asked for a vote to adjourn the meeting. A “yes” vote occurred and the 16th annual DRT meeting was officially adjourned “sine dye” by majority vote.

After the adjournment vote, Miss de

Zavala et al and 47 other attendees remained in the hall. They proceeded to elect a new DRT executive commit-tee and a completely new set of DRT state wide officers. After their election, Miss de Zavala told the Houston Plant-ers and Mechanics National Bank to accept only the checks from the new Treasurer General Mrs. Lucy Craig and not Mrs. Bell Fenn. Miss de Zavala told the renters of the Alamo property to only pay rent to her. Miss de Zavala and her cohorts “announced to the world” they had taken the new name DRT State Executive Committee. Obvi-ously, the DRT President General Mrs. Anson Jones felt the DRT threatened enough to file the lawsuit.

The initial injunction compelled Miss de Zavala to not use the DRT name, stop saying that they were the commit-tee in charge of DRT funds and Alamo property. Court records state Alamo property value as $200,000.00 in 1907. A plaintiff verdict was rendered by Judge Moore.

Court findings:

The original DRT officers and execu-tive committee is restored

De Zavala et al have no interest in DRT funds or Alamo property

The 1907 convention was legally voted to adjourn by majority of DRT members present

Mrs. Fisher was to have Mrs. Wharton Bates preside if Mrs. Fisher did not wish to since President General Mrs. Anson Jones could not preside

The DRT to retain all relics

The Santa Anna gold snuff box is owned by the San Jacinto Chapter.

Mrs. Adele Looscan was dropped from the suit.

Miss de Zavala appealed but the Ap-pellate Court upheld Judge Moore’s verdict.

The Good, The Bad, The DRT The following records supplied by the Texas Star Chapter-Houston, will be preserved as part of the Harris Co. Historical Records Preser-vation Project. —Betty Edwards, District VI Representative

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