The San Jacinto Dispatch

Daughters of the Republic of Texas December 2017

Magical Madrigal Singers at Christmas Luncheon A festive mood greeted guests and members who gathered at our annual Christmas luncheon. The tree was colorfully decorated with old-fashioned ornaments true to another time. Red poinsettias accentuated the tables with a pop of Christmas From the President ruby color. After a traditional fare of turkey and sweet potatoes, Dear Daughters, a tasty dessert of cheesecake was served up. Thanks to all who It’s hard to believe the year is brought toys and books, which were donated to the Mission of almost over. What a year it’s been!

Yahweh, a homeless shelter for women and children in crisis. Hurricane Harvey, the Astros won the World Series, and then The high point of the luncheon was a performance by the measurable snow in Houston! Madrigal Group from High School for Performing and Visual I hope all impacted by Hurricane Arts. Donned in authentic traditional Renaissance costumes, Harvey are progressing towards the group sang Christmas carols in Renaissance period style. getting their lives back in order Their magnificent blended singing was such a joy. What and are able to celebrate and a top-notch performance by HSPVA Madrigal singers! enjoy the Holiday Season. My wish for you all is that the light and spirit of this Christmas will fill your hearts and homes with joy and peace. Merry Christmas! Laura-Hill Taylor, President

New Membes Amanda Elizabeth Martin Lucas Ancestor: Orceneth Fisher Melinda Bowles McMahan Ancestor: Franklin Jarvis Greenwood Laura Lynn Wigley Smith Ancestor: Aaron B Burleson Sharron Ann Stephenson Wilson Ancestor: Thomas Bell Stephenson Transfe Membes to SJC Clare Elizabeth “Pam” Pittman Ancestor: Joshua Parker Barbara Scott Wyche Ancestor: Samuel Ramsey

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UP NEXT, January 4th Meeting Beat Post Honor and Memorial Days

2018 Holiday Blues… at the January

January 26 Our January 4th meeting brings meeting and hear Mirabeau B. Lamar Day, Father of Education us Chase Untermeyer. He will our dynamic speaker, Chase Untermeyer. February 19 speak on “Broadening the base Learn about Texas Statehood Day (1846) of power in Houston from 1900 to Qatar! March 2 Texas Independence Day (1836) the Present. He’ll describe how Houston Sam Houston’s Birthday (1793) has benefitted from leaders like Capt Baker March 6 Alamo Heroes Day (1836) and Jesse Jones who shared power with March 27 anyone who wanted to build the city. Today, Golida Heroes Day (1836) no one person or group decides what happens in Houston, April 6 San Jacinto Day (1836) which accounts for our admirable civic comity. Chase Untermeyer is the chairman of the Qatar-America Institute, which aims to increase understanding of the Program Schedule important Qatari-American relationship in security, education, 2018 and energy. January 4, 2018 Born in New Jersey, Chase came to Houston at the age 2. Chase Untermeyer He is a graduate of Memorial High School. He graduated from February 1, 2018 Harvard College with honors in government iin 1968. During Louis Aulbach and Linda Gorski the Vietnam War, he served as an officer in the US Navy aboard March 1, 2018 Field trip to Sam Houston a Pacific Fleet destroyer and as aide to the commander of U.S. Heritage Park naval forces in the Philippines. April 5, 2018 Returning to Houston, Mr. Untermeyer became a political Beth Fisher reporter for the Houston Chronicle and executive assistant to May 2, 2018 Memorial Service the county judge of Harris County, Texas. In l976, he was elected June 7, 2018 as a Republican to the first of two terms as a member of the June Luncheon Texas House of Representatives from a west Houston district. Braeburn Country Club State Convention Report, He resigned his seat to go to Washington in 1981 to serve and New Member as the executive assistant to then-Vice President Bush. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. During the first Iris Beds Bush Administration, he was assistant to the President for presidential personnel and director of the Voice of America. Our Iris beds are declining. From 2004 - 2007, he served as United States ambassador We have bare patches where there were thick iris beds. to the State of Qatar, on appointment of President George W. We are investigating why this Bush. He is currently chairman of the Houston Committee on is happening. At this time, Foreign Relations and a member of the Council on Foreign we plan to replant the beds -- Relations. digging up the bulbs, tilling Ambassador Untermeyer is the author of three volumes of and replenishing the soil, and diary-based memoirs of the Reagan-Bush era, When Things replanting. Our Log House was Went Right, Inside Reagan’s Navy, and Zenith: In the White House high and dry during HARVEY; with George HW Bush. He also published How Important People yet the surrounding grounds Act: Behaving Yourself in Public. were underwater. If a member Chase is married to the former Diana Cumming Kendrick has special knowledge about of Sheridan, Wyoming, whom he met in the White House. bulbs, particularly iris bulba, Their daughter Ellyson, a 2016 graduate of Stanford University, please call Sharolyn Wood. is currently affiliated with Thiel Capital in San Francisco.

PAGE 2 COSTS TO MAINTAIN FRIENDS THE LOG HOUSE OF Please help Friends of the Log House fill up our Yard Clean Up, 2x Yearly $600 Christmas donation drive tree for the upkeep LOG HOUSE Insurance, Monthly $ 70 of the Pioneer Memorial Log House. You may DONATION Alarm System, Quarterly $210 choose your giving level from the donation levels DRIVE! Pest Control, Quarterly $150 indicated on the Christmas tree graphic below. Cleaning Service, Monthl $ 80 Make your check payable to: Mail check to: Phone, Monthly $ 70 The Pioneer Memorial Log House Amanda Cowan, Treasurer Lawn Service, Weekly $ 60 20603 Raingreen Dr. Katy, TX 77449-1832 Water, Monthly $ 35 Gas, Monthly $ 25

Please send contributions to: Amanda Cowan, Treasurer 20603 Raingreen Dr. Angel Katy, TX 77449-1832 Topper Thank you! $1000 Carolyn Lightfoot President, Friends of the Log House Candy String Cane of Lights $750 $500 New Trash Containers! Our new trash cans are our new treasure. Wood The Popcorn Horse Nutcracker String $250 $200 $150

Gold Silver Blue Green

Ornament Ornament Ornament Ornament Carolyn Gilbert, docent, with a new $100 $50 $35 $15 trash can in front of the Log House. Hermann Park provided us

Tree with 2 new trash cans. One

Skirt for the front walkway and the other by the back shed. $10 So heavy, it doesn’t move. They also left us 5 additional barrel inserts, with heavy plastic trash liners. We’re Counting on You this Christmas! Placement along the paths Friends of the Log House has a fund raiser twice a year to for people walking through raise funds for maintenance of the Pioneer Memorial Log may help with the trash issue. House, one at Christmas and one in conjunction with dues. Many, thanks to Jamie Moran This Christmas, please give for upkeep of our log house. for getting this accomplished. It’s a historical treasure to our chapter, enjoyed year-round.

PAGE 3 IN MEMORIAM Calendar of Events, San Jacinto Chapter Rebecca Lee 2018 Date of Death: November 16, 2017 January 4 Chapter Meeting 10:00 Social /10:30 Meeting Member since: Executive Board Meets July 2, 1987 (after Chapter meeting) Ancestor: James Wales Jones January 25 Executive Board Meets Molly Rebecca, 88, passed away February 1 Chapter Meeting 10:00 Social /10:30 Meeting November 16, 2017. Visitation February 22 Executive Board Meets was on November 24, 2017 at March 1 Chapter Field Trip 10:00- 12:00 pm Tres Hewell Mortuary in Seguin, Sam Houston Heritage Park Texas. Burial was November 25, March 12 Texas History Pioneer Day 2017 at Kingsbury Cemetary, officiated by Rev. Jeremy Roy. March 29 Executive Board Meets She was born on July 16, 1929 April 5 Chapter Meeting 10:00 Social /10:30 Meeting in Brackenridge, TX to Roy and April 21 San Jacinto Day Ceremony 10:00 am Harriett Brawley and is survived Presentation of SJC Scholarships by 3 daughters: Cynthia Lee, San Jacinto Battleground Melinda Boyd, and Laurie Battle Reenactment 3:00 pm Antaland; and 4 grandsons, www.sanjacinto-museum.org Erich Hoff, Brian Antal, Austin April 26 Executive Board Meets Boyd, and James Antal. Her May 3 Chapter Meeting 10:00 Social /10:30 Meeting husband of 65 years, Noah Lee, May 15-19 DRT Annual Convention survives her. She graduated Dallas, Details to be Announced from Texas Woman's University May 31 Executive Board Meets in Denton, Texas with a BS in June 7 June Luncheon 11:30 am music. Music was a big part BraeBurn Country Club Rebecca and Noah’s life. They 8101 Bissonnet traveled to Europe and other June 22 - 23 58th Annual CRT Convention countries during summertime Deer Park with The American Winds Concert Band, a group of adult musicians offering American Music. Becky played bass drum.

She also played bass drum in DRT The Space City Band of Houston, Museum The DRT Museum Annual History Symposium, Annual History Texas directed by her husband. Symposium. “The Life and Times of José Antonio Navarro” She continued with music in February 28, Wednesday, February 28, 2018 the retirement center with the 2018 10:00 am - 3:00 pm RiverPointe Community Band. Texas State Cemetery Gallery Rebecca was active in many Austin, Texas different groups. She was a member of Daughters of the Speakers include:

Republic of Texas, Daughters Dr. Caroline Castillo Crimm, Author and Historian of the American Revolution, and is a descendant of Austin's Mr. Emiliano “Nano” Calderon, Old 300. She was also a regular Site Educator at Casa Navarro State member of The Association Historic Site in San Antonio of Concert Bands, and Wind- Fee: jammers, Unlimited. Rebecca $60, includes catered lunch and refreshments was a member of the South Registration, information, and questions: Broadway Christian Church Please contact Museum Chair Julia Lopez at (Disciples of Christ) in Denver, [email protected] Colorado.

PAGE 4 DRT One Potato, Two Potato, Tree Potato, Four… Convention

…five potato, six potato, seven potato, more! Most of 2018 May 17-19 us know this old childhood rhyme. We could’ve been chanting the rhyme at the Baked Potato Luncheon. The potatoes were soo delicious. we may have asked for more! Good thing for Liz Leifeste, we didn’t. She Dallas/Addison baked all the potatoes, plus sweet potatoes to boot. To top Marriott Quorum it off, Margie Harris made her famous homemade 3-day chili. by the Galleria What a treat! Huge thanks goes out to Liz and Margie. 14901 Dallas Parkway After the “potato fest”, we all pitched in to decorate the tree Dallas, TX 75254 with old-fashioned type ornaments and decor. Many of the (972) 661-2800 ornaments were hand-made by members, adding a sweet, Room Rate: loving touch to the Christmas tree. $109 plus tax Opening date for reservations: January 1, 2018 PLEASE NOTE: If you try to reserve a room before January 1, 2018, you will not get the convention rate.

IMPORTANT INFO: • Please do not reserve your room with Marriott Points. It will not count as a sold room for the convention. We get the ballroom and meeting rooms on the basis of number of room nights sold for the convention. This is why we ask you not to use points. • If you are a Marriott Rewards Member you will earn points for your stay but they should be used for future nights, not for this convention. • Please do not reserve a block of rooms for your chapter. Each person should make their own reservation (or for yourself and a roommate if you are sharing a room) • We will be having breakout sessions and hopefully a trip to the Dallas Arboretum. These events will all take place on Thursday afternoon. More information regarding these and other entertain- ment, and the menu will be sent out with the registration form at a later date.

PAGE 5 “Te Texas Star” Handmade Necklace. An “1836” Clock Get Raffle Tickets at Meetings for a Chance to Win! for the Log House Carolyn Lightfoot, President of the Friends of the Log House, A “Republic of Texas” clock has commissioned a “The Texas Star” necklace and donated the has been donated in honor necklace to the San Jacinto Chapter to raise funds to maintain of Betty Petty to the Log the Pioneer Memorial Log House. House. Our kitchen clock The Texas Star necklace is handmade by Paul Cravey is based needed replacing. And now on the Texas Ranger badge. It features a blue Texas topaz in the this custom-made clock by center of the star, surrounded by five white Texas topazes, one Texan John Borin is keeping in each arm of the star. perfect time in the kitchen. The drawing for the winner of this stunning Texas themed necklace will be held at the San Jacinto Chapter June luncheon on June 7, 2018. You do not need to be present to win. Raffle tickets are $20 each, or six for $100. They will be on sale at the Chapter Meetings in January, February, April, May, and June. If you wish to buy raffle tickets and re unable to come to a Chapter Meeting, please feel free to contact Treasurer Amanda Cowan at [email protected].

A Bit of Texas History, Anson Jones (1798 - 1858)

Anson Jones was born in Massachusetts in 1798. He studied medicine and began a medical practice in Philadelphia in 1826. Jones came to Texas in 1833. During the struggle for independence entered the army as a private soldier. Following the revolution, Jones was elected to the second Congress of Texas in 1837. The following year was appointed Texas’ minister to the United States. After his return, Jones was elected Senator from Brazoria County, and became Secretary of State during Houston's second administration. In 1844, Jones was elected president of the Republic of Texas. He held this position until Texas' annexation, when he surrendered the executive office to Governor Henderson, who had been elected the first Governor of the State of Texas. Because of he was conspicuously neutral on the issue of annexation to the United States when the general mood on the public was strong for Texas statehood, Jones quickly lost influence as president of the Republic. After statehood was achieved and Jones failed to re-establish himself in public office, he became increasingly moody and introspective. He took his own life on 9 January 1858, and is buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

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