San Marcos, Texas
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A BRIEF HISTORY OF CAPTAIN THOMAS MOORE CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION San Marcos, Texas 1923 - 1973 A BRIEF HISTORY OF CAPTAIN THOMAS MOORE CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION SAN MARCOS, TEXAS 1923-1973 by Tula Townsend Wyatt The Captain Thomas Moore Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters American of the Revolution was organized in San Marcos, on May 2, 1923 in the home of the organizing Regent, Mr. Renick Frazier Ansel1. As a courtesy to Mrs. Ansell and an expression of appreciation, the Chapter was named for Mrs. Ansell s revolutionary ancestor. Captain Thomas Moore. The Chapter was organized with fifteen members, with five added during the year. The Charter members were- Mrs. J.W. Ansell Miss Annie Goodloe Pearsall (Renick Frazier) Mrs. J.T. Roberts Mrs. James Dudley Berry (Georgie Talmadge (Elizabeth Elrick) Miss Daisy A. Scott Miss Gutrude Louise Berry Mrs. C.S. Smith Mrs. W.M. Cavness (Grace Berry) (Kate Buchanan) Mrs. A.W. Strahan Miss Grace Virginia Cavness (Marion Hardy) Miss Carrie Emma Cochran Mrs. E.G. Tanner (Varina Saunders) Mrs. George B. Donalson (Mary McGehee) Mrs. C.G. Taylor (Elizabeth Cochran) Mrs. Claude S. Ivey (Fannie Barber) Mrs. Thomas Willard (Martha Storms) Mrs. Will C. Johnson (Jennie McKie) Miss Frances Willard Miss Adaline P. Neighbors Mrs. George A. McNaughton (Minnie Barber) The Chapter meets once each month from September to May in the homes of the members, using the ritual of prayer and the flag salute. The program is followed by a social hour. Programs have emphasized the historical background of our country and the continued preservation of the United States of America as a Republic with its freedoms as outlined in the constitution by our early ancestors. Through the years literature concerning the flag has been given to the schools, and presentation of United States flags have been made to various public schools of the area. Through the years the programs have been patriotic subjects including studies of the Constitution of the United States, national defense, preservation of historical sites, docviments, books and other materials. The chapter has had many outstand ing speakers on its programs. BACKGROUND Five years prior to the organization of the chapter, the state of Texas and the Texas DAR had erected 123 red granite markers located five miles apart along the King High's Highway, or Camino Real, from Pendleton Ferry on the Sabine to Eagle Pass on the Rio Grande. There are six of these red granite markers in Hays County between Travis County and the Comal County line. The route of the El Camino Real was determined by Professor W.E. Dunn, an archivist of the University of Texas. The earliest crossing of Texas recorded is that made by Solis in 1683, another record shows that Worfi a Spanish missionary, in 1778, travelled from Mexico to the missions in San Antonio de Bexer and wrote of his route. The line of this route was used by Mexico as the designated northern and southern boundary for grants made -65- to Texas colonists. The inscription on these markers read- King's Highway Camino Real Old San Antonio Road Marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the State of Texas A.D. 1918 These markers are maintained by Texas State Highway Department. Four of these in Hays county are on the Hays and Caldwell county line on State Highway 21. The other four are on the old road but maintained by the county. One marker is at the site of the ghost town of Center Point. The last one is on York Creek on the Comal county line south. When the Hays county Memorial Hospital was built in 1922 the chapter cooperated in raising funds and members gave bed linens at different times, and assisted in redecorating the first floor rooms. In 1938 the chapter gave the hospital a set of wicker furniture for the living room. The furniture consisted of a long settee, four chairs, a table and a planter They also furnished the second floor hall with the same type of furniture. The chapter helped furnish cookies for National Hospital Day Open House each year. After the New Memorial Hospital was erected and opened March 6, 1960, the Hospital Auxiliary roll of Volunteer workers, "Pink Ladies", included the following DAR members; Mesdames J.T. Roberts,(charter member), Bessie Lockhart, Irm.a Bruce, Mary Louise and Virginia Hightower, Margaret Pool and Ruth Woolwine. -66- GIRL SCOUTS AND CONSERVATION Interested in Girl Scout work in the early days, the chapter contributed money and some of the members were active in the work, Mrs. W.C. Merritt, Mrs. William A. Wyatt and Mrs. Edward M. Cape helped to organize Girl Scouts in the home of Mrs. John Morton in 1926. Later these ladies became active DAR members and Mrs. Wyatt and Mrs. Cape kept the chapter's interest in Scouting alive for years. Mrs. Thacher Gary was an active girl scout mother as was Mrs. Fred Feltner and Mrs. Ben Primer. Conservation being one of the committees of the DAR, the chapter gave several shurbs and trees to help beautify the ground when the American Legion erected its rock club house on the San Marcos River in 1933. The Chapter gave memorial trees and plants to the memorial city park when it was established after World War II. The members of the chapter gave roses bushes, bridal wreath bushes and other flowering shurbs to the old Memorial Hospital several times. - TEXAS CENTENNIAL The chapter was very active in 1934-1936 when Texas celebrated its 100th birthday. It had programs on historical sites, collected data, cooperated with the Moon-McGehee chapter. Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the American Legion Auxiliary and United Daughters of the Confederacy in a series of Patriotic teas held at the American Legion Hall. The DAR Tea was held October 25, 1934, the first of the series in preparation for -67- the Texas Centennial. Mrs. H. Grady Walker was chapter Regent. Miss Ruby Henderson, an active DAR and member of the faculty of the Southwest Texas College was the speaker, her subject was "Texas Prior to the Republic". The colonization and history was discussed in a comprehensive manner. This was followed by singing America with Mrs, J.T. Roberts at the piano. Many Antiques were displayed by the members relating back to 1776»"A Museum For a Day", brought out many relics and filled many downtown store windows with exhibits. The DAR exhibit chairman was Mrs. J.T. Roberts, and the Guarentee Shoe Store windov/was filled with old and beautiful articles. The over all project was so well accepted it lasted March 1, 2, 3, 1935. Finally on May 1, 1936 all of the schools in Hays County staged a big pageant. "Texas Through the Years". On Field, over 1000 persons were in the cast, with 7000 witnessing the pageant. The director and producer was Buren C. Robbins, Dramatics Director at SWTSC. Miss Irma Bruce, DAR member, was general Chairman; other DAR member on the committee: Miss Ruby Henderson, Publicity. Miss Edna McCormick designed the programs. Mrs. William A. Wyatt was Hays County Chairman of the Centennial Advisory Board, which cooperated in all phases of the production. -60- TSDAR STATE REGENT PROJECT On March 15, 1943 the chapter participated in the dedication of the Early Text Book Library established by the Texas DAR at Southwest Texas State College. The State Regent was Mrs. Edwin Stanton Lammers who presented the DAR collection to the college. It was accepted by the college President, Dr. John G. Flowers. Ernest B. Jackson was the Librarian. Local members on the program were Mrs. M.C. McGee, Regent and Mrs. J.W. Ansell. Dr. C.E. Evans, President Emeritus of STSTC welcomed the 300 guests, DAR delegates and members faculty and students. A surprise feature of the dedication program was the presentation of $1500.00 by the State DAR to the College to be used to purchase other rare books to add to the 3000 books in the collection. The room housing the collection at that time was "fashionably and ornately" furnished by the Texas DAR with white oak furniture. A long table, and six chairs with the DAR emblem carved on the high back of each chair. The bookcases were decorated with the emblem. (In 1974 this Library is still in use and the beautiful furniture is in the large ball room on the top floor of the library building). The money left over from the $1500.00 was used to buy historical books for the geneological section of the University library. Since the dedication. Miss Irma Bruce has been chairman of the fine project. In this collection is a nearly completed set of the National Sociaty DAR magazines. Mrs. A.L. Camp was chairman of the magazine collection in 1966. She also served as chapter chairman to collect magazines for -69- the San Marcos City Library. The chapter and the Hays County Historical and Genedlogical Society have established a geneblogical section in the city library. Genealogical quarterlies and books helpful to the student of geneology and history are found there. WIDE INTERESTS The chapter has carried out its responsibilities to the State and National society. It has contributed to each project with cash and clothing for the DAR schools. It has added historical books and geneological records for the libraries. The year • usually begins with a program on the constitution and with American History week. The chapter follows though with twenty six committees, appointed by the Regent. Each committe emphasizes its project either by a program or by action.