Category: Clubs

Rootseekers press release

One of the favorite topics for the Rootseekers Genealogy Society is the Civil War. It is a favorite of Glenda King’s also. As a member of the Confederate Rose Chapter (UDC) United Daughters of the Confederacy she is always on the lookout for collateral blood lines. Glenda’s ancestor is William Warren Ware who was born in 1838 in Georgia. He was a PVT. and then was promoted to 2nd Lt. He was captured near Malvern Hill, Va. in 1864 and released at Ft. Delaware in 1865. He is buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. He died in 1924.

His father served in the War of 1812 and his grandfather served in the Revolutionary War. Both are buried in Floyd Co. Ga. in the Ware Family Cemetery.

William had five brothers and four of them served in the Civil War. One brother was killed in Va. in battle. She can use these brothers as collateral blood line. In the UDC you do not have to use straight lineage but it has to be close blood lines.

Glenda also spoke of the first major battle which was the “Battle of Bull Run” also known as First Manassas ( this name used by the Confederate Forces. Glenda spoke of the 618,000 Americans who died in this war. Mortality was greatest among the Confederates because of the inferior medical service.

The UDC meets on the third Saturday of the month except in July, August and December at the Tri-County Library.

Glenda King has been married for 59 years and has two children. She graduated from Irving High School and from Prince George’s College, MD. She volunteered at the Charleston A.F.B. Dental Clinic for the Red Cross. She worked for two dentists as a Certified Dental Assistant. She is a member of Sarah Maples DAR, member of the Confederate Rose, member of DRT, member of Dallas Association Church Library Organization, member of American Legion Auxiliary, member of the First Baptist Church, GBC and she has time left to volunteer in the church library.

DAR press release

The Sarah Maples DAR Lineage research Workshop was a huge success. Many of the prospective members came to learn how to fill out the paperwork and just what proof they would need to join the DAR. Registrar Geneice Morris took them line by line on the four pages and she stressed how to correctly fill out the forms. All of the i’s have to be dotted and the t’s crossed or the papers will be sent back from Washington. Its always a good idea to fill out the blanks with pencil so any mistakes can be erased. If you put a date or name down you better have paper proof to back it up.

Regent Helen Preston and her crew took care of all the wonderful food and drink.

Suzanne Fife told the ladies a bit of history of the DAR. The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) was founded in 1889 and naturally some of the women who’s fathers served in the Revolutionary War wanted to join also. The matter was put to a vote and the SAR decided to officially exclude women from its membership. “BIG MISTAKE”. Discussions in the National Press caught the attention of Mary Smith Lockwood. She wrote a fiery editorial that was published in the Washington Post. In it, she demonstrated that women had contributed much to the Revolutionary cause that had previously been overlooked and ignored. She asked, “Were there no mothers of the Revolution?” William O. McDowell V.P. General of SAR believed that women should form their own patriotic organization. He wrote his own letter to the Post urging women to organize and offered his assistance. Eighteen women attended the first official meeting held on October 11, 1890. Mrs. Benjamin Harrison became President General and their first resolution pledged support toward completing the memorial monument to Washington, mother of George Washington. And so the DAR was off and running.

Lynn Young is now our President General NSDAR. She is the first Texas daughter to hold such an honor but we feel she won’t be the last Texan to become President General. Texas has 199 chapters with 17,350 members. There are 3,000 chapters in all 50 states, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, France, Germany, Guam, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom. More than 920,000 women have joined DAR since it was founded October 11, 1890.

Members of the Sarah Maples DAR Chapter were invited to a “Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony” at the Cedar Lake Nursing Home in Malakoff. They were entertained by Joel Harris who sang and played the guitar. He sang all of the old tunes many by Elvis Presley and other famous singers. A beautiful table with all sorts of finger foods was provided. The new activity director Terrina Schmidt and others really worked hard on all the food and decorations.
    
Sarah Maples DAR is hoping any who are interested can come to the DAR Lineage Research Workshop to be held on April 22 at the Tri-County Library in Mabank from 10am to 2pm. The workshop is free and a light lunch will be served. Contact Suzanne Fife at 903-432-3130 for more details.

Pictured are: Carroll Morriss, Joel Harris, Nina Hendricks and (sitting) Frances Reeves.

DAR press release

One of Carol Ruska’s job as historian of the Sarah Maples Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution was to select someone for the Woman in American History to give her an award. Carol immediately thought of Ruth Shelton. The award had to go to someone who has made a contribution or a difference in their community.

Ruth has collected funds for the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society. She has been an active fundraiser for PTAs, chambers of commerce, veterans organizations. She volunteers at retirement communities and libraries. One of her very favorite things to do and that she is most proud of is lineage research for herself and any body else who needs it. She is like and old bulldog in her research, she never gives up. She belongs to the UDC, Colonial Dames 17th Century, DAC, DAR and War of 1812. She is a member of Rootseekers, she gives programs on local history and historical events. Ruth is happiest when she is busy with research. She doesn’t care who’s research, all of it is interesting even if its not hers.

Ruth was born in Eustace, but lived in Dallas and California between 1940-1986 when she returned to Eustace and made her home there until just recently. While she lived in Eustace, she belonged to the First Baptist Church where she was baptized when she was just a girl of 9. This happened in a stock pond behind the church. She has since moved to Benbrook Lake near Crowley to be near her son. Ruth became interested in genealogy in 1957 when she discovered her grandmother had 13 siblings, when Ruth thought she had only three. This peaked her curiosity and the race was on. She has been going strong every since. So today we celebrate Ruth Shelton as our Sarah Maples Woman in History.

Ruth will be one of the speakers at the DAR Lineage Research Workshop to be held on April 22 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tri-County Library in downtown Mabank. The workshop is free and a light lunch will be served. Anyone wishing to attend should call Suzanne Fife at 903-432-3130. Seating is limited so call now.