Jonathan Hardin Chapter, NSDAR met in Mexia at Gibbs Memorial Library on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, for the regular monthly meeting with twenty members and five guests present.
Patti Gauntt opened the meeting.
The chapter was honored to award the Moody-Bradley House Foundation / Fairfield History Club with a National Historic Preservation Recognition Award.
The National Defense Report was given by chair Cindy Avery on the USS Nevada.
They also had a report from Aleece McBay on Americanism. Aleece recently welcomed a knew citizen of the United States following her naturalization ceremony with a welcome letter and gift basket.
Susan Rankin gave a report on American Indians; Beverly Jones on conservation; and Cindy Avery on Units (DAR Chapters) Overseas.
The committee also served English Tea and Biscuits (cookies) in honor of a chapter in England.
Honorary Regent Nancy McSwane portrayed in costume her ancestor Orpha Bates, who traveled to Texas with the Parker Family and helped build Parker’s Fort in Limestone County.
Orpha’s grandfather, Uzal Bates, and great-grandfather, Seth Mehurin both served in New Jersey during the American Revolution.
With the help of friend and past chapter registrar Billie Bournias, Mrs. McSwane discovered her ancestors that lived in the Republic of Texas when she was applying for her DAR membership.
She is proud to say her granddaughters also have Republic of Texas ancestors from their father’s line through Elder John Parker’s daughter Susannah Parker Starr.
John was also an American Revolution patriot that died at Parker’s Fort near Groesbeck during the Commanche attack on the 19 May 1836.
Honorary Regent Aleece McBay and Regent Patti Gauntt introduced the new book recently published by the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Texas Before the Lone Star, which is the service project for State Regent Susan Johnston during her three-year term (2024-2027).
The stories in this book were written, illustrated and edited by Texas DAR members. This book seeks to relate tales of the men and women living in what was New Spain during colonial times—Native Americans, European immigrants, African Americans, and those of mixed ancestry.
Ms. Johnston recognized that many are unfamiliar with the history of our state until shortly before the Battle of the Alamo Rooted in historical facts, these stories are uniquely told from the perspective of children and thoughtfully crafted for a fourth-grade audience. Her goal is for the Texas Society to distribute this book to every fourth-grade classroom in Texas.
The stories have also been aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) by Community Classroom State Chair Melissa Wilkinson.
Jonathan Hardin Chapter members approved the purchase and distribution of one book to each school library in Limestone and Freestone counties that serve Grade Four, as well as our public libraries.
