Daughters of the American Revolution

Alexander Doniphan Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, an organization devoted exclusively to patriotic and historical interests, was formed in Liberty on March 6, 1909, receiving from the National Society D. A. R. the chapter number of 848. In choosing a name, the charter members honored Col. Alexander Doniphan, who was a resident of Liberty at the time of the Mexican War and who led a regiment of Missouri volunteers in a victorious expedition to Old Mexico in 1846-1847, bringing fame to himself and to his men.

The activities of the chapter have been three-fold. Americanization work has been carried on by encouraging students at William Jewell College, Liberty Ladies' College (before it burned) and the High School to give special effort to work in American History, in essay contests for gold medals.

Historical interest has led to the collecting and compiling of much valuable county history data. To aid in this work pioneers of the county were persuaded to write articles dealing with conditions and life in the county's youth. In 1912, Mr. Dan Carpenter, who came to Clay County in 1845 at the age of twenty years, wrote a series on the churches, the schools, the mills, the cemeteries, the social customs and the homes of Clay County. These articles were published in the Liberty Tribune. A government marker was secured for the grave of Richard P. Simms, a soldier of the Revolution who is buried seven miles north of Liberty. After being properly inscribed, it was placed, in 1912, by his great-great-grandson, Robert S. Withers, the regent's husband.

Active Resident Members
Mrs. Mary Garth Campbell, charter member.
Mrs. Louise Wilson Miller.
Miss Katherine Raymond, charter member.
Miss Louise C. Stogdale, charter member.
Mrs. Ethel Massie Withers, regent, 1911 to 1914, and December 1920,
Mrs. Mary Allen Matthews, regent, January, to November, 1917.
Mrs. Ella Thompson Owens Williams, regent, January, 1914, to January, 1916.
Mrs. Luella Hoffman Goodson.
Mrs. Temperance Lightburn Thomason.
Mrs. Maria Gray Snelling, regent, January, 1916-January, 1917.
Mrs. Margaret Thomason Smith.
Mrs. Anne Tutt Ellis Fleet.
Mrs. Gladys Cook Davidson.
Mrs. Loutie Clark Soper, regent, November, 1917-November, 1920.
Mrs. Annie James Funkhouser.
Mrs. Annie Stilwell Gachassin-Lafite.
Miss Anna Grace Pence.
Miss Sarah Wallace Yates.
Mrs. Dora Thomason Atwater.
Mrs. Margaret Woodson Harper.
Mrs. Annie Ellen Darby Harrison.
Mrs. Lillian Lewis Stuart.
Mrs. Willie C. Darr Thomas.

Non-Resident Members
Mrs. Enfield Stogdale Lincoln, charter member.
Mrs. Ozelle Miller Graves, charter member.
Mrs. May Wilson Wallace McClintic, charter member.
Mrs. Rosa Hill Dunwoody.
Mrs. Maude Linn Beasley.
Mrs. Julia Jordan Funkhouser.
Mrs. Martha Virginia Montgomery Harrington
Mrs. Margaret Porter Nail.

Transferred to Other Chapters
Mrs. Bessie Miller Day. Charter member.
Mrs. Mabel Eaton Llewellyn, charter member.
Mrs. Mary Virginia Miller Smith, charter member.
Mrs. Julia Allen Howard.
Mrs. Caroline Rood.
Mrs. Olivia R. Savage

Transferred to Daughters-at-Large
Mrs. Ida Miller Dye, charter member.
Mrs. Martha McMillan Griffith, regent 1909-1910, charter member.
Mrs. Martha Roy Raymond Lincoln, charter member.
Miss Irene Raymond, regent 1910 to Jan. 1911, charter member.
Mrs. Edna Withers Jones, charter member.

Withdrawn
Mrs. Malvry Atkins Clardy.

Deceased
Mrs. Cora Irene Francisco Wherritt.
Mrs. Martha Kiersted Crawford.
Mrs. May Waddill Sevier.
Mrs. Myrtle Benedict Barrington. 

Clay County| AHGP Missouri

Source: History of Clay County, Missouri, by W. H. Woodson, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, 1920.