Oklahoma Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Woodward Chapter History
On September 16, 1893, forty square sections of land in Northwest Oklahoma changed from being the western edge of the Cherokee Outlet to “N” County, Oklahoma Territory. The railroad town of Woodward, OT, was established in September 22,1893 with a post office being named for the Santa Fe railroad director, Brinton W. Woodward. November 6, 1894, saw area residents voting to change the county name to Woodward with the town of Woodward as the county seat.
With the settlements of lands and increasing population, Oklahoma Statehood came on November 16, 1907. A developing Woodward County was then divided into the present counties of Woodward, Harper, Ellis and part of Woods.
Named for the town in which it was established, Woodward Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution 6040OK was organized in 1922 and now approaches its 87th anniversary.
A portion of minutes from Woodward Chapter's first meeting reads, "On September
21, 1922, at the home of Mrs. Stallings, the following ladies met to organize a
DAR Chapter: Mrs. Frank Allen of Leedey, Organizing Regent, Mrs. F.M. Cline,
Mrs. E.E. Coffey, Mrs. Phil Hocker of Camargo, Mrs. S. E. Morey of May, and Mrs.
S.M. Morgan, Mrs. A.M. Morrison and Mrs. H. H. Stallings." Other charter members
were Mrs. Otis M. Cafky, Mrs. John J. Gerlach, Miss Margaret Louisa Gerlach,
Mrs. E. R. Linn, Mrs. James Paterson, Miss Elizabeth Shy, Mrs. Harold Street,
Mrs. Todd Shy and Mrs. Robert B. Moser."
The National Board of Management confirmed the chapter on October 17, 1922.
Again, from early chapter minutes: "The (chapter) Board of Management met at the
Presbyterian Church on October 8 to form the By-Laws of the Chapter. It was
decided to adopt the Oklahoma City Chapter's By-Laws with few changes, Helen
Morrison, Secretary, approved October 26, 1922. It also was noted that members
would each be assessed $1 for expenses."
A continuing involvement with youth projects, considered by many members as the
chapter's top achievements, began on November 23, 1922, when Woodward Chapter
voted to award a medal for the best historical essay in the eighth grade. Since
1922, medals have consistently been awarded, including grades five through eight
in the American History Essay competitions. The DAR Good Citizens essay
competition, which has grown to include high schools in Woodward and three
surrounding counties in Northwest Oklahoma, continues to grow annually.
Constitution Week is an annual project for Woodward Chapter. The chapter, for all
schools in Woodward and surrounding towns, furnishes pictures of the signers of
the Constitution, and a variety of other supplies to further Constitution Week,
including large
copies of the Constitution.
An equally important project has been the placement of historical markers in
Northwest Oklahoma. A bronze marker honoring those who served during World War I
was placed in Woodward's Centennial Park. A bronze tablet marked a site at Fort
Supply where in 1874 the fort was established as protection from Kiowa, Comanche
and Cheyenne Indians. A tree was planted in Woodward's Crystal Beach Park,
commemorating the Bicentennial of George Washington's birth. A Washington elm
was planted in the Woodward Courthouse Square, and dedicated by Woodward Chapter
members. The chapter also dedicated an historical marker designating the
crossing of the old Military Road from Dodge City, Kansas, via Camp Supply, now
Fort Supply, to Fort Elliott, Texas; the marker is now located one mile west of
Fort Supply on Highways 270, 183 and 3.
Woodward Chapter members placed a marker at St. John's Episcopal Church in
Woodward, culminating a Bicentennial project in 1976. The Bronze tablet is
inscribed as follows: "Built in 1868 as the military chapel at Old Camp Supply,
this old historic church was pulled across the plain on cedar logs pulled by
oxen after the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in 1893. Its destination was
Woodward, where it became St. John's Episcopal Church." That congregation is
still using the church.
Chapter members have been recognized through election to state and national
offices. Most notable was the election of Mrs. Dora Berry Snow of Woodward, who
served as Chapter Regent from 1932 to 1934 and in the late 1940s as Oklahoma
State Regent. Mrs. Snow was instrumental in the establishment of Robert Patton
Society Children of the American Revolution in Woodward.
Robert Patton Society C.A.R. has been dissolved but the following society
members are current members of Woodward Chapter. Included are Martha Snow Logan,
Martha Elizabeth Logan Thompson, Melissa Logan Sanders, Laura Logan Hunter, Jane
Schickedanz White, Al'Louise Suthers Ramp and Lelia Sue Suthers Allen. This has
been a distinguished group with a Chapter Regent, a Texas State Regent, a State
District Director, a National Corresponding Secretary General and a host of
state and chapter committees.
Last updated 07/20/2010