About the Charter Members of Presque Isle DAR

What a milestone—125 years of service for the Presque Isle Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Erie, PA. The chapter celebrated with a luncheon and celebration at the historic Kahkwa Club on Saturday, October 22, 2022.

I am the vice-regent (former treasurer) of the Presque Isle Chapter and volunteered to research the 13 founding members and write short biographies for the program. At the celebration, I gave a short talk about the founding women, which I’ve included below.

The DAR is a non-political organization that was founded to honor and preserve the legacy of the men and women who formed our country. The thread that tied these women together was a desire to serve the community. This especially appeals to me because servant leadership is a concept I live by, as did William E. Dimorier (1871-1951), whom I wrote about in William E. Dimorier: Servant Leader.

Here is a transcription of my remarks

Remarks on Presque Isle DAR Founders
October 22, 2022
Ann Silverthorn, Vice Regent
Presque Isle DAR

Good afternoon. I’m honored to share some remarks with you today about the charter members of the Presque Isle Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution who formed our chapter 125 years ago in 1897. We are thrilled to hold our celebration at the historic Kahkwa Club where at least two of our previous anniversary celebrations took place.

In 1897, William McKinley was inaugurated, and Queen Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. That October in Erie, the names of several charter members of the Presque Isle DAR were listed in a newspaper article among donors to Hamot Hospital, and one was reported taking on a leadership role in a mercy project for the Northwestern Pennsylvania Humane Society.

The founding members of the Presque Isle Chapter all had something in common. Each of them could trace their lineage back to a soldier or patriot who played an active role in, or aided, the effort to gain independence from England and form a new country.

They were granted a charter by the Daughters of the American Revolution, which had just been formed in 1890 to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American independence. The members pledged to protect historic places, encourage research on the Revolution, and preserve documents and relics of the service of Revolutionary War soldiers and patriots.

Missouri Bliss Morrison and Henrietta Bagg Downing made things happen as the first regent and vice regent of the Presque Isle Chapter. Somehow, without the aid of the internet and email, they were able to apply for a charter from the national organization and also to assemble thirteen qualifying charter members. 

Our founding members were leaders. Missouri Bliss Morrison was a woman “whose wise counsel was sought and depended on.” She was one of the founders of Hamot Hospital and a leader in her church. It was in her that the spark for an Erie chapter ignited.

Henrietta Bagg Downing was remembered as one of the strongest influences for good the city had ever seen. She inspired others through her church and charitable work including for the Northwestern Pennsylvania Humane Society. 

Our charter members were women of means—of privilege—but they used their influence to make the community a better place. They didn’t just have tea parties for the sake of socializing, though many friendships were forged through the chapter activities, just as they are today. 

Some of the activities of the Presque Isle DAR over the years were the establishment of a student loan fund, a scholarship fund, and a night school, cooperation with PTAs, aiding truant officers, organizing literacy projects, furnishing clothing to needy children, assisting with naturalization court work, and making detention rooms at Ellis Island more comfortable for so many who had traveled so far for a better life. The chapter also aided soldiers during wartime and peacetime, sponsored foreign orphans, and supported the Red Cross.

Years before the Presque Isle DAR was founded, two of its charter members, Helen Ball and Sarah Reed, along with Mrs. Isaac Moorhead, started and completed a monument campaign. Dedicated in 1872, the monument is located on the west side of Perry Square, depicting the figures of a sailor and a soldier holding the Union flag. The inscription reads, “In memory of Soldiers and Sailors from Erie County who gave their lives to save the Union.”

Osie Ball, Helen’s sister, and also a charter member, bequeathed $400,000 to Erie charities to create a home for the aged at the family homestead located at 135 East Sixth Street, now owned by Erie Insurance. 

Knowledge and education were important to our charter members. They were well-read women. They kept libraries in their homes. They appreciated the arts and most of the women belonged to the Art Club of Erie. 

At a Carrie T. Watson Garden Club meeting in 1929, Alice Churchill Clarke gave a scholarly talk on flower legends and the influence of flowers through Greek mythology, Biblical times, and into the Middle Ages, in addition to the tulip mania in Holland and England’s War of the Roses. Alice was acknowledged as the last surviving charter member at the chapter’s fortieth anniversary celebration in 1937. 

Erie’s third regent, the beloved Sarah Reed, valued education as well, holding weekly literary and travel study classes in her home for all her adult life. Many of the charter Presque Isle DAR members attended these classes. 

As an aside, Sarah Reed’s lifelong home was located at 17 East 10th Street, which is now the parking lot behind the Renaissance Center. This got me thinking. Sarah Reed died in 1934, and the 14-story building was started in 1925. I wonder what she thought about living next door to a 198-foot skyscraper, not to mention the noise and dust created during construction of the building.

Sarah Reed’s aunt by marriage, charter member, Ella Morrison Reed, volunteered at Sarah Reed’s Home for the Friendless, donating games and tree ornaments for the residents. She also hosted annual New Year’s dinners for 250 former newsboys. 

In researching the thirteen charter members, I was determined to learn about the women themselves, not the men in their lives. This proved to be a challenge as many times their biographical information told not what they had accomplished, but what their husbands and fathers had. These men were esteemed government officials, attorneys, businessmen, and other professionals. 

Society placed many constraints on women at the end of the 19th century. Professional opportunities were generally not open to women, and if they decided to pursue a professional career, this usually meant giving up any hope of a husband and family. You know what they say though. Behind every good man there’s a great woman? I truly believe that the key to their men’s success was the unfailing support of the women in their corner. These women rightfully share the credit for their husband’s accomplishments.

The highs in life are often accompanied by the low, and though blessed by circumstance and birth, some of our founders experienced deep sadness and tragedy in their lives. Missouri Bliss Morrison became a widow at an early age. Two of Ella Morrison Reed’s four children died of disease as did two of Susan Brewster Little’s three children. 

As a result of my research, I believe the most important trait common to the charter members of the Presque Isle Chapter is that they felt a responsibility to their community to give of their time and talents. This is true of the present members as well as we work to fulfill the mission of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution by promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism.

Recently, our chapter has been active in projects such as the World War One Centennial Committee which dedicated a memorial to the fallen soldiers in Veterans Park and published the book Answering the Call, which is available for purchase today. Our chapter sells wreaths and places them at the Soldiers and Sailors Home in cooperation with Wreaths Across America, cleans historic gravestone, furnishes supplies and gifts to elementary school children, and awards medals to outstanding ROTC cadets and local historians.

We are grateful to the charter members of the Presque Isle DAR for paving the way for us and we honor them today at this celebration of our 125th anniversary.

Individual biographies on the 13 charter members of the Presque Isle Chapter DAR here.