The first meeting to organize the Chapter took place on June 5, 1896, it was on November 12, 1896, that the Elizabeth Ross Chapter was officially established as the sixth Daughters of the American Revolution chapter in the state of Iowa. Although the chapter was originally formed with twelve members, by the end of 1897, the chapter had 33 members. At the end of 1898, the membership had grown to 45.

Six years after the establishment of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Mrs. Clara Cooley, state regent of the Iowa Society DAR, appointed Mrs. Alice B. Mitchell to organize a chapter in Ottumwa. Twelve ladies in Ottumwa, Iowa formed the Elizabeth Ross Chapter. The charter was formally presented June 5, 1896 and closed January 15, 1897.

This Chapter was the sixth one to be organized in Iowa. Charter members were: Alice B. Mitchell, Annie Daum, Mrs. Pope, Laura Ross, Charlotte McCue, Catherine Taylor, Lynn Mitchell Williams, Dorothy Bell Burton, Flora Ross, Emma J. Holt, Mrs. A.G. Harrow, Rose Dutton Gephart, Eva Philpott, Harriett Briggs, Mrs. J.D. Ferree, Mrs Devon, Julia Merwin Ennis, Mrs. Charles Aveilhe, Charlotte Merwin Haven.

• April 21, 1898 -- War was declared on Spain. Immediately the Daughters began making plans for the assistance of the Sons of Iowa who would be involved in this war. A concert was given and the proceeds sent to Company G who used the money to buy a mess tent at Jacksonville, Florida. When troop trains passed through the city, the Daughters were at the station with coffee, milk, fruits, and other foods. When the sick and wounded were around the city, games, fruit and flowers were distributed to them. On Dec. 23^rd 500 pounds of magazines and other reading matter were sent to military hospitals in Kentucky, Georgia and in Manilla and Cuba.
  
  
• 1908-1912, Elizabeth Ross Chapter headed the work of the marking of the City streets, brought lineage books up to date, gave liberally to the hiring of the first visiting nurse in Ottumwa, and to the furnishing of the Iowa Room at Memorial Hall, Washington, D.C. The Chapter also sought out and marked many historical spots in the County. Among them was the marking of the grave of Chief Wapello at Agency, IA and the grave of Black Hawk.
  
  
• 1918-1920 -- Our regent, Mrs. Carolyn N. Patterson, was honored by representing Mary Washington in the pageant of American Women in Washington, D.C. A scholarship fund to the National College was begun. We helped during the flu epidemic. The Benjamin Franklin CAR Social Club was organized with thirty five members. Additionally, the Daughters were active in patriotic affairs during WW I including the making of bandages, working with the Red Cross, knitting of sweaters and garments and making jams and jellies for those men on the battleship Iowa.& Donations of money were made to the Red Cross War Relief Fund and the Iowa Flag Fund.


• March, 1918, Elizabeth Ross Chapter hosted the state convention at the Hotel Ottumwa.


• 1920-1922 -- This time marked the beginning of the Peace Program and the close of the WW I. The book Proud Mahaska was placed in the Iowa collection and other books were shipped to Piney Woods School.


• 1928 -- Mrs. Clarence Harper prepared a study of American History as Reflected in Costumes. An exhibit consisting of 13 dolls dressed in costumes like those worn by early Americans and continuing through our country’s history, including Civil War days was prepared. These were used at regular Chapter meetings, as well as at the 13^th annual state conference at Des Moines. This collection grew to a total of 22 dolls.


• 1939-1946 -- World War II again had the Daughters engaged in the salvaging campaign, saving the scrap iron, tin cans, grease, rubber, paper and so forth. They also helped with the U.S.O. with their activities.