The Washington Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution was organized November 13, 1906.  The seventeen charter members included: Mrs. Lorie M. Rickey Cook, Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher Harwood, Miss Hallie Berdo, Mrs. Clelland White, Mrs. Martha Clarissa White Wilson and Dr. Ida Holson Bailey who was elected as the first Chapter Regent.

We celebrated our 100th Anniversary in 2006 with a banquet and a presentation with our State Regent, DiAnne Lerud-Chubb. Several of our ladies are in their 90s or older and they add a wealth of information when we discuss our program, "Remembering Our History."

The June meeting is held in the Central Park with a flag retirement ceremony.   It has been widely attended as many people have had flags that needed to be disposed of properly.  The Boy Scouts have been instrumental in disposing of the flags.

Our chapter invites individuals and groups of bikers to our Parade of Thunder.  Bikers adorn their bikes with flags with the lead bike displaying a very large flag. The event has grown significantly over the last 4 years with other counties joining us in our parade and program. 

Since 1912, the DAR has also sponsored the log house/cabin located in Sunset Park in Washington.  The DAR members were instrumental in helping to move the log cabin from the southwest corner of the county to its present location. Many people have donated money and items for the cabin which help visitors to visualize how hard life was in the past.  This year, the DAR will open the cabin by appointment for visitors and teachers who would like to bring their classes to see what life was like in earlier years.

               Log Cabin in Sunset Park                                       Inside of Log Cabin

The log cabin was built in 1840 by Alexander Young in Washington County.  His sons, Rovert and Hueston Young, gave the cabin to the Washington DAR Chapter in 1912. On August 14, 1973, the cabin was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It was marked by our chapter on June 2, 1974.

Each Memorial Day, the DAR sees that flags are placed on veterans' graves at the two local cemeteries. At this time, more than 1,000 flags are used. The Boy Scouts and local people help to set out the flags each year.  The American Legion is now helping with the purchase of the flags.

In 1938, the Washington Chapter DAR planted a Ginkgo tree to honor George Washington and to beautify the city of Washington, Iowa.

Revolutionary War Soldiers Buried in Washington County

Timothy Brown was born April/May 30, 1762, in New Jersey. He died January 3, 1852, in Washington County, Iowa.  Burial was originally in a pioneer farm cemetery known as Todd Cemetery where it was discovered in 1903 by the editor of the Washington Democrat who recognized that Brown was a Revolutionary War soldier who had served under General Washington for three years.  His body was then moved to Soldier Circle in Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa, where reinterment services were held October 19, 1903. In 1908, a monument, paid for by the Iowa State Legislature and local citizens, was dedicated in his honor. The Washington Chapter DAR is responsible for perpetual care.

Samuel Lewis was born in 1776 in Ireland or Maryland. He died December 21, 1851, in Washington County, Iowa, and was buried in Hillcrest Cemetery at Brighton, in south Washington County. The Washington Chapter added a boulder on his grave with an inscribed bronze plaque that read: "Samuel Lewis, Revolutionary War Soldier 1766 - 1851." This dedication was performed June 14, 1957.