Hannah Caldwell Chapter Historical Information

Hannah Caldwell Chapter
Davenport, Iowa
5-028-IA
Home
DAR Objectives
Historical
Chapter
Information
Past Regents
Past State Regents
Patriots
Historic Markers
National Society DAR
Iowa DAR
How do I become a member?
Charter Members Purpose Chapter
History		 Hannah Caldwell
Charter Members

Mrs. Mary Duncan Putnam Miss Carrie Helena Abbott
Mrs. Anna Belle Mason Nott Mrs. Harriet Elizabeth Birchard
Mrs. Elizabeth Sample Malcom Mrs. Maud Whitcomb Martin
Miss Elizabeth Duncan Putnam Mrs. Maria Purdy Peck
Mrs. Mary Sample Mason Mrs. Jessie Peck Vollmer
Miss Anne Blaine Mason Mrs. Betsy Drake Young
Mrs. Nancy Cable Wylie Miss Beulah B. Whitcomb
Mrs. Caroline Courtright Abbott Mrs. Frances Dickman Hills
Real Daughter
Mrs. Julia Ann Weaver
A "Real Daughter" is a woman whose father actually served in the American War of Independence.
Purpose of the Organization
"To perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence; to cherish, maintain, and extend the institution of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing for all mankind all the blessings of liberty."
History of Hannah Caldwell Chapter
The Hannah Caldwell Chapter was organized on January 18, 1897 through the efforts of Mary Duncan Putnam and Maria Purdy Peck, six years after the National Society was formed on October 11, 1890. (Mrs. Putnam and Mrs. Peck were also among the founders of the first Iowa Chapter in Des Moines.) The Hannah Caldwell Chapter was the 9th chapter in Iowa and 310th in the nation.
Mrs. Nancy Cable Wylie had been appointed Regent of the possible new chapter by the National Society and had invited interested women to her home. The sixteen co-founders had their papers accepted by the National Board of Management by this time and the application for a charter was sent in with the following officers: Regent - Mrs. J.S. Wylie, Vice Regent - Mrs. C.E. Putnam, Secretary - Miss Elizabeth Putnam, Treasurer - Mrs. J.B. Mason, Registrar - Mrs. W.J. Birchard and Historian - Mrs. W.F. Peck.
Hannah Caldwell
Hannah Ogden Caldwell was one of two women killed by the British during the war of the Revolution. At the time the deed was committed she was in her home caring for her nine children. Her husband, Reverend James Caldwell, known as the "Fighting Parson," had left her only a few hours before to join the patriots who were gathering to resist the enemy in the vicinity of Elizabethtown, New Jersey. Later an enemy soldier was sent to the unprotected home to perform the fiendish act. He found his victim kneeling in prayer, and, with a well directed aim, fired the fatal shot through an open window and then set fire to the house. From one of the heights, Caldwell saw through a field glass the smoke rising from the burning building. Mistaking the direction, he said to Lafayette, who was standing near him, "Thank God it is not near my home."

The patriot preacher was not intimidated and a short time after the battle of Springfield the memorable hymn book episode occurred. For lack of wadding the muzzle-loading guns of the troops were rendered useless. When Caldwell was advised of the situation he mounted a horse and galloped off to a near-by meeting house, gathered up the hymn books and returned with his arms full. Flinging them on the ground he exclaimed, "Put Watts into them boys. Give them Watts." The novel incident furnished Bret Harte with the theme for a stirring poem.

Taken from the Hannah Caldwell Chapter 1903-1904 Yearbook