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The Chapter was organized January 23, 1901 and received its charter June 5, 1901.  Edith Cole Colville was the Organizing regent and she prepared the membership papers proving eligibility for the 25 charter members.

Rebecca Parke, for whom the Chapter is named was a member of a notable family of patriots residing in Massachusetts during the Revolution. Her father, Issac Gibson and her 8 brothers all served loyally in the war as did also, the man who she later married, Thomas Kinne Parke. 

Ella Park Lawrence, the fourth Chapter Regent, was a descendent of Rebecca Parke and was known as "the Mother of the Illinois State Flag."  Her accomplishment was having an Illinois State Flag adopted and the culmination of a project she began in 1912 after attending Continental Congress in Washington and observing that Illinois had no banner with the other State Flags in Memorial Continental Hall.  She immediately sent letters to all chapters in the State requesting that designs be submitted which would be considered for an Illinois State flag.  The design entered by the Rockford Chapter was chosen.

Regent of the Rebecca Parke Chapter, NSDAR, is Mrs. Terry (Pamela) Johnson.

Chapter meetings are held at 4 – 6 PM on the first Wednesday, September-June, unless otherwise noted in the yearbook.

For further information about our chapter or membership, please contact:

Opal Maple

olmaple@joimail.com

Jennifer Melton

jennif13@yahoo.com

Revolutionary Soldiers buried in Knox County Cemeteries

Adam Bruner

Peter Bruner

Ashael Gilbert

Rev. Jacob Gum

Abraham Haponstall

John Harrington

David Manley

George Sornberger

John Stange

Jesse Witt

DAR Historical Markers Dedicated

USA Bicentennial plaque in Knox County Court House listing all known Revolutionary War Soldiers of the county.

Bicentennial constitution plaque and stone on the Knox county Court House lawn.

Fifty year commemoration of World War II plaque and stone on Knox County Court House lawn.

Honorary State Regent plaque for Ella Parke Lawrence placed in Hope Cemetery on Lawrence monument.