Jean Nicolet Chapter
Wisconsin Society Daughters of the American Revolution
De Pere - Green Bay
Jean Nicolet Chapter
Wisconsin Society Daughters
of the American Revolution
De Pere - Green Bay
DAR Objective: Historic Preservation
The Jean Nicolet Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution has actively sought opportunities within our neighborhoods and communities to promote the DAR objectives: to Preserve American History; to Provide Education; and to Promote Patriotism.
As early as 1918, talks began regarding the marking of the Waubenaqua Trail. The trail was a significant path through the wilderness used by the Indians and early settlers. However, the idea was tabled and instead the chapter put their efforts into helping the French Village of Tilloloy and sponsoring a war baby during WWI.
In late 1919 Mrs. Joseph A. Branson appointed Mrs. Theodore Blesch, Mrs. Chester G. Wilcox, Miss Sarah Martin, Mrs. Allison Wells, and Mrs. William Fisk to the Land Markers committee and the Trail Marker once again was on its way to reality.
On November 10, 1922, a white wooden sign with blue lettering was erected to mark the Waubenaqua Trail on the east side of De Pere near George and Fulton Streets.
Chapter Regent Mrs. Margaret Branson led the ceremony, in which local historian Mathew J. Maes and Mayor William E. Kidney made speeches and reminisced about earlier times. The marker was repaired and repainted in 1929, but today no longer exists.
In August of 1922, a painted wooden sign was placed at the corner of Kellogg Street and Chestnut Avenue in Green Bay to mark where the Surgeons Quarters of the old Fort Howard Hospital stood in 1816.
No doubt the largest and most prestigious memorial the Jean Nicolet Chapter was instrumental in preserving was that of Fort Howard Hospital, now located at Heritage Hill State Park . The effort was led by Mrs. Margaret Meriwether Towles Blesch, Chairman of the Trails and Markers committee. The old Fort Howard Hospital building once stood at the corner of North Chestnut Avenue and Kellogg Street on the west side of Green Bay. It was presented to the city of Green Bay by its owner, Mrs. Mary Woolford Hine in March of 1939.
The Trails and Marker committee worked diligently with the co-operation of Green Bay Mayor James H. McGillan to secure the property.
Today, the hospital comes alive at Heritage Hill State Park as re-enactors portray different aspects of life in and around the hospital during the 1800s.
The first bank west of Lake Michigan was opened by an act of the Michigan Legislature in 1835. It was known as the Bank of Wisconsin and was located at Green Bay in the town of Astor . It shared quarters with the Astor Fur Company, a two-story building that extended the width of the block on the north side of Chicago Street between Adams and Washington.
The bank was in active operation until November of 1837 when a committee was appointed to examine the books. Although the examiners reported the bank was sound, rumors of impropriety circulated and the bank closed its doors in 1838.
A tablet was placed on the site in August of 1922 to commemorate the Bank of Wisconsin – the first bank west of Lake Michigan.
In August of 1922 another wooden sign was placed at the corner of West Walnut and Pearl streets marking the site of “The Old King’s Village,” which was presided over by Cha Ka Cho Kama, grandfather of Chief Oshkosh in the eighteenth century.
The old king lived nearly a hundred years. He was the grand-father of two brothers - Oshkosh “the brave,” born in 1795, and his brother, Osh Ka He Now Niew “the young man,” born in 1806.
The old king died in 1821 while on a visit to Prairie du Chien with some of his relatives. He was then 100 years old and nearly blind. He was a man of good sense, and was highly esteemed by his nation. His certificate as grand chief, given by Governor Haldimond of Canada in 1778, is at the Wisconsin State Historical Society at Madison.
In 1728 when the French and Indian army encountered the Wisconsin Indians, they attacked a Menominee village on the west shore of Green Bay. At the same time, the Sacs were located on the present site of Green Bay. “The Old King’s village” was half a mile up river from the old French fort at the bay.
The marker of the King’s Village can still be seen today. It is embedded in the corner of the building at the junction of Pearl and Walnut Streets in Green Bay.
In August of 1922, another wooden sign was erected on Pearl Street, 600 feet south of West Walnut. This marked the place of the “The Old King’s Village” burial ground. This marker no longer exists.
In 1928 a marker was placed on the estate of Eleazar Williams on the west side of the Fox River, four miles south of De Pere, near Little Rapids.
Williams was a famous Episcopal minister and Indian missionary, and at one time the supposed lost Dauphin of France. Williams came to Wisconsin in 1822 and worked mostly among the Menominee and Winnebago for more than 20 years. It was during this time that his claim as the Lost Dauphin of France began to increase his notoriety. In 1823 he married Magdelen Jourdain, a part-Indian daughter of village blacksmith Joseph Jourdain. The couple had three children. Williams left for the East in 1850, leaving his wife and children behind. He died in Hogansburgh, New York in 1858 and his wife, Magdelen Jourdain, died in 1886.
When Brown County was first organized by Lewis Cass, Governor of the Territory of Michigan, a county seat had to be established.
On February 1, 1837, Wisconsin Governor Dodge proclaimed, “the town of Depere has received a large majority of the votes, and the seat of justice of the said county of Brown is established at Depere, from and after the first day of April, 1837.”
At the time, De Pere had no building suitable for use as a courthouse, so the old log courthouse from Menomineeville (Allouez) was dragged over the frozen river to De Pere.
Within a year the need for increased space forced the County to build a new courthouse. It was located on the northeast corner of George and Wisconsin streets.
After 1854, when Green Bay was incorporated as a city, the election was held to determine which city had the rights to be the county seat. This time Green Bay won by a majority.
Eventually, the De Pere courthouse building was sold at auction and was used as a jail.
During the early morning hours of March 12, 1871, the old courthouse was destroyed by fire. Two imprisoned men perished and most of the contents were lost in the fire.
In 1924 the Jean Nicolet Chapter marked the historic site with a wooden marker, and then, in 1930, replaced it with a bronze marker.
A marker was erected in August 1922 at the burial place of Ashwaubemie and Wahbenukqua – two famous Indians.
Their story began when Little Crow, who would one day become known as Ashwau-bemie, the son of an Ottawa Chief from L’Arbor Croche, near Mackinac, came to this area in the employ of Jacob Franks. Franks owned a saw mill on the east side of De Pere. While here, Little Crow met a Menominee Chief by the name of Ahkeeneibeway, which means Standing Earth.
In about 1795 a group of Menominee girls went berry picking and one did not return at the end of the day. Search parties were sent out, but she was not to be found. It was discovered that she had been kidnapped by a band of Chippewas and taken to their camp near Shawano Lake .
Little Crow led a rescue party and as the other braves hid in the forest, Little Crow searched the camp and found the frightened girl in a large wigwam guarded by several older women.
With his tomahawk held high he entered and motioned the girl to follow him. As they were leaving, the women gave him vicious side long looks full of hate and silent threats. Runners were sent ahead to tell that the girl had been found and would return home soon. There was a great celebration, during which Little Crow was to be known as As-ha-wau-bo-my, or Side Looks, in memory of the reaction of the Chippewa women who stood guard over their prisoner.
Chief Standing Earth rewarded Little Crow by giving him his choice of two of the prettiest maidens of the village. He requested Chief Standing Earth’s youngest daughter, Wahbenukqua, or Morning Star.
Ashwaubemie and Wahbenukqua lived on the south side of Ashwaubenon Creek and were friends with both Indians and Whites alike. They are both buried on the bank of the stream, which still bears his name.
Marking Grave Sites
Real Daughters - The Jean Nicolet Chapter has participated in marking the graves of Real Daughters buried in the area. A Real Daughter is not only an actual daughter of a Revolutionary War soldier, but a woman who has also been a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Harriet Hamilton Allen was born in Auburn, Cayuga County, New York in September 1810, the daughter of David Jr. and Rachel (Churchill) Hamilton. She died in August of 1904, at the age of 94.
Her father David was born in Connecticut on December 18, 1756. He died in Syracuse, New York on March 14, 1840, at age 83. During the Revolutionary War he served as a sergeant of the Dragoons for the Connecticut Militia.
Harriet Allen, a member of the Wenonah DAR Chapter of Minnesota, was buried in Green Bay . On June 14, 1923, at the request of the Wenonah Chapter, the Jean Nicolet Chapter marked Harriet’s grave in Fort Howard Cemetery as a Real Daughter. The marker was unveiled by Mrs. Allen’s great granddaughter, Bessie Munger of Appleton.
The following is the newspaper article from the June 21, 1923 De Pere Journal-Democrat regarding the event.Marker for “Real Daughter” Unveiled
Impressive ceremonies accompanied the unveiling of the marker of the grave of Mrs. Harriet Hamilton Allen in Fort Howard cemetery by Jean Nicolet Chapter, D.A.R., on last Friday afternoon. A good sized delegation of members was present. The marker is a small bronze tablet of rectangular form, upon which is the insignia of the D.A.R., a spinning wheel with distaff and flax draped across it, and around whose edges are the thirteen stars representing the original colonies. Beneath the insignia on the marker are the words, “Real Daughter.” Miss Bessie Munger, of Appleton, great granddaughter of Mrs. Allen, unveiled the marker. Standing by the side of the grave was a son of the Real Daughter,” Jay B. Allen, of Green Bay, a granddaughter, Mrs. Edwin T. Munger, of Appleton, and two great granddaughters, the Misses Bessie and Margaret Munger. Mrs. Munger’s granddaughter paid a tribute to her ancestry before unveiling the tablet. The ceremony was in charge of Miss Edith Mathews of De Pere, regent of the local chapter. The invocation was by the Rev. T. D. Williams, Green Bay. Scripture was read by Mrs. W. T. Ream, chaplain, and the Misses Fordyce Goodell and Nan Workman of De Pere sang “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth.”
As the silken stars and stripes covering the marker were removed by Miss Munger, the members of the D.A.R. pledged themselves anew to the “nation for which it stands” and closed the ceremonies with the singing of “America.”
Betsey Leonard Newton was born in Ashfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts on December 6, 1809, the daughter of Ziba and Chloe (Shaw) Leonard, and the mother of Jean Nicolet member Ermina Newton Leonard. Betsey died on May 14, 1900, at the age of 90. She married in Ashfield on April 29, 1834, Abel Densmore Newton.
Her father Ziba Newton was a private and served as a Minuteman at the Siege of Boston under Captain James Allen. He also served in the Rhode Island Campaign in 1778, was captured on a merchant ship, and carried to Charleston in 1779.
On October 17, 1924 the Jean Nicolet Chapter marked her grave in Greenwood Cemetery in De Pere, as a Real Daughter. Mrs. Newton had been a member of the Milwaukee Chapter DAR, which furnished the marker.
The following is the newspaper article from the October 16, 1924, De Pere Journal-Democrat regarding the event.D.A.R. To Unveil Marker
The Daughters of the American Revolution will erect a “Real Daughter” marker at the grave of Mrs. Betsy Leonard Newton. The ceremonies will be held in Greenwood cemetery on Friday afternoon, Oct. 17. Mrs. Newton was a member of the Milwaukee Chapter, which is furnishing the marker. She was the mother of Mrs. B. A. Leonard of this city. At its meeting last Friday at the home of Mrs. J. H. Taylor, the local chapter also decided to provide a flag to the Red Cross for a sailor in foreign waters. Mrs. C. W. Jackson was elected as the regent’s delegate to the state conference in Beloit, Oct. 28, 29 and 30. Miss Nan Workman was elected a local delegate, and Mrs. P. R. Minahan of Green Bay was elected her alternate. Miss Helen Risdon gave an interesting talk on her trip abroad, taken last summer.The ceremonies will begin at 3 o’clock p.m., and the public is invited. The following is the order of the exercises: Anthem, “America;” Scripture reading; prayer; hymn; remarks by the regent, Miss Edith Mathews; biography, by Miss Mathews; unveiling; salute to flag; “Blessed Be the Tie That Binds.
Mrs. Betsey Leonard Newton was the mother of Mrs. B. A. Leonard, a resident of De Pere. Her father, Ziba Leonard, was a soldier in the army of George Washington. Mrs. Newton was a member of the Milwaukee D.A.R., which chapter is furnishing the “Real Daughter” of the American Revolution marker."
Diantha Allen Henderson, daughter of Parley and Catherine (Ter Bush) Allen, was born on May 25, 1819, and died in Green Bay on December 30, 1893. Parley - sometimes spelled Perley - was born in 1764 and died in New York, on October 3, 1839. He served as a Private in Connecticut during the Revolution.
On May 27, 1938 the Jean Nicolet Chapter board members met at the Fort Howard Cemetery to place a bronze DAR tablet on the grave of Mrs. Diantha Allen Henderson, who was the grandmother of chapter member, Mrs. Otto Straubel. Also in attendance, were the Misses Helen and Ruth Henderson, members of Jean Nicolet Chapter, and Laura Henderson Jackson (Mrs. James), who had been a Jean Nicolet Chapter member before transferring to the Chicago Chapter, which provided the marker.
During the Jean Nicolet Chapter’s centennial year, the grave of another daughter of a Revolutionary War patriot was marked in Greenwood Cemetery in De Pere.
Mary Ann Pond was born in Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont, on March 24, 1816, the daughter of Ezra and Parmelia (Hubbell) Pond. She married in Lewis, Essex County, New York, on February 23, 1834, William Perry Call, who was born in Chesterfield (Westport ), Essex County, on January 14, 1816, the son of Joseph and Clarinda (Worden) Call. William died in De Pere, Brown County, Wisconsin, on July 31, 1908. In 1845 the Call family removed to Green Bay and two years later, in 1847, moved to De Pere, where they resided the rest of their lives.
The William Call family had six children, Amirah ‘Emery’ Perry Call, Ellen May Call (Mrs. John Bullion, Mrs. German Fleming), Frances Celia Call (Mrs. Alpheus Rollins Martin, Mrs. George Washington Willits), Justus Call, Albertine Agnes, Florinda ‘Flora’ Nebraska Call (Mrs. Jasper Stephen Chase).
Mary Ann died in De Pere on May 22, 1895, eleven years before the Jean Nicolet Chapter was established. Her daughter Flora was one of the charter members of the Jean Nicolet Chapter when it was formed in 1906.
Mary Ann’s father, Ezra Pond, was born at Wrentham, Massachusetts on May 28, 1758. He accompanied his father to Hubbardston and enlisted in the militia, where he served under Captain William Henry and Colonel Whitney from May 5 to July 5, 1777, in Rhode Island; under Captain David Bent and Colonel Job Cushing from August 31 to November 29, 1777, in the Northern department; again under Captain Jotham Houghton and Colonel Joseph Whitney from July 30 to September 15, 1778, in Rhode Island; and for three months in 1780 under Captain Ephraim Stearns. In 1840 Ezra was drawing a Revolutionary War pension from the government, and resided with the family of his son-in-law, Cephas Clark, of Ausable, Clinton County, New York.
Ezra Pond married Parmelia Hubbell of Wolcott, Lamoille County, Vermont. After marriage they moved several times: first to Eden, Vermont, then to Burlington, to Essex, New York, to Lewis, New York, and to Willsboro, New York, where Parmelia died in February 1826, at age 42. Ezra moved again, finally to Keeseville, New York, where he died. (A Genealogical Record of Daniel Pond, and his Descendants, by Edward Doubleday Harris, 1873).Source: Jean Nicolet Chapter Centennial - A Century of DAR Service 1906 - 2006, Compiled by E. Virginia Hunt and Mary Kay Milquet
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