A
group of women from the Holland area met in November 1907 to organize a
DAR chapter. This was 17 years after the founding of the society and 7
years after the Michigan DAR was established They received their
charter on February 15, 1908. The chapter has special events planned for their centennial celebration. The charter members were:
Laura Mc Bride
Myrtle Beach
Katherine Post
Gertrude Yates
Ruby Gerrod
Martha Sherwood
Avis Yates
Anna Wheeler
Ada Duffy
Florence Boot
Lilla Harington
Alice Kremer
Georgia Kremer
Ida Sears McLean
Adeline Swift
Anna Hall
Ida Sears McLean was the organizing regent/registrar.
Ida Sears McLean*
Chapter Name
The chapter was named after Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, the wife of Alexander Hamilton. See the following biographical excerpt from the American National Biography:
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Jenny L. Presnell published in American National Biography
"Hamilton,
Elizabeth Schuyler (9 Aug. 1757-9 Nov. 1854), statesman's wife and
charity worker, was born in Albany, New York, the second daughter of
Philip Schuyler, a revolutionary war general, and Catherine Van
Rensselaer Schuyler. Schooled at home, her early years were typical of
most young women of colonial, aristocratic families. At
the age of twenty-two, she met Alexander Hamilton, a dashing
aide-de-camp of General George Washington, at the home of Gertrude
Cochran, her aunt, wife of John Cochran. For Elizabeth it was love at
first sight, a love that remained strong through the many scandals
ahead. Accepted into the Schuyler family despite his illegitimate birth
and lack of wealth or social standing, Alexander Hamilton held
political beliefs similar to those of his future father-in-law. Both
supported a strong centralized government and General Washington. Both
had been soldiers as well as members of his military staff. The entire
Schuyler family revered Alexander as a young political genius. As for
Alexander, it is possible that he considered marrying Elizabeth for her
family's money and status, for the Schuylers were one of the most
influential families in the state of New York. Yet, his true love
seemed evident in their courtship correspondence, which was intimate
and childlike. Believing his sincerity, Elizabeth, with no formal
education, became interested in military and political affairs, and
Alexander even discussed Benedict Arnold's treason with her. In many of
his letters Alexander also expressed his worry about his poverty and
ability to provide for his future wife. The pair were finally married
on 14 December, 1780; he was just shy of the age of twenty-four, and
she was twenty-three. "
At
the age of twenty-two, she met Alexander Hamilton, a dashing
aide-de-camp of General George Washington, at the home of Gertrude
Cochran, her aunt, wife of John Cochran. For Elizabeth it was love at
first sight, a love that remained strong through the many scandals
ahead. Accepted into the Schuyler family despite his illegitimate birth
and lack of wealth or social standing, Alexander Hamilton held
political beliefs similar to those of his future father-in-law. Both
supported a strong centralized government and General Washington. Both
had been soldiers as well as members of his military staff. The entire
Schuyler family revered Alexander as a young political genius. As for
Alexander, it is possible that he considered marrying Elizabeth for her
family's money and status, for the Schuylers were one of the most
influential families in the state of New York. Yet, his true love
seemed evident in their courtship correspondence, which was intimate
and childlike. Believing his sincerity, Elizabeth, with no formal
education, became interested in military and political affairs, and
Alexander even discussed Benedict Arnold's treason with her. In many of
his letters Alexander also expressed his worry about his poverty and
ability to provide for his future wife. The pair were finally married
on 14 December, 1780; he was just shy of the age of twenty-four, and
she was twenty-three. "