National Society
Daughters of the American Revolution
Cornelia Beekman Chapter
Princeton, Mercer County, Missouri
To perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence; to promote the development of an enlightened public opinion; and to foster patriotic citizenship--these are the objects of our society, Daughters of the American Revolution.
History--
The Cornelia Beekman Chapter NSDAR was organized May 19, 1924, and
named after a woman who is remembered for her courage during the Revolutionary War.
Born in 1752, Cornelia Beekman was the daughter of Pierre Van Cortlandt and Joanna Livingston.
She grew up in their Croton, New York, manor house which is today on the National Historic
Register. Her father is a DAR Patriot and became the Lt. Governor of New York. At about age 17, Cordelia married
Gerard G. Beekman and they resided in the city of New York. They both became ardent
supporters of American freedom from the British. They moved to Peekskill, New York, where
they built a manor house. Here Cornelia resided throughout the Revolutionary War.
Her husband is also a DAR Patriot.
It was in the Beekman's Peekskill home that Gen. Patterson was quartered for a time. Gen. George
Washington visited her frequently and made her home his quarters while his troops were stationed there.
Because of its location, her manor was often ransacked by the British troops who demanded food
and supplies. Although she was frequently taunted and belittled by the British, Cornelia Beekman
maintained her dignity and devotion to the American cause.
She is remembered for her courage, for she refused to leave her home and stood for the honor of her family
and country throughout the perilous years of the Revolutionary War. In 1785, the Beekman family
removed to Tarrytown where they lived in the manor house know as Castle Philipse. Mr. Beekman
died in 1822 and Cornelia on March 14, 1847 at the age of 95. She was revered by her community
and remained alert and vibrant until her death.
Activities--
Throughout our 83 years, Cornelia Beekman Chapter NSDAR has had various projects which
show our dedication our community and to the DAR goals of patriotism, education, and historical preservation.
Our chapter has……
• Helped in writing the 3 volume set of the history of Mercer County.
• Started the first library in Mercer County by donating books from their own
libraries, providing shelving and volunteers to maintain the collection.
• Presented awards to students in the area schools for accomplishments in American history.
• Hosted cemetery strolls for students so they could research names of prominent citizens
appearing on the old tombstones and then dress as one of these early settlers.
• Participated in the annual Calamity Jane Parade honoring her birth in the Mercer County, Missouri,
area.
• Celebrated Constitution Week and patriotic holidays.
• Supported our member who writes a weekly column entitled "Rambling with Jennie" for the Mercer,
Missouri, weekly newspaper, The Mirror. Her column depicts the history of the county.
• Provided DAR grave markers for deceased Mercer County DAR members.
Meetings--
Our chapter meets on the fourth Thursday of the months of September through June at 7:30 a.m. and enjoys programs of patriotic, educational, and historic value. Occasional meetings are breakfast meetings. Please contact us if you are interested in joining DAR and would like to attend one of our meetings. Visitors are welcome.
Officers--
Our chapter officers are: Regent, Mary Jane Smith; Vice Regent, Jennie Vertrees; Chaplain, Sheila Merrill; Recording and Corresponding Secretary, Ann Sibbit; Treasurer, Jennie Vertrees; Registrar, Randalin Ferguson.
About DAR and Membership--
Facts about DAR and information about joining DAR are available at the National Society DAR web site. Further information about DAR is available at: National Society DAR and Missouri State Society DAR.
Chapter Patriots--
We invite you to view our PDF file which honors our Chapter Patriots. Through their sacrifices, we enjoy our many freedoms in the United States of America. You must have Adobe Reader on your computer to view this file. It may be downloaded for free.
