HISTORY
The Harmony Mission Chapter was organized December 28, 1926 with 21 charter members. It was named after the first settlement in this part of the country, established 1821, which was located in the southeastern part of the county, and was inhabited by the Osage Indians. The Osage were by far the most intelligent and best developed physically of all of the Siouan tribes. In 1821, and for many years prior to that date, the Osage Indians which numbered several thousand occupied this area as their home. Their hunting ground was the territory drained by the Maris de Cygne, the Little Osage and Osage rivers.
In 1820 the Osage chiefs having heard of Missionaries being sent to some of the southern tribes to teach them Christianity and the arts of Civilization, they decided to send a delegate of Indian braves to visit the "Great Father," President Monroe, at Washington and ask that a Mission be established in the land of the Osage. In response to this plea the government took up the matter with a Missionary Society who had joined their forces and were trying to do much work with the Osage Indians. They immediately sent a number of Missionaries with their families from the northwestern part of the United States to the Osage Indians. Amoung them four physicians, three ministers, millwright, shoemaker, wagon maker, five teachers and two farmers. On March 5, 1821 the Missionaries assembled in new York City, and started forth on their journey, by rail, steamboat, and keel boat. they followed down the streams in the direction they desired to go and poling their boats up stream when necessary, struggling through the wilderness. Six months later in August, they arrived at a point just below the present site of Pappinville. Here the Missionaries determined to establish their Mission, pitched their camp and called it Harmony Mission. They soon set about building log cabins, schools, and other buildings. Harmony Mission was the first settlement of what is now Bates County.
In 1825 by Treaty with the Osage Indians and the Government, most of the Indians were moved further on to the south and west but some remained. In 1935 the Mission was abandoned and the building sold to the Government for $8000, the money then being given to the Society back East, leaving the Missionaries without any support. Many scattered to various parts of the country, while others settled in what is now Bates, Henry, and Vernon Counties and became some of the most worthy citizens in the area.
In 1841, six years after the abandonment of the Mission, it became the first County seat of Bates County. The Legislature which created the original county of Bates decreed that the Circuit and County Court should be held at Harmony Mission until such time as a permanent County seat could be selected. The County seat remained at Harmony Mission until 1847 and was then moved to Pappinville, three miles northwest of Harmony Mission. In 1855, after an area separated to become Vernon County, Pappinville was no longer near the geographic center of Bates county so the County seat was once again relocated to it's present location, Butler.
December 1926, Mrs. E.J. Kling, Organizing Regent of Harmony Mission Chapter spoke these words, "It is to these worthy men and women, of this early settlement that we dedicate our Daughters of the American Revolution chapter here in Butler, Missouri, and we pay tribute to those early God fearing men and women, pioneers who have been such a factor in establishing of those principles for which they stood and which made for the betterment of our great commonwealth, State, and Nation."
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MEMBERSHIP
December 28, 2006, Harmony Mission Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution marked their 80th year. Their current membership is 23 members, who are scattered throughout Bates County. For information on becoming a member of the DAR, please see our National Membership page or you can contact our Regent.
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MEETINGS
Our chapter meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, September through June. For more information on meeting location and times please contact our Regent.
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2006-2008 Chapter Officers |
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Regent |
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Betty Jean Smith |
Vice Regent |
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Suzanne Dudley |
Registrar |
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Grace Bartz |
Treasurer |
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Mary Perry |
Recording Secretary |
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Lacy Hollingshead |
Corresponding Secretary |
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Lorraina Hollingshead |
Chaplain |
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Goldie Saathoff |
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LINKS
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Missouri State Society Daughters of the American Revolution
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