Napton, Missouri
The Patsy Gregg Chapter was organized May 15, 1913, with twelve members. The State Regent, Mrs. G. B. MacFarlane was present and gave instructions to each officer in regard to her duties and gave a talk about the rapid growth and good work being accomplished by the DAR.
The name “Patsy Gregg” was chosen for being historical, beautiful and appropriate because of the nearness to the locality that the following incident took place:
The first settler in Saline County, Mo., was Jesse Cox a native of Kentucky, who in 1811, with his son-in-law, William Gregg, and his family moved into the bottom land above Arrow Rock, just opposite from Cooper’s Fort in Howard County. He built a cabin and cleared a patch of land, where they were in constant danger from Indians, especially during the War of 1812.
In Christmas Week 1814, this little settlement was attacked one afternoon by a band of Sac and Fox Indians. Jesse Cox was not at home at the time. The Indians killed William Gregg and destroyed the settlement. This was Patsy’s second experience with Indians. About 1808, the Jesse Cox family and the Gregg family had settled in Bond County, Illinois, moving there from Madison County, Kentucky. One day when Patsy’s parents were away, the Indians came and killed Patsy’s brother, age 20, and carried Patsy, age 16, away as a prisoner. They placed her on a horse behind an Indian warrior, to whom she was tied by one hand. The horse they were riding lagged behind all the rest of the party, by reason of its extra burden. Patsy was constantly looking back, hoping to see some friendly rescuing party.
As they traveled along she had torn off bits of her clothing and dropped them along the way to lead her rescuers. At last she discovered some horsemen, and with her free hand motioning to them to be careful, she prepared to escape. She waited until the white men were within fifty yards of her, when with her unbound hand she suddenly seized the Indian’s knife, drew it from its scabbard, cut the thongs which bound her other hand, and sprang from the horse’s back to the ground and into the brush at the side of the trail—all this in almost an instant. As soon as Patsy alighted, the pursuing whites fired at the savages and the latter retreated with great haste to Cooper’s Fort.
From the History of Saline County, Missouri.
Napton is located in central Missouri. Our chapter meets at 2 P.M. on the second Saturday of each month except July and August. The meeting place varies. Please contact either Joyce Knight or Carol McInteer for any information you need. For information about the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution or the Missouri State Society Daughters of the American Revolution, please visit their web pages.
In Memoriam: Irene Harriet Shannon Duncan, our 104 year old member, passed away in January 2005. She had been a loyal member of Patsy Gregg chapter for 81 years and held numerous offices. We will miss her.