The Millenium Mural
created by Bill Hueg and displayed by Jay Allen’s ShawCraft Sign Co.
created by Bill Hueg and displayed by Jay Allen’s ShawCraft Sign Co.
This is just one of the many murals that are displayed in downtown Belvidere, Illinois. This mural depicts the last 100 years of Belvidere history, including the 1967 tornado, the crowning of Judi Ford Nash as Miss America, the Boone County Fair, the Chrysler plant, and farming.
In October 2017, the Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR presented a Community Service Award to Jay Allen for his work on the Belvidere Murals.
In October 2017, the Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR presented a Community Service Award to Jay Allen for his work on the Belvidere Murals.
Our Chapter's History
Why Is Our Chapter Named for Asa Cottrell?
The chapter was named in honor of the great-great-grandfather to ten of the charter members (see names marked with * in the list of Charter Members below).
Why Is Our Chapter Named for Asa Cottrell?
The chapter was named in honor of the great-great-grandfather to ten of the charter members (see names marked with * in the list of Charter Members below).
cLICK THE "+" TO DISPLAY A lIST OF THE aSA cOTTRELL Charter Members -->
Charter Members
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1921 Organizing Officers:
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Regent:
Vice Regent: Chaplain: Secretary: Corresp. Sec'y: Registrar: Treasurer: Historian: |
* Susan (Cottrell) Marshall
Alice E (Avery) Covey * Bessie (Whitman) Walz Glenn (Olds) Petty Leta (Denny) McMaster * Elizabeth (Whitman) Boyce * Bertha (Whitman) Plane Hakes Gertrude C Thomas |
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Nalzena S (DeCosta) Allen
Sadie M (Atkins) Blakeslee Frances (Tewilliger) Brown Lillian (Pettey) Brown Nina (Woodruff) Burt Katharine (Bates) Benson Carr Mila G (Gibbs) Cook Harriet (Longcor) Covey Lillian M (Fancher) Cunningham Marion (Haskins) Evans Flora (Fellows) Fellows Katherine (Fording) Fellows Abigail Grace (Greene) Gay Lucy F (Truesdell) Gilman |
Ida M (Cook) Grant
Helen (Wells) Grasser Marie Louise (Witbeck) Hunt Anna (Dean) King Ethel Veva King Charlotte M Lawrence Louise Lawrence Nettie (Fellows) Long Kate (Lawrence) Loop Phosa L McMaster Winnifred (White) Meyers * Daisy (Plane) Miles Edna (Galey) Moran * Florence (Whitman) Morse |
Mary (Whitman) Richardson
* Fannie (Cottrell) Sabin Ellen Mary (Angell) Sager Carrie Elizabeth (?) Silvins Grace (Myrick) Sowles Belle Chamberlain (Tripp) Strom Hannah Margaret Thomas May B Thomas Jennie Louise Tripp Linnie (Brown) Tripp * May (Whitman) Turney Edna (Osborne) Whitcomb Marietta (Olney) Witbeck * Naomi Penny (Morse) Woleben |
* One of the ten charter members who is a descendant of Asa Cottrell
The Asa Cottrell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held its first meeting on October 14, 1920, at the home of Susan Marshall, the chapter’s first regent. Susan Marshall’s maiden name was Susan S. Cottrell, who was one of the descendants of Asa Cottrell.
Asa Cottrell was born in Stonington, Connecticut, on November 15, 1746. When Asa was 30 years old in 1776, he enlisted in his country’s service with the Massachusetts troops. He served in Capt. Lyman’s Company and in Colonel Dykes’ regiment; and in 1777, he served under Colonel Webber during the expedition to Bennington and Stillwater. He was wounded in battle and was made lieutenant while in service. Asa Cottrell married Lucinda Otis Clapp, a descendant of John Howland of the Mayflower.
The Charter Members
Asa Cottrell was born in Stonington, Connecticut, on November 15, 1746. When Asa was 30 years old in 1776, he enlisted in his country’s service with the Massachusetts troops. He served in Capt. Lyman’s Company and in Colonel Dykes’ regiment; and in 1777, he served under Colonel Webber during the expedition to Bennington and Stillwater. He was wounded in battle and was made lieutenant while in service. Asa Cottrell married Lucinda Otis Clapp, a descendant of John Howland of the Mayflower.
The Charter Members
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To organize a chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Belvidere, was the ambition of Susan Cottrell Marshall, a descendant of Asa Cottrell, and a member of the John Stark Chapter NSDAR of Sycamore, Illinois, her former home. So she became a member at large, and the State Regent.
Georgia V. Chubbuck made her the organizing regent of the new chapter. Putting into the work her usual enthusiasm and clever faculty for organizing, she soon gathered a goodly number of her kinspeople and neighbors, who were eligible, into her home. In the early spring of 1921, the Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR became a permanent organization, with fifty charter members. And before the two years of Susan Marshall’s regency expired, the membership was seventy-five. This was regarded as a marvelous achievement by the State Regent, Georgia V. Chubbuck. At the close of Susan Marshall’s two-year term, she was made honorary regent for life. |
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At the close of Susan Marshall’s two-year term, she was made honorary regent for life.
Susan Cottrell Marshall was born, educated and married in DeKalb County, moving to Belvidere in 1891. Of her two sons, Thomas answered the call to his country’s service, leaving the University of Wisconsin in his junior year, entering World War I in 1917, being paymaster in the U.S. Navy. After two years’ service he was made lieutenant and returned home two months after the armistice was signed. Susan Marshall presented the chapter with a lineage volume, and parchment roll of the charter members. Elizabeth Whitman Boyce was the second of the Asa Cottrell descendants serving as regent, during the years of 1923-25. She was one of the organizing members of the chapter, being the first registrar. Her parents were Royal T and Margaret V Whitman, early settlers of Belvidere. A Revolutionary War ancestor, John Whitman, helped in the settlement of Ashburnam, Massachusetts, where they had fled from beyond the Rhine, seeking religious freedom. Five other ancestors came over in the Mayflower, including Elder William Brewster. |
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At the opening of World War I, her two sons, John and Royal, were ready to follow the example set by ancestors, and entered their country’s service: one as sergeant in quartermaster’s department, seeing action in Toul Sector, St. Mihiel offensive, and Meuse Argonne; the other son was an electrical engineer with Emergency Fleet Corporation.
During the regency of Elizabeth Boyce, the chapter had placed in the court house grounds, to mark the burial place of Chief Big Thunder, of the Pottawatamie [sic] Indians, a boulder with a bronze tablet bearing a suitable inscription. Elizabeth Boyce increased our library collection of lineage books by adding fourteen volumes.
Leta Denny McMaster, third regent of Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR, was born in Lake County, Iowa, January 1, 1891. She is a descendant of Samuel Denny, a Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment of minutemen, which marched upon the Lexington alarm. After graduation from Shortridge High School of Indianapolis, she completed a course at the University of Chicago, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1914. Leta McMaster was a charter member of Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR, the first corresponding secretary, and third regent, serving two terms, 1925-27.
The outstanding work of her regency was the purchase of a chair in Constitution Hall. Washington, D. C., which was dedicated to Susan Cottrell Marshall, organizing and honorary regent of Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR. The young chapter became more familiar with the purposes of the National Society, by visits during the year from our state officers, namely: Susan Hanley, Vice President General; Mabel Hurd Walker Herrick, ex-regent, and Anna May Bowman, active regent of Illinois. The chapter felt honored and instructed by the encouraging words of these distinguished officers. At the close of Leta McMaster’s regency, she became a member of the State Publicity Committee.
The fourth regent was Alice Avery Covey, 1927-29. She was a great granddaughter of Private Ezekiel Avery, who fought for American Independence in the 4th Connecticut Regiment. He enlisted when sixteen years of age, and remained in the army until the surrender of Cornwallis. Alice Covey graduated from Belvidere High School and Missouri State Normal. She taught for twelve years
During the regency of Elizabeth Boyce, the chapter had placed in the court house grounds, to mark the burial place of Chief Big Thunder, of the Pottawatamie [sic] Indians, a boulder with a bronze tablet bearing a suitable inscription. Elizabeth Boyce increased our library collection of lineage books by adding fourteen volumes.
Leta Denny McMaster, third regent of Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR, was born in Lake County, Iowa, January 1, 1891. She is a descendant of Samuel Denny, a Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment of minutemen, which marched upon the Lexington alarm. After graduation from Shortridge High School of Indianapolis, she completed a course at the University of Chicago, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1914. Leta McMaster was a charter member of Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR, the first corresponding secretary, and third regent, serving two terms, 1925-27.
The outstanding work of her regency was the purchase of a chair in Constitution Hall. Washington, D. C., which was dedicated to Susan Cottrell Marshall, organizing and honorary regent of Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR. The young chapter became more familiar with the purposes of the National Society, by visits during the year from our state officers, namely: Susan Hanley, Vice President General; Mabel Hurd Walker Herrick, ex-regent, and Anna May Bowman, active regent of Illinois. The chapter felt honored and instructed by the encouraging words of these distinguished officers. At the close of Leta McMaster’s regency, she became a member of the State Publicity Committee.
The fourth regent was Alice Avery Covey, 1927-29. She was a great granddaughter of Private Ezekiel Avery, who fought for American Independence in the 4th Connecticut Regiment. He enlisted when sixteen years of age, and remained in the army until the surrender of Cornwallis. Alice Covey graduated from Belvidere High School and Missouri State Normal. She taught for twelve years
Plaque placed by Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR on the north-east side of State Street bridge in downtown Belvidere
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in the schools of Texas, Missouri, and Illinois. Through her efforts, the naturalization courts are now attended by the chapter members, a short patriotic program is given, and silk flags and manuals are presented to the new citizens.
The event of 1929, however, is the placing upon Belvidere’s new bridge, a bronze tablet dedicated to our pioneer settlers, and marking the site of the first house in Belvidere, built in 1836. Source: Scott, Rose Moss. Illinois State History: Daughters of the American Revolution. [Danville, Ill.]: [Illinois Print. Co.], 1929 . |
Chapter Timeline
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1921 - On March 25, 1921, the chapter was organized.
1922 - On November 20, 1922, the chapter was chartered. The chapter made its first contribution to the Betsy Ross House Fund. 1924 - The chapter helped the Ellis Island Immigrant Aid Committee. This group of Daughters also sent a gift of money to purchase a chair for Constitution Hall in honor of Susan Marshall. The 1924 members placed a memorial stone on the grave of Big Thunder, Chief of the Pottawatomie Indians. The rough reddish granite boulder still lies at the foot of the flagpole located between the Boone County Court House and the Public Safety Building. Beginning the year of 1924 and continuing, the graves of Timothy Lewis and Thomas Hart, Revolutionary soldiers buried in the Belvidere Cemetery, have been decorated. The fourth regent, Alice Avery Covey, aroused the interest of the members in the naturalization courts and as a result, the chapter distributed small silk flags and manuals to new citizens. |
Memorial for Big Thunder, Chief of the Pottawatomie Indians, located in front of the Public Safety Building in Belvidere
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Marker for the historic Ames Tavern, a common stopping place for wagons and prairie schooners on their way to the West
1937 - Asa Cottrell Daughters placed a marker on a boulder along Route 20 to show the location of Ames Tavern which was one of the stopping places of prairie schooners as they moved West. State coaches traveling between Chicago and Galena used this inn.
Marker for an elm tree descendant from the famous Washington Elm at Cambridge, Massachusetts, which was once planted in Blood's Point Cemetery, just five miles south of Belvidere
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1955 - The chapter planted a tree and dedicated a bronze marker in Blood’s Point Cemetery, Flora Township. The elm tree was a seedling of the famous Washington Elm at Cambridge, Massachusetts, under which George Washington took command of the Continental Army in 1775. This tree is no longer in the cemetery but the boulder with the bronze marker is still there.
1970 - Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR has conducted American history essay contests for several years. In 1970, Susan Babb, a student in Belvidere, placed first in the State of Illinois. 1971 - Margaret Olson won first place in Illinois for her essay, “We Owe So Much To So Few,” and received first place in the North Central Division. 1976 - The Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR took an active part in the U.S. Bicentennial celebration by purchasing a set of flags used throughout the history of the United States. These flags were displayed several times in Boone County in 1976 and later at a Rockford DAR celebration. |
For the Boone County Fourth of July parade in 1976, the local chapter built a float with a mural. This mural was painted by Letricia Luhman Mullens, and depicted the Spirit of the American Revolution. The mural was donated to the Boone County Board and at one time hung in the Public Safety Building. In 1982, the Boone County Board gave the mural to the Boone County Museum of History where it is still displayed. During May of this Bicentennial year, Carol Poyer Sisson, regent, unveiled a plaque at the William Holt Gilman House in Belvidere. This plaque was dedicated by the Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR in honor of the Gilman family, early settlers in Boone County.
The Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR has contributed to the DAR for the renovated room furnished in Independence Hall, Philadelphia.
1977 - This chapter received a national third place award for a feature story written by Daughter Ida L. Burleigh. In 1983, Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR won a first in Illinois for news coverage. At the DAR State Conference in 1989, Asa Cottrell received a first place award for having the most inches of publicity in the State of Illinois. In the fall of 1979, the chapter had services and marked the grave of Fanny Butterfield Sabien who was a DAR member for 53 years and the daughter-in-law of the founder of this chapter. The chapter donated money for the restoration of the Petit Memorial Chapel in the spring of 1979. This building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is in the Belvidere Cemetery.
The Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR has contributed to the DAR for the renovated room furnished in Independence Hall, Philadelphia.
1977 - This chapter received a national third place award for a feature story written by Daughter Ida L. Burleigh. In 1983, Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR won a first in Illinois for news coverage. At the DAR State Conference in 1989, Asa Cottrell received a first place award for having the most inches of publicity in the State of Illinois. In the fall of 1979, the chapter had services and marked the grave of Fanny Butterfield Sabien who was a DAR member for 53 years and the daughter-in-law of the founder of this chapter. The chapter donated money for the restoration of the Petit Memorial Chapel in the spring of 1979. This building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is in the Belvidere Cemetery.
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1984 - During the 88th State Conference in April 1984, Roger Gustafson, Director of the Boone County Conservation District, received an NSDAR Conservation Medal for various outstanding programs in the field of conservation. 1988 - The “Art and Times of Professor William Stanley and the Families Whose Lives He Touched,” a book written by member, Beth Herbert Luhman, was presented to the NSDAR Library in Washington, D.C., in 1988. Professor Stanley was an itinerant artist who depicted rural life in Boone County with his pencil drawings between 1885 and 1912. 2001 - At the dedication of the State Street Bridge on 7 December 2001, the Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR was issued a Proclamation for placing a bronze plaque on the bridge reading “1835-1929 Dedicated to the Pioneer Settlers and First Officers of Boone County.” Regent Vera Hansen accepted for the Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR. 2008 - Due to severe wrinkling because of broken glass admitting moisture, the original charter was permanently mounted on a double mounting. The restoration was done in 1976. Member Beth Luhman, Conservator, was in charge. In July 2008, the framed document was loaned for display to the Boone County Historical Museum Research Center because Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR does not have a public place to display this beautiful charter. This charter has now been returned to the chapter. 2010 - Genealogy workshops have been held by the chapter in past years. In collaboration with the Boone County Historical Society Museum Research Center a very successful “Genealogy 101” workshop was held in July 2010. 2011 - An Excellence in Community Service Awards has been presented to Eagle Scout Josh Broze in 2011, for his planning and execution of the Memorial Garden at the Belvidere VFW Post 1461. 2013 - An Excellence in Community Service Awards has been presented to Eagle Scout Andrew Geyer in 2013, for helping to restore and document the Drake Cemetery in Boone County. 2015 - Beginning in 2015, we have partnered with the EAA for a Fly-In Breakfast to recognize the Vietnam 50th Commemoration honoring all veterans, with special recognition for those who served in the Vietnam War. The chapter has continued this partnership for 2016 and 2017. 2016 - We celebrated the 95th anniversary of the Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR in March 2016. We recorded our CELEBRATE AMERICA hours and collected letters to send to active service men and women for the World Record in Patriotism held during the 125th Continental Congress. 2017 - For "Top of Illinois Veterans Stand Down" in October 2017 to help veterans in need, our chapter created bags of toiletries to hand out with a welcome and thank you for your service. We also helped by donating clothing and filling spots that day wherever needed. |
Past Regents1921-1923 - Susan Cottrell Marshall
1923-1925 - Elizabeth Whitman Boyce 1925-1927 - Leta Denny McMaster 1927-1929 - Alice Avery Covey 1929-1931 - E. Veva King 1931-1932 - Nettie Vail Corson 1932-1934 - Susan Cottrell Marshall 1934-1937 - A. Grace Greene Gay 1936-1937 - Jennie Bennett Witbeck 1937-1939 - Grace Gay Schnell 1939-1940 - Elizabeth Garner Mundell 1940-1941 - Helen Ling Mong 1941-1943 - Iva Moore Griffeth 1943-1945 - Linnie Brown Tripp 1945 -1946 - Belle Tripp Strom 1946-1947 - Iva Moore Griffeth 1947-1949 - Linnie Brown Tripp 1949-1951 - Gertrude Whitney Dunbar 1951-1953 - Bessie Whitman Walz 1953-1955 - Marguerite Fassett James 1955-1957 - Mahala Law Speigel 1957-1959 - Ada Dunbar Church 1959-1962 - Eunice Buck Davey 1962-1964 - Lucille Stehley Turner 1964-1967 - Dora Sheley White 1967-1968 - Eunice Buck Davey 1968-1971 - Harriet Porter Hollembeck 1971-1973 - Ida I. Burleigh 1973-1977 - Carol Poyer Sisson 1977-1979 - Lois Gabel Goldhagen 1979-1981 - Beverly Fox Hills 1981-1983 - Roberta Wright Daniels 1983-1985 - Laura Sears Reagan 1985-1988 - Lucille Stehley Turner 1988-1989 - Roberta Wright Daniels 1989-1990 - Carol Monaghan Barron 1990-1994 - Irma M. Pontius Baxter Niemann 1994-1998 - Guinevere Wright Anderson 1998-2000 - Irma M. Pontius Baxter Niemann 2000-2002 - Vera Franks Hansen 2002-2006 - Carol Wheeler Hale 2006-2011 - Doris Darlene Hawn Schoepski 2011-2012 - Rinda Burton Swan 2012-2016 - Doris Darlene Hawn Schoepski 2016-2021 - Kathleen Ann Hughes 2021-2023- Dory Lynn Bailey Curnayn 2023-present - Laura Przybylski Honorary Regents Doris Darlene Hawn Schoepski Kathleen Ann Hughes |
In October 2017, we presented a Community Service Award to Jay Allen of Shawcraft for his community volunteerism and work on the Belvidere Murals.
2018 - The chapter received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Defense, Vietnam War Commemoration.
Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR continues to sponsor the DAR Good Citizens Contest for students in local high schools. The winning participants receive a pin, certificate, and a monetary scholarship from the Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR which is presented to them on Awards Day. Eighth grade students are encouraged to participate in the American History Contest. An eighth grade student from each school is selected by their history teacher and is presented a pin and certificate at their schools' award programs.
The goal of the Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR is to reflect the aims of the national and state organization. We do this each year by supporting national and state funds and our District II projects.
In October 2017, we presented a Community Service Award to Jay Allen of Shawcraft for his community volunteerism and work on the Belvidere Murals.
2018 - The chapter received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Defense, Vietnam War Commemoration.
Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR continues to sponsor the DAR Good Citizens Contest for students in local high schools. The winning participants receive a pin, certificate, and a monetary scholarship from the Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR which is presented to them on Awards Day. Eighth grade students are encouraged to participate in the American History Contest. An eighth grade student from each school is selected by their history teacher and is presented a pin and certificate at their schools' award programs.
The goal of the Asa Cottrell Chapter NSDAR is to reflect the aims of the national and state organization. We do this each year by supporting national and state funds and our District II projects.
