CAPE DAR MARKS 100 YEARS

Serving in the American military is a tradition in Julie Kolb's family. Her husband, Anthony, was an Army drill sergeant and now is a Navy Reservist. Their son, Michael, is in the Air Force ROTC at Southeast Missouri State University.

Going back, various members of both sides of the family served in the military.

A hobby genealogist, Kolb has traced her family's military roots to Thomas James, a Pennsylvania private who fought in the Revolutionary War and later in the Indian Wars.

Last October, Kolb joined the Nancy Hunter Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution to explore her family heritage.

"I discovered it's more a family tradition to be a soldier," she says. "That's not just something that started in WWII or even WWI. This has been in my family from the very beginning of immigration."

The Nancy Hunter Chapter based in Cape Girardeau celebrated its 100th anniversary earlier this month.

Oldest members

Of the 61 members, about 20 attend meetings. Others live outside the state or are unable to attend for health reasons. At 95, Eula Stevenson is the oldest member followed by Irene Popp at 88.

The youngest is Katie McLain, who just joined at 19. McLain is a descendant of Alexander McLain, a Revolutionary War soldier buried in the Pocahontas Presbyterian cemetery at Pocahontas, Mo.

She first heard about her family's patriotic history from her father.

"I like to spend a lot of time with my family and I like my family history," she said. "I kind of thought it was an honor that I could join."

It is easier for a woman to join if she has a relative who is a member and has done the exhaustive research necessary.

McLain and Mick Stiver, the chapter historian, are both descended from Alexander McLain.

A freshman at Southeast Missouri State University majoring in therapeutic recreation, McLain was nervous about becoming the organization's youngest member.

"But I felt I had to persuade them it would be OK, because my generation gets a bad rap," she said.

She wants to attend the Continental Congress the DAR holds in Washington, D.C.

To become a member of the DAR, women must prove to be a descendant of a Revolutionary War solider or be related to someone who contributed to the patriotic cause.

Sen. Kinder descendant

Nancy Hunter, the chapter's namesake, and her family were stationed at Fort Jefferson in Wickliffe, Ky., during an Indian siege. Her mother and two brothers were killed, but Nancy sneaked out of the fort and brought food and water back in.

A descendant, Mary Hunter Giboney Houck, was the chapter's first regent when it formed Feb. 12, 1901. The Southeast Missourian's associate publisher, state Sen. Peter Kinder, is a direct descendant of Nancy Hunter.

Stiver presented the history at the anniversary.

One former member of the local chapter, Marie Oliver, designed the Missouri flag. Another member, the late Allene Groves, served as the president general of the national DAR organization. A third member, Mary Kotchitzky, led the drive to place El Camino Real markers throughout the state.

The anniversary celebration Feb. 17 was attended by Mrs. John M. Farmer of Kansas City, Mo., state regent; Mrs. Robert Midyett of Steelville, Mo., Southeast district director; and Mrs. Lloyd Young of Scott City, Mo., the state organizing secretary.

The organization saluted the community's youth. Notre Dame student Liesl Schoenberger played the violin, Franklin School third-grader Quitman McBride III sang the national anthem and 4-year-old Amelia Popp said the Pledge of Allegiance.

At its monthly meeting Wednesday afternoon at the Cape Girardeau Public Library, the chapter will honor the winners of its annual Good Citizens Award: Erin Cook of Delta High School, Sarah Muench of Cape Central High School and Phillip Davidson of Notre Dame Regional High School.

The organization also will give its American History Award to Lisa Langenfeld, a seventh-grader at L.J. Schultz School.