It was a century ago on Dec. 4, 1909, when a group of ladies met to organize the Ocoee Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. The group gathered in the home of Cooksey Harris Hardwick (now the Jarnigan House), who is recognized as the founding member and first regent.

The 13-member chapter received its charter March 21, 1910. The number included Mrs. J.H. Hardwick, Louise Ramsdell Linn, Sue Wood Herndon, Emma H. Goodner, Harris Hardwick Knox, Anna Lou Hall Rodgers, Ellen Sandusky Lang, Isabelle Hardwick, Mrs. Wingfield Seymour, Lollie Belle Hardwick, Frances Elizabeth Sheddan, Margaret Hardwick and Carrie B. Johnston. Twenty years later, the chapter boasted 50 members.

James S. Webb framed the charter document in honor of his wife, who served as regent of the chapter from 1989 to 1991. The document was hung in the parlor of the Jarnigan House where the first Ocoee DAR chapter met. The Jarnigan House was donated to the city of Cleveland by Mrs. Hardwick’s great-granddaughter, Joe Corn Stuart.

In the years since its organization, Ocoee DAR has promoted education, patriotic service and the preservation of history — all with reverence for God, the country and the home. Contributions to the city of Cleveland and Bradley County have been numerous — financially and historically, as well as in leadership and community service.

Early on, the chapter took on the responsibility of giving awards for the study of history in the schools and provided study materials for grammar, elementary and high schools. Flags were presented to various organizations and contributions have been given to schools and clubs in efforts to raise patriotism.

In 1921, $160 was donated to Lincoln Memorial University toward a DAR dormitory. In 1926, Ocoee Chapter purchased a chair in the Tennessee Box in Constitution Hall in honor of the organizing regent.

Revolutionary soldiers’ graves have been marked also, such as the marker in memory of Chief Jack Walker, a Cherokee Indian, on June 14, 1928. It was unveiled by a full-blood Cherokee Indian, along with Joe Hardwick Corn and Mary Stamper, great-great-granddaughters of Mary Isbell Tucker, a “Real Daughter” of the American Revolution.

Elizabeth Fillauer was presented the Community Service Award on Feb. 4, 1994, for her efforts to preserve the historical integrity of downtown Cleveland. As noted in a 1994 Banner story of the Ocoee DAR’s celebrating its 85-year anniversary, Fillauer was responsible for the placement of the Tipton-Fillauer House on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Hair Conrad Cabin on the Blythewood Farm was also added to the Register of Historic Places through the efforts of Bess Mayfield Neil, who restored the cabin at her own expense. The restoration was done for the 1986 Tennessee homecoming Celebration.

Neil was the host for the dedication of the Cooper Cemetery marker also on her farm in 1981. Some 25 markers were placed by the Ocoee Chapter.

The chapter bought filing cabinets for the history room in the Craigmiles House for a collection of family records. In addition, it has donated several volumes to the local history branch as well as to the DAR Library in Washington, D.C.

Ocoee DAR includes several recognized writers including Manley, Donnelly, Louise Harle, Nancy Wooten Walker, Ellen Ann Westerberg Campbell, Melba Taylor Hargis, Mattie Belle Ross and Patsy Crox Underhill.

The Ocoee Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution has enjoyed distinguished regents through its 100 years:

Mrs. J.H. Hardwick (Cooksey Harris) 1909-1919; Mrs. John W. Taylor (Katie Paul) 1919-1920; Mrs. Columbus Alexander Mee (Margaret Henderson (1920-1922); Mrs. John Milne (Angelle Andrews) 1922-1925; Mrs. E.F. Campbell (Laura) 1925-1929; Mrs. Samuel Neil Varnell (May Abel) 1927-1928; Mrs. Oscar A. Knox (Harris Hardwick) 1928-1931; Mrs. Lee Tucker Hall (Lizzie Stuart) 1931-1934; Mrs. L.D. Donaldson (Rosa Lee Voncannon) 19334-1937; Mrs. George E. Westerberg (Alpha Davis) 1937-1941; Mrs. William H. Fillauer (Elizabeth Keys) 1941-1944; Mrs. John W. Taylor (Katie Paul) 1944-1947; Mrs. J.B. Taylor (Ethel Hooper) 1947-1950; Mrs. Richard Barry (Hattie Hambright) 1950-1953; Elizabeth Fillauer 1953-1959; Louise Harle 1959-1961; Mrs. A.M. Bryant (Bessie Cartwright) 1961-1968; Louise Harle 1968-1969; Mrs. John G. Coats Jr. (Lynne Mueller) 1969-1971; Mrs. A.M. Bryant (Bessie Cartwright) 1971-1974; Mrs. Frank Manly (Elizabeth Cate) 1974-1977; Mrs. E.L. Ross (Mattie Belle Carpenter) 1977-1983; Mrs. Robert S. Wells (Mary Ruth Woods) 1983-1986; Mrs. John G. Coats Jr. (Lynne Mueller) 1986-1989; Mrs. James S. Webb (Josephine Hall) 1989-1991; Willie Mae McReynolds 1991-1993; Mrs. Russell Andrew Donnelly (Polly Watkins) 1993-1995; Elizabeth Fillauer 1995-1996; Rebecca Osborne 1996-1997; Mrs. Carl Malmquist (Helen) 1997-2003; Mrs. Jim L. Tippens (Katy Ball) 2003-2007; Mrs. James Derring Williams (Gail) 2007-2009; and Mrs. James Donald Riden (Helen) 2009 to present.

Markers throughout the area attest to the involvement of the Ocoee Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution in recognizing places and people of historical significance. The following is a partial listing:

— A tablet in memory of Chief Jack Walker, a noted Cherokee Indian, was unveiled June 14, 1928, on Charleston Pike (now Lee Highway).

— A bronze tablet at the Bradley County Courthouse, which noted the date of the establishment and first count of Bradley County and first county officers, was unveiled Nov. 6, 1931.

— A marker in honor of R.J. Megis on the Lee Highway in Cahoun was unveiled June 22, 1930.

— A marker was erected at the grave of the Little Indian Princess Elisabeth Ross, daughter of Lewis Ross and Fanny Holt, on June 22, 1930.

— A marker was placed on the Etowah Enterprise Building in June 1929 with the inscription, “Man was not born until himself, alone but unto his country.”

— A marker was unveiled June 14, 1930, at the Hiwassee River Bridge, McMinn County, with inscription, “DeSoto crossed this river here in 1539.”

— On June 14, 1930, a marker was unveiled in Polk County in the Unaka foothills with the inscription, “The song, ‘When You and I Were Young, Maggie,’ was written here and dedicated to his wife, Maggie Harris, by her husband George Johnson in 1820.”

— A tablet marking the “Great Indian War Path” was unveiled near Benton on Oct. 14, 1931.

— Two bronze tablets were unveiled Nov. 22, 1931, with the inscription, “To mark Old Fort Marr built by the United States, 1814.”

— A marker was erected at the Benton High School by Benton Historical Association to honor Nancy Ward, the “Wild Rose of Cherokee, 1731-1832.”

— The grave of the Rev. Soldier William Cook in the Cook Cemetery near Etowah was marked May 30, 1930, and the grave of Thomas Cantrell in the Williamsburg Cemetery on June 14, 1930. Gravesites of Barnabas Cochran in Monroe County and the Rev. Soldier Isaac Lane in Niota were marked June 15, 1931.

— On Oct. 8, 1933, markers at the gravesites of Richard Shirley, John Hannah Brooks and William Stubly Shirley — all three graves are in the Brooks Family Cemetery — were unveiled.

— An official “Real Daughter” marker was placed at the Fort Hill Cemetery in 1924 for Mary Isabelle Tucker, daughter of Thomas Isabelle, who married Joseph Tucker.

— Official DAR markers were placed at the grave of Emma Long Goodner on Oct. 7, 1932, Mrs. J.H. (Cooksey Harris) Hardwick on June 3, 1933, and Mary Johnston Brown on June 3, 1938.

— In 1955, Tennesee Historical Commission placed a marker at Oak Grove Academy. The marker was placed the second time on Central Avenue in July 1971.

— The tombs of David and Delilah McNair in Conasauga were restored and a wreath was placed by the Ocoee Chapter DAR. Col. James F. Corn was the speaker at the ceremony.

— On May 28, 1978, Daniel Horton, a Revolutionary soldier from North Carolina, who moved to McMinn County, was honored in a dedication ceremony and a marker was placed in Horton’s Cemetery near Union Grove.

In addition, the Ocoee Chapter DAR has planted five memorial trees from 1930 to 1935 and unveiled with appropriate ceremonies. All markers bear the Daughters of the American Revolution insignia.

Ocoee Chapter have carried out many patriotic and historical projects though the years. Its members have been involved in the community as volunteers and leaders in religious, cultural and social organizations, as well as historical.

Its 100th anniversary will be celebrated on Dec. 4 at the Cleveland Country Club. Helen Riden is the current regent and membership has reached 60.