Mendota DAR awards Good Citizenship Awards to La Salle-Peru, Earlville, Mendota high students

The Fort du Rocher Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met Dec. 7 at the First Presbyterian Church and presented its DAR Good Citizenship awards.

Amanda Simpson reported the winners are Jordan Ann Whaley from La Salle-Peru High School, Emma Jacobs from Earlville High School and Anthony Kelson from Mendota High School. Whaley’s essay has advanced to the district level.

Regent Donna Jungnickel presided over the meeting. The chapter has 39 members.

The Patriot minutes told about Lily McIlhaney Bowan who was born in Ireland at about 1705. She came to Pennsylvania with her step father and siblings. She was an expert spinner, but also a slave owner. After 1779 she purchased 800 acres and moved along the Great Road in the middle fork of Holston. The first missionaries to the settlement had services in a ballroom named for her.

The conservation minute told what is in fall leaves and how they benefit yards.

The deadline for the March newsletter will be Feb. 15. The chapter needs three or four members to serve on the nominating committee for the 2025-2027 office terms.

After the meeting, members enjoyed a potluck for Christmas. They also signed Christmas cards for the Illinois Veterans Home residents in La Salle.

The next meeting will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Graves Hume Library, Mendota. Lori Perry will be helping with paper research for supplementals. The Fort du Rocher web page may be viewed at http://www.fortdurocherchapternsdar.com. Any woman older than 18 whose lineage traces back to a Revolutionary War patriot, who wishes to learn more about Daughters of the American Revolution is invited to attend the next meeting or go online to www.dar.org