Tracing their roots

The gravesite of Revolutionary soldier Joseph Hart.

By Katie Glick | Guest Columnist

I’ve always believed in the saying, “When you get there, remember where you came from.” The thought might have been ingrained in me from a young age because of my agriculture roots. However, my family appreciated family history, and I was blessed to marry into a family with the same, yet deeper, appreciation — the Glicks. While I fancied myself as the American Girl doll Felicity Merriman (the colonial-era girl who declared her independence) when I was younger, I cannot claim that I am truly in the real club — the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The Glicks can claim that membership and my daughters will when they turn 18.

Members of the Glick family sign their DAR paperwork. From left are Rachael Forster, Donna Glick, Karen (Glick) Forster, Amy Forster and Lisa (Glick) Alderson.
Members of the Glick family sign their DAR paperwork. From left are Rachael Forster, Donna Glick, Karen (Glick) Forster, Amy Forster and Lisa (Glick) Alderson.

Family Legacy

My grandmother-in-law, Donna Solomon Glick, is a member of the local Joseph Hart Chapter of the DAR. She, along with her eldest daughter Linda Glick, are longtime active members who have been searching for family links to Revolutionary patriots for years. Donna searched for 17 years to find the first American Revolution soldier on her fraternal side. It’s one thing to discover an ancestor, it’s another to prove you are a descendant with all the paperwork — marriage licenses, birth certificates and death certificates.

Just recently, other members of our family joined the DAR in honor of Donna’s 90th birthday on Jan. 17, and just in time for Mother’s Day. They wanted to secure the legacy and engagement in a long-established organization both nationally and locally. The Joseph Hart Chapter is celebrating their centennial birthday in 2021 — fitting for Donna as well.

In honor of her, the following members joined the organization: daughters Mary Williams and Karen Forster, and granddaughters Lisa Alderson (daughter of the late Myron Glick and Donna’s son), Michele Sullivan (Mary), Amy Forster (Linda), Rachael Forster (Linda) and Katie Forster (Karen). When all the great-granddaughters are old enough there will be seven others and potentially more.

While Donna has been the matriarch of our family and has shared stories and artifacts of our ancestors, Linda is now the keeper of our family history. Her passion for genealogy and finding the clues to complete limbs of our family tree are infectious. She, along with Rhonda Bolner, the chapter registrar, have now convinced me to try and prove that I am a daughter of the American Revolution, too (and I’m really crossing my fingers that I can finally be like Felicity).

DAR Education

Many people know about DAR because of the organization’s long-standing support in local communities, scholarships, history books or their grandmother’s involvement. However, few are lucky enough to actually be members who have discovered and proved their families tie to an American Revolution patriot. For some official education, the “Daughters of the American Revolution is a women’s service organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, patriotism and honoring the patriots of the Revolutionary War.” A woman must prove she is a descendant of an American patriot who helped in achieving American independence to be a member. This can include a soldier or medic along with those who are considered patriots who contributed to the war effort including money, food, property, lodging or served in a civil capacity for the new patriot government — all of which was risky to do and considered treasonous.

Joseph Hart Chapter

In 1920, a group of women who were members of DAR in other cities along with others who could be members began to organize a chapter in Columbus. The official organizing date and national acceptance of the Joseph Hart Chapter was June 9, 1921. The name was chosen in honor of two of the founding members’ ancestors and Revolutionary soldier, Joseph Hart, who also had a very early connection to the county. The other patriots buried in Bartholomew County were also soldiers which was not unusual as many of the men who were young enough to be soldiers had come west for inexpensive land. When the war broke out in 1775, our county patriots were ages 13-43 (the oldest followed his son west).

Today, there are 113 members of the chapter from multiple generations and it’s one of the larger groups in the state. You do not have to be a resident of Bartholomew County to join. The women will begin their celebrations this year by doing something they always do on May 20th at 10:30 a.m. in Garland Brook Cemetery at Joseph Hart’s gravesite. They will place 20 flags on the site for the 20 Revolutionary soldiers they believe are buried in the county (only 12 have headstones) and remove them at dusk. The chapter will also sponsor the local Salute! concert, host an anniversary tea for members and guests and will promote the chapter, encourage membership and focus on education efforts about DAR and its impact.

The chapter has done some amazing work in our county — here are a few favorites:

Proposed the city change the name of the White River Road west of the Tipton bridge to Jonathan Moore Parkway who was a member of General Washington’s Life Guard and is buried in the county.

Sponsored a number of historical markers including for the “Lodging of the Indiana State Records and Property” when the Indiana State Capital was moved from Corydon to Indianapolis and several state leaders, their families and state records stayed overnight at the Newsom Home in Azalia.

Contributed sewing material for immigrant women arriving on Ellis Island in 1927.

Became active in the Red Cross and Bundles of America during WWII. The organization was a national war relief club, providing regulation garments, “service kits” and furnishings to the Armed Forces.

Sponsored a plaque with Revolutionary soldier names for the county courthouse lawn in 1975. Only 18 names were known at the time, more have been identified since.

In regards to historic preservation, the local chapter sponsored an application by the Bartholomew County Historical Society for a national DAR grant to restore and replace windows at the Henry Breeding Farm in 2019. They are also working to sponsor a local cemetery. As for patriotism, if you speak to any of the members for 5 minutes you understand that patriotism is at the root of their engagement. At one time during their chapter history, they provided American flags for every elementary classroom and have donated others since. If you have a flag need or help with a flag ceremony, please contact the chapter for support.

How fitting to celebrate the local chapter’s 100th anniversary during the same year as the Columbus Area Bicentennial. The chapter’s impact is much more prevalent than just helping women find their patriots — it’s about preserving American history and honoring our Revolutionary patriots. And the mission of DAR has not changed, but how they have fulfilled that mission has changed over time which is what you expect from a 100-year-old organization rooted in a cause from the 1700s. I hope the organization’s leaders, both locally and nationally, realize their outreach and engagement will need to continue to evolve for the next 100 years. These women are passionate patriots themselves so I have no doubt they will continue their work for their families, our community and our country.

In the hustle and bustle of life, looking forward to the future and where we are headed, it can be hard to take a moment to figure out where, and from whom, we came from. I’m hoping to pause for a moment on May 20 and visit Joseph Hart’s gravesite with members of my family and my daughter. She might have my old Felicity doll in hand as we honor our Revolutionary patriots, and frankly, the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Interested in learning more about the local Bartholomew County DAR chapter?

Joseph Hart Chapter: www.darindiana.org/jh/

Membership contact: Rhonda Bolner, [email protected]