About Corn Island
Corn Island Chapter, NSDAR, was officially organized on February 4, 2012, by a small group of DAR Daughters who identified four areas of focus for the new chapter: veterans issues, women’s issues, historic preservation, and genealogy. The objective was a DAR chapter comprised of involved, service-oriented women of all ages and backgrounds.
The Relevance of a Name
DAR chapter names must meet set criteria:
- the name must be relevant to the geographical area;
- the name must have ties to a local site that can be visited and;
- the name must have ties to the American Revolution.
Corn Island, a settlement on the Ohio River, was settled by General George Rogers Clark, along with his militia and other settlers, on May 27, 1778. Once crops were planted, it became known as Corn Island. From this western outpost, General Clark led his militia on the Illinois Campaign, which saw the capture of Fort Vincennes from the British. After this victory, Clark sent word back to the settlement to move on shore. The relocated settlement was named Louisville, in honor of the French king Louis XVI. A historical marker site in Louisville close to the original site provides the history. Unfortunately, the actual island itself was removed to make way for the McAlpine Locks and Dam canal.
Today, members of the Corn Island Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution find new friends who:
Share a sense of patriotism and desire to support our veterans and active and retired military families.
Contribute to worthwhile projects that make a difference for generations to come.
Help create a sense of pride and provide educational opportunities for our children.
Share an interest in our ancestors’ roles in American history
Engage in and be of service in the community and our nation.
And, we make lasting friendships while serving, learning, and creating!
Corn Island Daughters are committed to community service projects, including cleaning and maintaining headstones at a local cemetery that dates back to the Revolutionary War.