On April 1, 1926, Mrs. Ida May Cook Markham was confirmed as the Organizing Regent for the chapter.
Mrs. Markham originally hailed from Michigan. Ida May Cook was born in 1860 in Pittsfield, Michigan, married Frank Edgar Markham 26 Oct 1892 in Big Rapids, Michigan, where they lived for several years. She was a teacher in the Big Rapids schools at the time of her marriage in 1892, and was very active in club work: president of the Big Rapids Woman’s Club, involved in the Women’s Missionary Society, president of the Four Times Four Literary Club, Regent of Big Rapids Chapter, NSDAR and one of the vice presidents of the Big Rapids Improvement Club.
Mrs. Markham was one of the charter members of the Big Rapids Chapter, NSDAR, formerly the Lucy Sprague Tracy Chapter, NSDAR, which was organized in 1900. She served as Regent 1903- 1907, Historian, and as Registrar in 1908.
About 1923, she and her husband Frank moved to the Bradenton, Florida, area permanently after spending their winters here for several years. Ida was an active member of the community. She attended the Women’s Club, presented for the Women’s Missionary Society of the Methodist Church, and was recording secretary for the Manatee-Sarasota Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1920. By 1935, she held the Florida State Chairman position for the DAR Schools Committee.
Ida died 6 June 1942 and is buried in Manasota Memorial Gardens.
Chapter Officers for the first year as of June 1926 were:
- Regent – Mrs. Ida May Markham
- Vice Regent – Mrs. Mary Daisy Duval Craig
- Recording Secretary – Mrs. Maud Adkisson Legters (spelling corrected per chapter yearbook)
- Corresponding Secretary – Mrs. Lorena Keller Cavanaugh
- Treasurer – Mrs. Jennie S. Tallant
- Registrar – Mrs. Caroline Frances Clark
- Historian – Mrs. Kate Bostick Macgruder
The following officers were elected at the November 1927 Meeting:
- Regent – Mrs. Ida May Markham
- Vice Regent – Mrs. Ellen H. Norris (Regent 1928 – 1930, 1931 – 1933, 1943-1944)
- Recording Secretary – Mrs. Retta House Lillard
- Corresponding Secretary – Mrs. Marion Warner Mulloy
- Treasurer – Mrs. Jennie Tallant
- Registrar – Mrs. Linus Clark (Caroline F.)
- Historian – Mrs. Kate Magruder
Newspaper articles courtesy of the Bradenton Herald.
Chapter Charter Members
Ida Prescott Allen
Katherine Yeargan Auld
Mary Horton Barker
Estelle Burris
Nettie Cook Campbell
Lorena Keller Cavanaugh
Caroline Frances Clark
Leila House Corker
Mary Daisy Duval Craig
Maud Allen Day
Mary Wells Fraser
Mildred Stewart Gaines
Kate Harriman
Jessie Lusong Harris
Eldora Mindwell Krikhuff
Maud Adkisson Legters
Retta House Lillard (Bowen)
Kate Bostick Magruder
Martha E Harriman Mason
Clara Mason McBrayer
Ida May Markham
Annie Luke Moody
Ellen W Herndon Norris
Elizabeth Rood Parvin
Blanche Emily Cavanaugh Saussey
Clara Henry Scott
Mary Barker Stewart
Caroline Hampton Hoge Tallant
Jennie S. Tallant
Clara Hilbbs Wagensler
Emily Anderson Ward
Marion Gilbert Warner (Mulloy)
Flora Clarke Weeden
Early and notable Members
Jennie was one of the original Osceola chapter members elected in November 1927, holding the Treasurer’s office. She was originally accepted into the DAR January 25, 1896, in Butte, Montana (no chapter). She organized her chapter, Silver Bow Chapter, NSDAR, on Dec. 21, 1897, and was the first Montana State Regent elected, serving from 1901 to 1905. Upon learning of her death in Oct. 1939, the Silver Bow Chapter, NSDAR members stood in reverent silence to honor her memory. She was remembered as a woman of high principles who was very loyal to her friends and the DAR.
Clara Mason McBrayer was one of the first daughters to join the DAR under our chapter. Her application was submitted Nov. 20, 1926, approved Jan. 18, 1927, and accepted Jan. 29. 1927, and is noted as one of the original charter members.
Lillian Burdine Sponenbarger, while not one of our charter members, was a notable member due to her history in the Bradenton area. She applied to the DAR with the Osceola Chapter May 6, 1937, and was accepted June 30, 1937. Lillian was married to Raymond P. Sponenbarger Sept. 1908, who founded the Bradenton Herald. She wrote the Society News for the Bradenton Herald-Journal, and continued writing when it merged with the Manatee River Journal, becoming the daily Bradenton Herald. She also wrote the society news for other newspapers owned by the Sponenbargers.
She was a charter member of the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, Florida Chapter, and organizer of the John Fite Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
She was the only woman on a six-member commission to restore the Gamble Plantation in Ellenton.
Lillian is listed in the publication Living Descendants of Blood Royal and is included in the book Florida From Indian Trail To Space Age. Lillian died in Bradenton Jan. 4, 1981.