HENRY — New officers were installed at the closing meeting of chapter year 2018-19 of the Chief Senachwine Chapter NSDAR, called to order by Regent Nancy Gillfillan at the Meeting Place in Henry on May 4.

Serving for the next two years will be Dolores Dace, regent; Diane Zimmerman, vice regent; Diana Williamson, chaplain; Nancy Gillfillan, recording secretary; Carrie Schwiderski, corresponding secretary; Wendy Welch, treasurer; Sharon Bittner, registrar; and Florence Finfgeld, historian/librarian.

The installation ceremony was conducted by Linda Poundstone, past regent of the Illini Chapter NSDAR, Ottawa. The special guest was Debra Coe, state historian.

Reports from the state conference, held April 26-28, were given by attendees who announced the election of member Sharon Bittner as state recording secretary. Yearly reports were filed by outgoing officers and chairmen. Nina Herridge of Lacon was voted as a chapter prospective and Rebecca Lock of Petersburg, District V director, was voted an associate member.

Members donated 27 packets of garden seeds to Hindman DAR School, located in Hindman, Ky., as part of the school’s “Seed Shower” and “Grow Appalachia” program. Packets are distributed to families throughout the area.

Discussion and votes were held on several bylaw changes to be considered at the national convention in Washington, D.C., on June 26-30.

The chapter presented a Historic Preservation Recognition Award to the Perdew Museum Association Board on May 26 on the museum grounds. On Memorial Day, flowers were placed at the Hennepin grave of Verne Greiner, World War I veteran whose grave was adopted by the chapter, and the Henry Cemetery grave of Clarissa McManners.

Sharon Bittner gave a brief program on the life of Clarissa McManners, who moved from Ashtabula, Ohio, to Henry in 1849, accompanied by her brother, David. She joined the Christopher Lobingier DAR Chapter, formed in Henry in 1910. She was the daughter of John McManners, who served in the Connecticut militia as a private. He was 18 at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

McManners died May 21, 1916, at 82 years of age. Because of her link to a Revolutionary War relative, she was honored with a DAR plaque and special ceremonies on Decoration Day, 1922. In September 2018, members of the Chief Senachwine Chapter cleaned Clarissa’s cemetery stone and marker. Following the close of the meeting, members traveled to the Henry Cemetery to rededicate the stone shaft and marker.