History

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      Moses Shelby Chapter, NSDAR held its first meeting on December 22, 1934 in the home of Mrs. Joseph E. Ransdell.   Mrs. J. Harris Baughman of Tallulah, State Regent of the Louisiana Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, was instrumental in the organization of the chapter.  She was ably assisted by Mrs. Pauline Mitchell McDaniel who became the first Regent.

       Other officers elected at this time were: Mrs. Joseph E. Ransdell, Honorary Regent; Mrs. Alex S. Hill, Vice-Regent; Mrs. Crawford A. Rose, Secretary; Mrs. George T. Hider, Treasurer; Mrs. W. B. Benjamin, Historian; Mrs. Harold Kurrasch, Corresponding Secretary; and Mrs. Frank Brown, Registrar.

       Mrs. Baughman paid special tribute at this meeting to Mrs. Ransdell who had served the National Society so notably as Treasurer General.   In recognition of Mrs. Ransdell's service, the infant chapter decided to name itself  "Moses Shelby Chapter" in honor of Captain Moses Shelby, who was Mrs. Ransdell's great grandfather and her Revolutionary ancestor.

        Moses Shelby, a brother of Colonel Isaac Shelby, was born about 1756.  At the battle of King's Mountain he received two wounds.  The second disabled him, so he was assisted to a stream of water and left there with his rifle for defense.  He also served at the siege of Savannah in 1779, at Cowpens, and at the capture of Augusta in 1781, where he received saber wounds.  After the Indian Wars he settled near New Madrid, Missouri, where he died on September 17th, 1828, at age 72.

      Mrs. Ransdell transferred her membership from Member-at-Large to the Moses Shelby Chapter.  However, the organization meeting at her home was the only one she ever attended, because she passed away in March of 1935.

      The Charter Members of the Moses Shelby Chapter were: Elizabeth McCulloch Benjamin (Mrs. W. B.), Irma Williams Brown (Mrs. Frank), Effie Carlisle, Louise Carlisle, Kittie McCulloch Davis (Mrs. William), Elizabeth Louise Miller Delony (Mrs. Vail M.), Virginia Benjamin Hider (Mrs. George T.), Gussie Tooke Hill (Mrs. Alex S.), Emilie Keene Milner, Frances Elley Keene, Eleanor Benjamin Kurrasch (Mrs. Harold), Pauline Mitchell McDaniel (Mrs. J. W.), Mary Ward Rose (Mrs. Crawford A.), Jessica Graham Schneider (Mrs. Edward D.), Lucile Mitchell Treffry (Mrs. Walter) and Flora Evans Wyly (Mrs. Charles). 

        During the years since that December day in 1934, the Moses Shelby Chapter has tried to take part in as many of the NSDAR activities, both on a National and State level, as its size and circumstances permit.   Someone from the Chapter has attended nearly every State Conference and State Board meeting, thus keeping the membership informed of important projects.

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