MONROE - This spring, the women of the Col. Benjamin Harrison Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will begin working on projects to raise funds to assist the Wisconsin Society Sons of the American Revolution (WISSAR). The goal is to place markers on the unmarked graves of Wisconsinites who served in the Revolutionary War.
One such soldier was Bartholomew Calvin, who lies with his wife in an unmarked grave in the Lakeside Cemetery in Stockbridge. Near the entrance is a sign that lists the names of those buried in unmarked graves in the cemetery. The significance of Calvin's service to his country is predominantly known only to his few remaining descendants.
Calvin was born a member of the Delaware tribe around 1756 in a native American village near Crosswicks, New Jersey, and was named Shawuskukhkung, or "Wilted Grass." When he was young, Scottish missionaries changed Wilted Grass's name to Bartholomew Calvin and educated him at an Indian missionary school that eventually became Princeton College. During the Revolutionary War, 23-year-old Calvin left his studies to join the Patriot army under Gen. George Washington. At the end of the war, Calvin returned to New Jersey to teach in the Indian mission school where his father taught. Eventually, Calvin moved with his wife, seven children and other members of his tribe to Wisconsin, to what is now Stockbridge, where he died and was laid to rest.
As was done with many during that time, Calvin and his wife were buried in unmarked graves. There has been an initiative underway by WISSAR to place markers on the graves of all Patriots of the American Revolutionary War buried in Wisconsin. Calvin is the only patriot in Wisconsin who has yet to receive a marker. Markers of the type planned for Calvin's gravesite must go through several approval processes before they can be placed. The estimated cost for producing and placing the marker is $2,500.
To read more about Calvin and other Patriots buried in Wisconsin, go to www.wissar.org. The website has directions for driving to the Lakeside Cemetery.
The DAR was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. Each state has several local chapters and each local chapter is responsible for volunteering and working on projects that promote and support the mission of the national chapter. Wisconsin has nearly three dozen chapters accepting new memberships.
For further information regarding donations or support for these efforts, contact Amy Andersen at amyandersen@tds.net. To learn more about becoming a member of DAR, visit the website at https://colbenjaminharrisondar.org/.
One such soldier was Bartholomew Calvin, who lies with his wife in an unmarked grave in the Lakeside Cemetery in Stockbridge. Near the entrance is a sign that lists the names of those buried in unmarked graves in the cemetery. The significance of Calvin's service to his country is predominantly known only to his few remaining descendants.
Calvin was born a member of the Delaware tribe around 1756 in a native American village near Crosswicks, New Jersey, and was named Shawuskukhkung, or "Wilted Grass." When he was young, Scottish missionaries changed Wilted Grass's name to Bartholomew Calvin and educated him at an Indian missionary school that eventually became Princeton College. During the Revolutionary War, 23-year-old Calvin left his studies to join the Patriot army under Gen. George Washington. At the end of the war, Calvin returned to New Jersey to teach in the Indian mission school where his father taught. Eventually, Calvin moved with his wife, seven children and other members of his tribe to Wisconsin, to what is now Stockbridge, where he died and was laid to rest.
As was done with many during that time, Calvin and his wife were buried in unmarked graves. There has been an initiative underway by WISSAR to place markers on the graves of all Patriots of the American Revolutionary War buried in Wisconsin. Calvin is the only patriot in Wisconsin who has yet to receive a marker. Markers of the type planned for Calvin's gravesite must go through several approval processes before they can be placed. The estimated cost for producing and placing the marker is $2,500.
To read more about Calvin and other Patriots buried in Wisconsin, go to www.wissar.org. The website has directions for driving to the Lakeside Cemetery.
The DAR was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. Each state has several local chapters and each local chapter is responsible for volunteering and working on projects that promote and support the mission of the national chapter. Wisconsin has nearly three dozen chapters accepting new memberships.
For further information regarding donations or support for these efforts, contact Amy Andersen at amyandersen@tds.net. To learn more about becoming a member of DAR, visit the website at https://colbenjaminharrisondar.org/.
