Rachel Whitney, Curator
Sapulpa Historical Museum
The American Revolution lasted from 1765 to 1783. Just over 100 years later, two organizations were created for the descendants of the veterans of the Revolutionary War: Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) in 1889 and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 1890.
These organizations are a non-profit, non-political volunteer service organization “dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children.”
The Oklahoma chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) began before statehood of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Society began in 1894 as Oklahoma Territory. In 1896, Indian Territory Society was formed and each territory had its own State Regent.
Around the time these organizations were established, a full-blood Muscogee (Creek) leader and the namesake and founder of our town in Indian Territory, “Chief” Sapulpa, passed away on March 17, 1887. Sapulpa would be buried in a small “family” plot of land.
In 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th state to join the United States. Soon, a Sapulpan NSDAR chapter would emerge. The Sapulpa chapter for NSDAR began in 1913. “The Nancy Green Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR), was organized February 24, 1913, and chartered January 10, 1914. The organizing regent was Georgiana Butler Matton. The chapter was named for Nancy Stinson Anderson Green.”
Ten years later, this week in Sapulpa history, on January 27, 1924, it was announced that the Nancy Green chapter had purchased the historical plot of land to which the city founder’s grave was buried.
“One of the most historical spots in the state of Oklahoma,” a Native burial ground, “is being preserved by the Nancy Green Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, through the special efforts of Mrs. M.B. Downs, formerly state historian for the organization, and MRs. Betty Darner, chapter agent and historian.”
“The ‘Chief’ Sapulpa Family Cemetery is the burial site of Sapulpa, the man for whom the city of Sapulpa was named in 1898. The cemetery rests in a 30’ x 50’ section at 909 South Division Street.”
“Sapulpa is buried in this little family burying ground on the crest of the hill at the end of South Division Street, about three blocks beyond the city hospital. It is the spot, which Sapulpa chose before his death as his final resting place.”
Tombstones of the burial site had been knocked over and would soon be repaired. “The tombstones which were over the graves, and some of which were written in Creek, have all been overturned and dragged from the graves. The aim of the Nancy Green chapter is to replace these stones, fence the plot, and place a Daughters of the American Revolution marker there, to perpetuate the memory of this grand old councilor of the Creeks.”
“The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution are planning to take this small graveyard and fix it into a historical spot which will be well worth its significance.”
“At the time, the markers were scattered over about 40 acres. Effort was made through family contacts to establish exactly where each belonged.”
Tombstones were placed for markers of those believed to be at the site. Those markers indicate:
- “Chief” Sapulpa – Died March 17, 1887, at the age of 75
- Eliza-Na Kitty, first wife of Sapulpa, her grave is not marked
- Niesie – Died August 6, 187?, daughter of Sapulpa
- Rebecca – Died August 1, 1879, daughter of Sapulpa
- Lucy – Died February 16, 1900, daughter of Sapulpa
- Bessie Bruner – Died September 11, 1888, granddaughter of Sapulpa
- Infant born/died March 29, 1905, grandson of Sapulpa
- Aggie Jones – Died March 1, 1900, orphan at Euchee Mission
- Velma James – student at Euchee Mission
- Unknown third child who died during the measles epidemic of 1900
Today, the state of Oklahoma has 45 active DAR chapters with over 3,000 members. Even 100 years later, the local chapter still cares for the historic gravesite for the founder of our town.
(Nancy Green DAR; Sapulpa Herald, January 28, 1924; Daughters of the American Revolution; Oklahoma Society National Society Daughters of the American Revolution; Wikipedia)
