Seven lucky libraries in Warren County received a very special book about Tennessee pioneer history last weekend. “Patriots to Pioneers: The First Tennessee Volunteers” was authored and published thanks to the Tennessee Daughters of the American Revolution.
The local chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) presented a new copy to Magness Library’s Cheryl Watson-Mingle on Saturday. She oversees the genealogy room at the library and specializes in local Tennessee history. “This is a great honor and a great book. We are so grateful to the local DAR chapter and Carol Menth who was not only instrumental in getting the grant, but contributed a chapter on local patriot Lt. James Sheppard, for whom the chapter is named,” said Watson-Mingle.
Carol Menth’s writing contribution, both for the grant and of one of the historical profiles in the book, was key to the donation. “I wrote the grant application for $250, and we received $500 from NSDAR. We used that to purchase seven books from the TNDAR at $75 each for seven books,” Menth said.
DAR donated seven copies of the books in total. One went to the Magness Library, the Warren County Genealogical and Historical Association, the Warren County middle and high schools and three other copies to public elementary school libraries in Warren County.
Menth penned the biography for Lt. James Sheppard, the namesake for the local chapter which is included in the “Patriots to Pioneers” book. Originally from Pennsylvania, Menth and her husband, Mike who serves as the senior vice-commander for VFW Post 5064, have relocated here for their children. They are both dedicated to several local patriotic, charitable and veteran-related activities in the area.
This book includes stories about real characters and patriots of the American Revolutionary War who lived in the wilderness we today call Tennessee. At that time, there was no state. Many of the patriots were from North Carolina and received land grants further west in reward for their service when America won its independence from Great Britain.
To be a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, one must have a patriot in her family tree. This is defined as someone who aided the American cause in the Revolutionary War or fought for American independence in 1775-1782.
For further information, contact the local DAR at (931) 668-9138 or email camliberty1@hotmail.com.
