Ottawa Chapter Honors Real Daughters
~a Real Daughter was a DAR member as well as the daughter of an actual
Revolutuionary War soldier 
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Ottawa Chapter NSDAR of Michigan hosted a Grave Marker Dedication Ceremony May 13, 2017, at Willow Grove Cemetery, Richmond, Michigan, marking the grave of Anne Abbot Lothrop, wife of Seth Lothrop, Revolutionary War Soldier.
A historical essay was researched, composed, and read by Ottawa Chapter Director Candace Soehren. Fleshing out the statistical bones, Ms. Soehren interpreted the life and times of Anne Abbot Lathrop as challenging and demanding; one that only a personality of courage and resilience could endure.
Mistress Anne is only one of a few stalwart women in the State of Michigan known and recognized as a “Patriot Wife."
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| Ottawa Daughter Katherine Hale of Fort Gratiot led the chapter's efforts to honor and mark the grave of her family's ancestor, Anne Abbot Lathrop as a “Patriot Wife.” | Thank you Ottawa Daughters: Historian Charlotte Henline for the photographs and Sally Jett for the text.
Thank you to all who attended and helped us preserve and honor our history. | Ms. Hale verified, authenticated, and obtained the credentials required for the recognition and for the bronze grave marker that observes the designation. | | 
| | | Special guests included, from L-R: State Officers from Michigan DAR, State Historian LuDean Peters, Chaplain Jane Turnbull, State Regent Diane Schrift, Ottwa Regent LaCinda Anderson, Ottawa Daughter Kathe Hale, State Treasurer Kelly VanWormer, and Corresponding Secretary (and Ottawa Daughter) Lynette Scherer. State Director Karen McNully also attended, but is not pictured. | | | | |
 | A surprising number of daughters of America’s first Patriots were still alive when the Daughters of the American Revolution was formed in 1890. Chapters enthusiastically sought out the Real Daughters’ residing in their midst. The DAR acknowledged Real Daughters’ status by presenting each of the women with a gold souvenir spoon engraved with her initials and her national number. Ottawa Chapter embraced the DAR National Project in locating and re-dedicating these women, and has located, Elmina Sutlief Fraser the only "Real Daughter" buried in St. Clair County. | Elmira Sutlief was born in Johnstown New York, 28 November 1808 and departed this life, 20 June 1907 aged 98 years 7 months and 22 days. The family moved to Michigan and settled in Cottrellville; her husband died March 6, 1864. Her father and grandfather served in the Revolution under Washington. She and her mother rendered valuable aid in nursing the sick and wounded. It was of this latter work, when she grew older, that many in St. Clair had cause to rejoice. |
| from her obituary... Elmina Fraser June 20, 1907
.....”She was a remarkably smart and active woman-long after she was 80 years old she could drive her own horse and hitch it up too if there was no one else handy to do it for her. Some years ago she heard of the forming of a society called the Daughters of American Revolution, and how every own daughter would be presented by the government with a gold spoon. Her ambition was at once aroused to become a member and secure the spoon, not so much for the money value as what it represented, but the hardships her father endured to help secure the nation’s independence. Some five years ago she joined the chapter here in St. Clair and with their assistance obtained the spoon, which she prized very highly. …….. Ot-si-ke-ta Chapter of that organization always took considerable interest in the old lady and sent her flowers on many occasions, that she might know that she was remembered”….
We remember... Elmina Sutlief Fraser | 
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