Chapter History

The Mary Blount Chapter NSDAR, Maryville, Tennessee, was organized April 12, 1921, with Mrs. Lorna Stone Norton as the organizing regent; Lillian Smith Webb, vice-regent; Laura Huffman Hedge, recording secretary; Rachel Malott Fisher, corresponding secretary; Lula Carter Hunter, registrar; Alice Anderson Gamble, treasurer; Julia Spight Johnson, chaplain; and Mary Belle Henry Young, historian.

Our Charter Members

The Seal of the National Society was presented September 1, 1922.

The chapter was named for Mary Grainger Blount, wife of William Blount, governor of the Territory Southwest of the Ohio River Territory which later became Tennessee. The county was named for Governor Blount and the county seat was named Maryville, in honor of his wife. Grainger County was also named for her, she being the only woman for whom a Tennessee County is named.

Mrs. Blount was a gracious hostess at Blount Manson and her charms and accomplishments were a great asset with contacts in both whites and Indians. She died in 1802 and is buried beside her husband at First Presbyterian Churchyard, State Street, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Through the years, collecting and preserving historical and genealogical records have been a high priority interest of this chapter. The priceless Parham collection of records were copied and made available to local libraries, The History of Blount was co-sponsored with the State Historical Commission and several of our chapter members have individually researched and published books in these fields.

The chapter has been active in identifying and marking the many historic places in Blount County. These sites include: Great Indian Warpath (1923), Fort Craig (1928), Fort McTeer (1936), Fort Gamble (1940), Fort Henry (1953), Fort Craig Spring, Baker’s Creek Church, a grave marker for Campbell family (1976) who were massacred by Indians, and a monument to General Sam Houston (1928) as well as a monument erected jointly with Elizabeth Paxton Houston, C.A.R. chapter, honoring Elizabeth Paxton Houston (1942), Sam Houston’s mother.

Over seventy (70) graves of American Revolutionary War soldiers have been marked with government military markers; and, because so many could not be located, a monument was erected in 1976 by the chapter on the courthouse lawn with the names of 118 soldiers and patriots who are known to be pioneer settlers of Blount County. Graves of patriots that have been located in our county have been photographed and documented. See our Historic Markers page to view some of these photographs. In 2016, Mary Blount members participated in a work day along with local Boy Scout Troop 87, under the direction of the Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society, to clear and rededicate a remote family cemetery originally dedicated in 1958.

All phases of education of youth have been generously supported by members. Much support has been given to the ROTC, DAR Good Citizens, Junior American Citizens, and American History Essays and Scholarship. On a local level, the chapter supports Honor Air, Blount County Veterans, and numerous local civic projects.