At the time the United States Daughters of 1812 was established in 1892, many of its initial members were "Real Daughters" due to being a daughter of a patriot of the War of 1812. U.S.D. 1812 developed a grave marker that identified these daughters of patriots.
Earlier this year, Arkansas State President Kay Tatum received a real daughter's grave marker found in an attic of a recently purchased home in Fairfield Bay. The marker was inscribed with the name Susanna Tucker Shamstrom, "Real Daughter" of Lt. John Tucker, Jr., War of 1812.
Using resources of the U.S.D. 1812 national office in Washington, D.C., it was discovered the marker belonged at Shamstrom's grave site in Coolidge, Kan.
The rust on the rod indicated it had been in use for many years at the grave site. Susanna Shanstrom, born in Ohio in 1850, died in 1939. She was only 6 years old when her father died in 1856. The mystery was traced to a granddaughter, Edith Mae Shanstrom Beatty, who retired from Iowa to Fairfield Bay.
Much investigation was conducted by Tatum to locate the cemetery, sexton of the cemetery and descendants to arrange for the return of the marker.
Tatum, with husband John, secretary/treasurer of the General Society War of 1812, Honorary State Presidents Sheila Beatty-Krout and Sharon Stanley Wyatt, drove 2,000 miles to return the marker and rededicate it. They were joined by descendants, U.S.D. 1812 National Librarian Ora Jane Johnson, as well as local residents.
Membership in U.S.D. 1812 is available to women age 18 and older who can offer proof that they are lineal descendants of an ancestor who, during the period of 1784-1815 inclusive, rendered civil, military, or naval service. Email Tatum at [email protected] for more information.
Society on 11/10/2019