William Wilson Chapter received its DAR charter on February 3, 1948. The chapter was named for the Revolutionary ancestor of the chapter's oldest member, Mrs. John H. Burnside. William Wilson came to America from Scotland. He served at the Battle of Bunker Hill and died in 1798 in North Carolina. His brother, James, was a signer or the Declaration of Independence and a noted jurist of the Supreme Court.

In 1979, the chapter placed and dedicated a Centennial marker honoring the four founders of Garden City: William D. Fulton, James R. Fulton, John A. Stevens, and Charles J. Jones. The monument was located on land that was homesteaded by the Fulton brothers, who were the first in the area to build homes. It has since been moved to Stevens Park in downtown Garden City.

Santa Fe Trail markers have long been of interest to the group. The chapter made a survey of the markers in four surrounding counties in 1969, and has watched them carefully for any needed attention.

The chapter also worked hard on achieving National Historic Landmark status for the El Cuartalejo Pueblo Ruins in Kansas, and was pleased when that status was awarded in 1964.

There has been a large influx of Hispanic and Oriental people in Garden City over the last decades, and the chapter has worked with them to achieve U.S. Citizenship. NSDAR publishes the DAR Manual For Citizenship. Over 12 million copies of this book have been given free to those seeking citizenship.

The chapter contributes to all the causes of NSDAR, as well as to the KSDAR Library and local needs. Money was donated toward a statue of Buffalo Bill, and to buy a wheel chair for a veterans hospital.

The William Wilson Chapter meets on the third Thursday at the High Plains Public Radio, 210 N. 7th St., Garden City, KS 67846 at 7:00p.m. Prospective members are invited to contact us at the link below to find out more about DAR and attending our meetings.

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