ABOUT
OUR CHAPTER
The Jacob Gaskins Chapter, NSDAR, was officially organized on May 17, 2025, with 30 organizing members. The effort to establish the chapter was led by the organizing regent, who initiated the process in March 2024 with support from the Ohio State Regent's administration. Through dedicated outreach and genealogical research, the organizing regent and others assisted prospective members in documenting their lineage to Patriots of the American Revolution, thereby welcoming women from across Stark County and beyond into membership.
Today, the Jacob Gaskins Chapter, NSDAR, meets monthly from September through May and engages in projects that reflect the DAR mission of promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Among its early initiatives is sponsorship of Wreaths Across America at North Canton Cemetery, honoring the service and sacrifice of American veterans.
OUR NAMESAKE
Our chapter is named in honor of Jacob Gaskins, who was born into slavery in 1792 in Winchester, Virginia. As a young adult, he gained his freedom and, in 1817, journeyed to Plain Township in Stark County, Ohio. There, he married Hannah Robinson, raised a family, and built a life marked by resilience and determination. Over time, he became a respected landowner, amassing property that includes land where Arrowhead Country Club stands today.
Beyond his achievements as a landowner, Gaskins is remembered for his courage and leadership in the fight for freedom. His property operated as a station on the Underground Railroad, offering safe passage to those escaping the bonds of slavery. Following the ratification of the 15th Amendment in 1870, Gaskins made history once more as the first African American to cast a vote in Plain Township. He passed away in 1873, leaving behind a legacy of strength, service, and community impact.
Jacob and Hannah’s only surviving child, Eliza, carried their family’s story forward. Their legacy continues to be honored through the work of the Jacob Gaskins Chapter, NSDAR, which celebrates their lives and contributions while advancing the DAR’s mission of preservation, education, and patriotism.
OUR NATIONAL AFFILIATION
As a non-profit, non-partisan women’s organization, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, is dedicated to advancing historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Established in Washington, DC, on October 11, 1890, the Society was formed by four visionary leaders – Founders Mary Smith Lockwood, Mary Desha, Ellen Walworth, and Eugenia Washington – who were not permitted to join the male-only Sons of the American Revolution despite their desire to safeguard and celebrate the heritage of those who fought for American independence. Thus, these women created an organization of their own to honor the courage and sacrifices of their Revolutionary War ancestors.
Since its founding, the reach of DAR has grown. With chapters throughout the United States and abroad, it has evolved into one of the nation’s largest and most dynamic women’s service organizations. The preservation of American history, prioritization of education-related initiatives, and strong commitment to patriotism are the key focuses of the organization and its members.
To learn more about the DAR, visit the National Society website.
JOIN US
Visit the Membership page of the National DAR website for more information.
Interested in learning more about our chapter? Think you may have an ancestor who qualifies you for membership? Provide us with your contact information, and we will be in touch shortly. Our registrar is ready to help you learn more about your family’s history. You can also find resources on the Genealogy page of the National DAR website.
A Patriot, per the DAR, is someone who aided in the effort to gain American independence by serving or directly assisting in the Revolutionary War effort. Any woman showing a direct, ancestral connection to a Patriot is eligible for membership.