Bonneville Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution of Lexington, Nebraska was named for Captain Benjamin Louis Eulalia Bonneville.

Captain Bonneville was a diligent wanderer. He was born in France in 1796, and when a small boy was brought to this country by his mother, his father being detained in France by Napoleon on account of having issued some offensive political pamphlets. Bonneville was appointed to West Point, graduated there in 1819, and was then named to the staff of General Lafayette, with whom he toured the United States, and afterwards went to France as his guest. He saw some service in the American Army on the Frontier, but wishing to engage in the fur trade, secured a leave of absence. He took a party of about one hundred with twenty-four horse wagons over the Oregon Trail in the spring of 1832. This was the first wagon over that part of the trail known as the cut-off between Independence, Missouri and Grand Island, Nebraska, thus connecting the two ends of the route destined later to carry immense travel across the continent.

Bonneville traveled over the whole northwest mountain region, including the Columbia River country, until the spring of 1835. The gallant captain was a conspicuous figure in the Seminole War, and later went with his command into Mexico.

Captain Bonneville died at his farm near Fort Smith, Arkansas on June 12, 1878.

Bonneville Chapter of the Daughter of the American Revolution was organized February 26, 1913 at the home of Mrs. E. A. Cook. A letter from Washington, DC appointed Mrs. B. B. Baker as organizing regent of the chapter. Charter members were: Maude Willis Smith, Ella Maxwell Cook, Mina Mullin Volk, Ella Rankin Campbell, Ogla Martin McFarland, Verna Stibbins Grennslit, Avis Wilcox Stebbinns, Elva Bennett Evans, Jennie Reynolds Temple, Luella Reynolds Spencer, Annette Mallett Jacobson, Eleanor J. Ridgway, and Eleanor Peale Baker.

In 1931, the Chapter became interested in marking the site of Turkey Leg Massacre, an Indian raid on a Union Pacific train west of Plum Creek, now Lexington. The idea was abandoned because of lack of funds. This project was revived in 1938. The regent, Mrs. C. C. Rosenberg contacted Mr. William Jeffers, president of the Union Pacific Railroad, who agreed to bring a Wyoming boulder to the site of the raid. The installation was done and bronze plaque, telling the story of the raid, was placed on the boulder. The premiere of the film “Union Pacific”, in Omaha, coincided with the dedication of the marker and the observance of the first “Plum Creek Days” celebration. The Bonneville Chapter rededicated the Turkey Leg Monument in July 2004.

During the years of World War II, the chapter members did Red Cross work, such as knitting, buying bonds, working at the North Platte Canteen, the USO, and the contributing to the blood plasma program. Nebraska State DAR adopted the crew of LCI #581, and the name Henry M. Hill, Lt. M3c was assigned to Bonneville chapter. Monthly letters were written to him and boxed food and small gifts were sent from time to time.

After World War II, the chapter began the task of copying tombstone records in all the cemeteries in Dawson County. The records of 35 cemeteries were completed in 1951. They were typed by chapter member, Mrs. Robert Zulauf. Three copies were made and bound.

Mrs. Ruby Hollingsworth worked for sometime platting and identifying graves in the oldest cemetery in Dawson County, The Evergreen Cemetery, a few miles east of Lexington. Where there were no markers, but the graves were identified, she persuaded local groups and the City of Lexington to place white wooden crosses with the name painted in black. These cemetery records have been typed and bound.

Today, Bonneville chapter has 46 members and we are a viable and active chapter. We have members who are presenting genealogical workshops, copying Genealogical Records, honoring our Flag, American History, our military and the goals and ideals of the National Society, 2 past State Officers, 1 Honorary State Regent, several State Committee chairman, and members who are enthusiastic about DAR.