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About Us

The idea for Abigail Fillmore Chapter, NSDAR began in the winter of 1924. Mrs. John Ayrault

invited seven women to meet in a quiet corner of the Lafayette Hotel in downtown Buffalo to discuss

organizing a new DAR chapter. The chapter, first known as Joseph Ellicott Chapter, NSDAR, started with 40

members. The Organizing Regent, Mrs. John T. Roberts, held the first meeting in her home on Feb. 2, 1925.

Official approval from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was received on

March 11, 1925. The name was changed to "Abigail Fillmore" shortly thereafter at the

suggestion of Mrs. Nathaniel K. B. Patch.

From that time to this, our chapter has been involved in many projects with a focus on

historic preservation, education, and patriotism. We enjoy the company of like-minded women

and sharing our genealogical discoveries as well as community service activities.

Prospective members are welcome at our chapter meetings.

Please contact our Chapter Regent, Patricia Meyer, for more information.

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Rededication  of Lake Erie monument  at the Buffalo Marina - June 2019

Abigail
Fillmore

Abigail Powers was born in Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York in March 1798. She was the youngest child of Dr. Lemuel Powers, a Baptist clergyman, who was a descendant of John Leland, a Puritan. She grew up in Moravia, Cayuga County, NewYork. Her father died when Abigail was 2 years old and her mother, Abigail Newland-Powers, remarried. Abigail moved to a dear relative’s house in 1818 where she took a teaching post at New Hope Academy. Millard Fillmore was her eldest student. Millard made his first trip to Buffalo in 1818 on foot. In 1821, he moved to Erie County and was separated from his Abigail. He read law in a Buffalo law office and maintained himself by teaching. He was admitted to the bar in 1823 and moved to Aurora where his father lived. In February 1826, Abigail Powers and Millard Fillmore were married at the residence of her brother, Judge Powers, in Moravia.

 

Abigail continued to work after her marriage, making her the first First Lady to continue working after marriage.

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The Fillmores lived in a home in East Aurora before they moved to a larger home in Buffalo. Their son Millard Powers Fillmore was born in 1828 and daughter, Mary Abigail, was born in 1832. Though Millard was elected as a New York Assemblyman and then a U.S. representative, the family remained in Buffalo. They did relocate to Albany for a short time when Millard was elected Comptroller of New York - but the children were in boarding school and college by then. Millard was elected Vice-President in 1848 and in 1849 they moved to Washington, D.C. Upon the death of Zachary Taylor in 1850, Millard became the 13th president of the U.S. making Abigail First Lady.

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Abigail was astonished that there was no library in the White House. The congress made a special appropriation of $2000 to create one - which the First Lady happily filled with her favorite books.

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Millard Fillmore was succeeded by Franklin Pierce at the next election and during his inauguration, Abigail caught a cold which turned into pneumonia. She died a few weeks later on March 30, 1853. She was buried at Forest Lawn in Buffalo.

(Abigail Fillmore Chapter, NSDAR replaced Abigail's marker with a memorial stone soon after the chapter was formed.)

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Our Mission

The mission of the DAR is to promote historic preservation, education,and patriotism. Most of the volunteer work of DAR is accomplished under a committee system comprised of national chairs and locally appointed state and chapter chairs.

Abigail Fillmore Chapter, NSDAR has chairwomen for several of these committees and contributes to many others.

Historic
Preservation

Education

Patriotism

  • Abigail Fillmore Marker

  • Lake Erie Monument

  • Millard Fillmore home

  • Council Room at Old Fort Niagara

  • Assist prospective members with research

  • Preservation of American cultural crafts

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  • Support DAR Schools

  • American Indian Committee

  • American History Committee

  • Service to America Committee

  • DAR Service for Veterans Committee

  • The Flag of the United States of America Committee

  • National Defense Committee

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