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Lilly McIlhaney Bowen Chapter, NSDAR

Seneca, South Carolina

Members of the Lilly McIlhaney Bowen Chapter, NSDAR, with historic preservation honorees on the Square in Downtown Pendleton, South Carolina

Join the DAR to make a Difference…

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR) is a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer service organization composed of women with a common purpose of serving their communities through education, historic preservation, and patriotism.

Lilly McIlhaney Bowen Chapter, NSDAR, members are lineal descendants of men and women who gave their lives and fortunes to establish the United States during the American Revolutionary War. Our members predominately live in the greater Oconee County area.

As a volunteer women's service organization, we are dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, patriotism and honoring the Patriots of the American Revolutionary War.

If you are interested in learning more about our membership, please contact us here. If you need assistance in tracing your lineage, please contact our Chapter Registrar for assistance!

All photos provided by chapter members.

About the Lilly McIlhaney Bowen Chapter, NSDAR

The Lilly McIlhaney Bowen Chapter, NSDAR, of Seneca, South Carolina was originally organized as the Wizard of Tamassee Chapter on February 23, 1916.

The chapter, as an offshoot of the Andrew Pickens Chapter of Clemson College, was originally named after Brigadier General Andrew Pickens who retired to the area once known as the Cherokee Lower Town of Tamassee. General Pickens was given the honorific title of Skyagunsta by the Cherokee, and he was known as the Wizard Owl for his wise military tactics and leadership during the Cherokee War of 1776, even though he was fighting against the Cherokee and the Loyalists.

As America’s 250th birthday approached, the chapter’s name was officially changed in December 2023, commemorating the service of a female patriot of the American Revolution whose descendants included several of the chapter’s Charter Members and Chapter Regents.  

Who was Lilly McIlhaney Bowen?

Lilly McIlhaney Bowen, the daughter of Henry McIlhaney and Jane McGeehan, was born circa 1705 in Ireland, and she was of Scotch-Irish descent.

Lilly traveled with her mother, step-father Mr. Hunter, and siblings to Pennsylvania. Lilly was known as an expert spinner; she was also known for being strong, having a discriminating mind and energy of character.

Circa 1726, Lilly married John Bowen, the son of Moses Bowen and Rebecca Reese of Pennsylvania.

Lilly and John moved to Augusta County, Virginia, where they had a large landed estate, which Lilly managed after John’s death in 1760. Lilly and John had several children, and their sons served in the Revolutionary War, fighting for American Independence. Her sons Robert (married to Mary Gillespie), Arthur (married to Mary McMurray), William (married to Mary Russell), and John (married to Rachel Mathew) earned the rank of Captain. Her son Reese (Louisa Smith) was killed at the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780.

In 1777, Lilly supported the cause of American Independence by loaning funds and providing food and military supplies; she is named on the Smyth County Revolutionary War Memorial in Marion, Virginia. John and Lilly owned enslaved African Americans, who made it possible for Lilly to have funds to loan and provide patriotic service.

After 1779, moving from Augusta County, Lilly purchased 800 acres from Colonel Patton’s Executors, along the Great Road on the middle Fork of Holston. It is said that the first missionaries to the Holston settlement held services in a ballroom named for her.

Lilly was predeceased by a few of her children, including Moses, who died on the Expedition with the Fincastle Troops; she died before June 20, 1780, in Washington County, Virginia.

Information provided by the NSDAR Pathway of the Patriots Program.

  • From the beginning of our chapter’s history, we have had promoted the history of Oconee County by placing historic markers; two former members were respected, published local historians: Mary Cherry Doyle (Charter Member and Past SC State Regent) and Nora Nimmons Field. We have supported the Oconee County 250 Commission and provided resources to local museums and area non-profits.  We have recognized Clemson University Professors and the Pendleton Historic Foundation (PHF) with DAR Excellence in Historic Preservation Award. Members have participated in archaeological activities at Revolutionary War Fort Rutledge. We support historic preservation efforts of the Seneca Woman’s Club at the Historic Ballenger House. 

  • Our members support public and private schools in the Seneca area during Constitution Week and during other times throughout the school year with contests, like DAR Good Citizen and Junior American Citizens. Each year, we present ROTC medals to Seneca High School and Clemson University cadets. We provide DAR Scholarship materials to Seneca area high schools. Participate in City of Senca events, providing patriotic materials on US Flag Code, Bill of Rights, Pledge of Allegiance, and other pamphlets from the DAR Store. We actively support literacy for children and adults, as well as the Seneca Branch of the Oconee Public Library and its staff. We promote learning about our area’s rich Cherokee history, and work with City Council of Seneca and the Oconee County Council on various educational proclamations throughout the calendar year. 

  • We are partners with the City of Seneca, and we host Wreaths Across America events at both of city’s cemeteries: Oak Grove Cemetery (the oldest public Black cemetery in Oconee County) and Mountain View Cemetery. We also work closely with the Lewis G Waktins Detachment 1131 of the Marine Corps League on events, including Wreaths Across America at Wolfe Stake Baptist Church where Medal of Honor Recipient Lewis G Watkins’ memorial is, Toys for Tots, and other Veteran Appreciation Day events. We support our local National Guard in Seneca and Clemson, providing requested items as well as treats and sporting equipment. We support Veteran Last Patrol, providing cards of gratitude for veterans who are in hospice care. We regularly support our First Responders in the Seneca area, and, over the years, we have undertaken projects to honor living WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War Veterans in our community.

If you have any questions, please contact us!