Montana's DAR Markers . . . Honoring Where History Was Made

was founded. In fact, 770 women once held the distinction of being
called “Real Daughters,” who are DAR members just a single
generation removed from the Revolutionary War. Many of these
women were the youngest daughters of a large family or the result of a
marriage late in life.
Not to be confused with the “daughter of a Revolutionary war
soldier or patriot,” a Real Daughter is distinguished by DAR because
she was a DAR member as well as the actual daughter of a soldier or
patriot. In the early years of the National Society, a DAR chapter who
could name one or more of the 770 Real Daughters among its members
was extremely proud of this living link to the American Revolution.
Montana has two such Daughters – in addition to Orpha Zilpha Parke
Bovee, another Real Daughter is buried in Montana, Caroline Reed
Stone (in Shelby). (See chapter titled “Montana Real Daughter Caroline
Reed Stone.”)
ORPHA ZILPHA PARKE BOVEE, A REAL DAUGHTER
Mrs. Bovee’s gravesite has a bronze DAR insignia at the foot of her
gravestone and a DAR plaque above her gravestone, sponsored by the
Shining Mountain Chapter, NSDAR of Billings.
Her father, Ruben Parke of Sharon, Connecticut, enlisted as a
volunteer soldier in 1781 at the age of 17 years, serving and receiving
pay in the Continental Army during the American Revolution from
January 1st to December 31st in Captain Douglas’ Company, 5th
Regulars, Connecticut Lines, New London, Connecticut. Also in 1781,
Elizabeth Ford was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and 17 years later
married Ruben Parke. Orpha Zilpha’s father Ruben died in 1856 at age
76