Biography

 

Loosa Schoona - intriguing name, wouldn’t you agree?  You will learn about naming this Mississippi State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (MSSDAR), chapter of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), as well as details surrounding our branch coming into existence.

 

Clara Cook Davis (Mrs. William Jesse), Organizing Regent, conducted the initial meeting of the newly-designated chapter in her Bruce home on Thursday, November 21, 1968.  Her program followed new chapter organization procedures.

 

Mrs. J.L. Robbins, Regent of Ish-te-ho-to-pah Chapter, New Albany, presided.  Mrs. J. A. Lauderdale read appropriate scripture and led in prayer.  The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was then recited.

 

Because a chapter name was certainly needed, one was chosen then, based on some interesting area history.  Calhoun County was once within the tribal territory of both the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians.  In this county a “little river” goes rolling along toward the “Father of Water,” the great Mississippi.  The name of Bruce’s tiny river is a musical one, Loosa Schoona, derived from the ancient Choctaw word LUSA-KO-NIH, given before the white man settled the area.  This unusual name and the lack of unified spelling of the Indian terms in the last century probably explains why Loosa Schoona has been spelled many ways. 

 

In years gone by, keel boats plowed this narrow river as often as high water would permit.  The cargo was almost always cotton unloaded on a steamer.  Brought back upstream were salt, sugar, syrup, and flour to be unloaded along the river.  Flats boats carried cattle, white oak staves for whisky barrels, and hickory writhes for making barrel hoops, up and down the little river.  Of course, this has all vanished with the relentless march of time and progress; the sparse river has been channeled and boats no longer wend their way between its banks.  Nevertheless, the river Loosa Schoona means much to the people of Calhoun County in Mississippi and especially the people of the small city of Bruce, Mississippi, established 1927 and built on the north bank of Loosa Schoona.  The county itself is traditionally divided as “North of Schoona” and “South of Schoona.”  Therefore, submitted as the name of the new Chapter of the DAR here in Bruce, Mississippi was Loosa Schoona.  (Our very own Kate Cannon contributed much of this chapter naming section, based on newspaper article by Jim Enochs and George M. Moreland in Calhoun County’s Monitor-Herald and The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN).

 

Thus, without any debate, Mrs. Robbins enthusiastically announced Loosa Schoona was officially declared as the legal name, particularly since the organizing members were unanimous in its selection. 

 

Mrs. Robbins installed the officers, administered the oath to the Chapter members, and recited some of the objectives of the NSDAR: to perpetuate the ideals of the Republic of the United States of America; to encourage historical research in relation to the American Revolution; to mark places of historical interest and to promote patriotism; and to encourage and assist in patriotic education of our youth.  After Mrs. Robbins was another guest speaker, Mrs. V.V. White, State Committee Chairman of American Heritage and past Regent of Ish-te-ho-to-pah Chapter.