Elisha Raymond Chapter

Welcome to the Elisha Raymond Chapter!

Our chapter meets five times a year on the first or second Saturday of January and March, the first or second Monday of May and September, and the last Saturday in October. There are no scheduled meetings during the months of February, April, June, July, August, November, and December.

All chapter meetings are held at the Castlewood Restaurant, 2811 Wisconsin Street, Sturtevant, Wisconsin. Meetings start with lunch or dinner at 1:00 p.m. for Saturday meetings and 6:00 p.m. for Monday meetings. Spouses, other family members, and guests are always welcome.

Our chapter assists in placing State Historical Markers at those cemeteries where Revolutionary War veterans are buried. Other activities include appearances at community events and activities, and sharing the story of sacrifice and service of our Revolutionary War ancestors. We recognize this tradition of service by making awards to Eagle Scouts, ROTC Cadets and several outstanding citizens each year. For historical information on the origins of our chapter, please see our History page.

We look forward to seeing you soon. Please feel free to contact one of our officers for further information on the SAR and the Elisha Raymond Chapter. Membership inquiries may be directed to the Chapter Registrar or Chapter President.

Chapter Officers

President: Samuel M. Keith
Vice President: Joseph A. Paonessa
Secretary: Brian D. McManus
Treasurer: Brian D. McManus
Registrar: Bruce Laine
Chaplain: Jeffory E. Burdick
Eagle Scout: Jeffory E. Burdick

Our Namesake

Elisha Raymond, son of William and Amey Raymond, was born at Gloucester, Rhode Island, November 9, 1761. In February 1776, at the age of 14, Elisha joined the state militia. He served a one month enlistment each for John Warner, Jeremy Ballard, Joshua Matterson, his brother Thomas, and Daniel Barnes, until about February 1777. In March or April of that year he served as a substitute for his father, William, in the militia of Providence, Rhode Island.

Beginning on July 1, 1777, he served one month as a substitute for John Inman of Gloucester and then enlisted for three more months. After serving this enlistment, he returned to Gloucester. In 1781, he joined the Light Infantry. After the capture of Cornwallis, and after serving about one year of a 15-month enlistment, he transferred to the Continental Army. He was discharged at Saratoga, New York, in December 1782.

Elisha married Abigail Inman in Gloucester on April 25, 1781. They had 12 children: Alfred, Elisha Jr., Truman, Direxa, Anne, Reuben, Jason, Adin, Melita, Abigail, Matilda and Zelick.

Shortly after peace was declared between Great Britain and the Colonies, Elisha, his wife and first child, moved to Stamford, Bennington County, Vermont. There they raised cattle, sheep and swine. Elisha also served as a Selectman of Stamford and was among those appointed a highway surveyor.

Elisha apparently wanted to visit his sons and grandsons, who had gone west to the Territory of Wisconsin, and died here before returning to his wife, who was still in Stamford, Vermont. He died on June 11, 1842, at age 81 and was buried on his son's farm in Raymond Township, Racine County. Later, his remains were transferred to Racine’s Mound Cemetery and buried in Lot 85, Block 19, Grave 5.

The Origins of the Elisha Raymond Chapter

Early in 1967, members of the Wisconsin Society of the Sons of the American Revolution began contacting prospective members for a chapter to be formed in Racine and the immediate vicinity. Mr. Miles W.D. Allen, Mr. Willis E. Gifford, with the assistance of DAR members, especially Mrs. Lester J. LeMack, contacted prospective members. Dr. Ralph C. Pierce and Mr. Stanley R. Belden assisted Mr. Gifford in completing the applications.

The ceremonial recognition of the Racine and Kenosha Chapters took place on May 17, 1967, at a dinner at the Valley Supper Club. Racine had 16 charter members. Mr. Belden’s Revolutionary War ancestor, Elisha Raymond, was chosen as the Racine Chapter’s namesake. The officers for the first year were President Stanley R. Belden, Secretary John H. Batten, and Treasurer Charles F. Rogers.

The following officers were elected September 17, 1968:

President: Robert H. Miller
Vice President: Charles F. Rogers
Secretary: John H. Batten
Treasurer: James J. Anderson

On January 11, 1969, a formal charter presentation was made at a dinner meeting at the Golden Lantern. President General Sterling presented the charter, bearing the names of the 16 charter member and the organization date of May 1967. Mrs. LeMack was given a certificate of appreciation for her assistance in establishing lineage for enough members to form the Chapter.

The grave of Elisha Raymond was marked with the SAR emblem on April 18, 1970, at which time President Robert Miller read an impressive tribute to the men who served and started this country as a republic, and to those who have followed in their footsteps. By this time, the chapter had grown to 20 members, although some had moved away. Plans were made to place markers on the graves of other Revolutionary War soldiers in the area.

(From a monograph by Stanley R. Belden, Secretary pro-tem, October 25, 1970.)

Elisha Raymond Chapter Presidents
1967–68 Stanley R. Belden
1968–70 Robert Miller
1970–72 Charles F. Rogers
1972–76 Robert V. Osborne
1976–77 Donald E. Gradeless
1977–79 Philip Rush Kephart
1979–84 Walter A. Smith
1984–85 William F. Mross
1985–90
1991–96 Donald E. Gradeless, PhD
1997–99 Guy R. Ewing
2000–03 R. Larry Kiggins
2004–05 Harry R. Wallace
2006–07 Stephen A. Michaels
2008-09  Joseph A. Paonessa
2010-11  Greg Forster
2012-13  Brian D. McManus
2014-18 Jeffory E. Burdick
2019-     Samuel M. Keith