Our History

Spencer Clack Grave MarkerThe Spencer Clack Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution was organized May 23, 1928.  The origin of our chapter goes back to 1927 when plans were formulated by Mrs. Helen (Mack) Maples to organize a D.A.R. chapter in Sevierville, Tennessee.  Mrs. Maples succeeded in bringing together the first twelve women to form our chapter.  They all were direct descendants of Lt. Spencer Clack, the great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Maples.   The twelve organizing members were: Mrs. Sallie Massey,  Mrs. Beulah Pack, Mrs. Juanita Paine, Mrs. Annie McMahan, Mrs. Sallie Houk, Mrs. Ola Hatcher, Mrs. Robbit Blair, Mrs. Rose Emert, Mrs. Grace Long Bowers, Miss Carrie B. McBee, Miss Joyce Bowers, and Mrs. Helen Maples. 

Lieutenant Spencer Clack was a revolutionary soldier from the state of Virginia.  After the war, he relocated and settled in what is now known as the city of Sevierville, in Sevier County, Tennessee.  He played a prominent role in the history and development of Sevier County and the State of Tennessee.  He served in the first constitutional convention of Tennessee.   He also served in the lower house of the first Tennessee State General Assembly and served one term in the State Senate.  He helped organize and was very active in the first Baptist church to be established in Sevierville and he gave the land for the first cemetery in the town.  He and other prominent citizens of pioneer Sevierville were  buried in that cemetery.  Only a small portion of the cemetery remains today.  It was established as Cemetery Park in 1976.

Spencer Clack died in Sevier County on July 9, 1832, at the age of 86 years. 

The local Daughters of the American Revolution funded the  construction of a plaque located on the grounds of the Sevier County Courthouse honoring Spencer Clack in 1931. It reads:

1740 - 1832Spencer Clack Memorial Plaque
HON. LIEUT. SPENCER CLACK
 

PIONEER SETTLER OF SEVIER CO.
NAMED SEVIER CO. FOR HIS FRIEND
THE GREAT
JOHN SEVIER

MEMBER CONVENTION 1796
MEMBER LEGISLATURE 1801
SERVED UNDER GEN. WASHINGTON
IN REVOLUTIONARY WAR

ERECTED BY
THE SPENCER CLACK CHAPTER
DAUGHTERS OF
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
1931