Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 3. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 567. ARTHUR VAN DUSEN, M. D. Among the real pioneers of Oregon, those of the '40s, who blazed the trail for the great influx of the early '50s, were numbered the Van Dusen family, a present worthy representative of whom is Dr. Arthur Van Dusen, of Astoria. Three generations of this family have played well their part in the great drama of civilization and have contributed to the marvelous development that has characterized the Pacific northwest, and none have merited public regard to a greater degree than has Dr. Van Dusen, who is regarded as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the Columbia River valley. The Doctor was born in Astoria, Oregon, December 7, 1886, and is a son of Brenham and Fannie L. (Dickinson) Van Dusen, the former born in Astoria and the latter in Richmond, Virginia. The Doctor's paternal grandfather, Adam Van Dusen, whose Dutch ancestors settled in New York in the days of Heinrich Hudson, was born in Oneida county, that state, June 3, 1823. On November 26, 1845, he married Miss Caroline E. Childs, who died July 22, 1910. In 1847 they crossed the plains, with ox teams and covered wagons, and settled at Oregon City, Oregon. Later he moved to the Astoria trading post, where, long before there was a town worthy of the name, he established a store, which he conducted for many years, becoming one of the best known men of that period in this locality. He was a prominent member of the Masonic order, filled the office of deputy grand master of the grand lodge of Oregon in 1872, and would have been grand master had he not declined the honor. His death occurred June 24, 1884. His son, Brenham Van Dusen, was born in Astoria, April 16, 1856, and was here reared and educated, after which he engaged in the insurance and brokerage business, which lines of effort he followed until his death, which occurred at Astoria, October 20, 1926. On December 8, 1884, he was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Lewis Dickinson, who was born in Charlotte county, Virginia, and is still living in Astoria. She is a daughter of John Pendleton and Sally Taylor (Woodfolk) Dickinson, both of whom were natives of Virginia, where the mother was born April 24, 1824, and both died at Astoria, the father on June 5, 1895, and the mother on May 30, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Van Dusen had two sons, Arthur, of this review, and Lloyd, who was born April 28, 1891. Brenham Van Dusen was, like his father, a leading figure in the Masonic circles of Oregon, having passed through every chair of both subordinate and grand lodges and serving as grand, master of Oregon in 1891. In 1909, in testimony of their appreciation of his eminent services in Freemasonry, the members of Temple Lodge, No. 7, at Astoria, of which he was a member, presented him with a beautiful diamond-studded jewel. He was also a member of Fern Chapter, O. E. S., at Astoria, and was the only thirty-third-degree Mason in Clatsop county. Arthur Van Dusen received his elementary education in the public schools of Astoria, graduating from high school, after which he entered the University of Oregon, from which he was graduated in 1910. He then matriculated in the Northwestern Medical College, Chicago, was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1914, served for eighteen months as interne and house surgeon at Mercy Hospital, Chicago, and then returned to Astoria, where he entered upon the practice of his profession, in which he gained prompt recognition. In 1917, when the United States became involved in the World war, Dr. Van Dusen closed his office and enlisted in the medical corps of the navy. He was attached to the battleship "Idaho" and was placed in charge of surgery at the Puget Sound navy yard, where he served for twenty-two months. On being honorably discharged, he returned to his professional work at Astoria, in which he was rewarded with abundant success. In 1926 he went east and took postgraduate work in medicine and surgery in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. He has given abundant evidence of his skill and ability and commands an extensive practice in this section of the valley. He is a member of the Clatsop County Medical Society, the Oregon State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, being at the time of his election the youngest person ever to be so honored. In June, 1927, Dr. Van Dusen was united in marriage to Miss Darle Burton, who was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and is a daughter of David and Mary Eldira (Phillips) Burton. Her father is deceased and her mother is now living at Bend, Oregon. Dr. Van Dusen, like his father and grandfather, has taken a great interest in Freemasonry, being a member of Temple Lodge, No. 7, at Astoria, Oregon Consistory, A. A. S. R., at Portland, and Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Portland. He also belongs to Astoria Lodge, B. P. O. E., the Rotary Club, the Astoria Golf and Country Club, the American Legion, the Forty and Eight, and the University Club of Portland. He is a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity of the University of Oregon and the Nu Sigma Nu medical fraternity. In addition to his noteworthy professional success, the Doctor is a leading figure in the civic affairs of Astoria, giving his earnest support to everything concerning the welfare of the community with which his family has been closely identified continuously since trading post days. Personally Dr. Van Dusen is cordial and friendly, possesses the ability to inspire the confidence of his patients, and is genuinely sympathetic with the sick and suffering, because of which he is devoted heart and soul to the noble work to which he is giving his life. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.