Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 679.
 
JULIA A. DOUSMAN

     was born in New York state in 1825. Her father, Julius Chuyler, was a
native of New York city and came from German ancestry. His father was also born
in Germany, but fled from that country at the time the Hugenots were persecuted.
Our subject came with her parents to Michigan when she was an infant, they being
among the first settlers in that country. They had to cut their roads through
the wild country and finally settled where Monroe is now and where she was
raised. There, in 1843 she married Henry Dousman, a native of France. He came to
the United States when quite young.  After their marriage, they remained in
Michigan two years, then went to Canada, where Mr. Dousman followed his trade of
milling. In 1850, they went to California, via the Panama route, and while on
the way from Panama to San Francisco the machinery of their ship broke and it
was three months before they made the harbor of the Golden Gate. Her husband was
very sick, her children were afflicted with the scurvy and both water and
provisions became very scarce. Twenty-six of the passengers died from yellow
fever, in fact every person who took the fever died except Mr. Dousman. They
remained in Sacramento for one year then went to the mines for one year. In
1853, they located in Astoria, which then consisted of two or three houses, a
mill and a store. Mrs. Dousman did cooking for the mill crew for a year while
her husband worked in the mill. In 1854 they returned to California, Mrs.
Dousman spending one year in Sacramento, while her husband worked in the mines.
Then they bought a claim which they were unable to secure, owing to its being on
the Spanish land grant. They bought a second claim which resulted the same way,
then becoming discouraged they removed to the mountains of Monterey county and
remained two years.  Later, they journeyed to Sonoma county and bought seven
hundred acres of land and there lived for twenty-five years, then they sold out
and went to Spokane, spending two years. They sold out their property there and
journeyed to the Rogue river valley, and a few weeks later drove on to what is
now Wheeler county, locating here in 1882. Mrs. Dousman now owns three hundred
and forty acres of land. Her husband died in the spring of 1900. The children
born to Mr. and Mrs. Dousman are Mrs. Henrietta Arnold, Mary Ann McCappin, and
Mrs. Ellis Sichel. Mrs. Dousman is now enjoying splendid health and is very
active for a woman of her age. She is surrounded by her children, her
grandchildren, her great-grandchildren and her great-great-grandchildren. She is
well known and highly esteemed because of her  excellent  principles  and
untiring industry. Her husband was very prominent in many lines, especially in
Masonic circles, having become a Mason in 1844, in Muncie, Indiana. He assisted
to organize many lodges in the west, among which was one at Astoria. He was one
of the first Masons on the coast. Mrs. Dousman has certainly seen a long life of
pioneering and in it all has shown a sturdiness and stability that are
commendable.  It is very pleasant after a life of activity, to see her
surrounded by her loved ones, enjoying the fruits of her labors.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.