The DCHS 2016 Board of Directors

Photo by Mrs. Jackie Hegelson taken at the Rice Cabin during our annual picnic.

Front Row, L to R: President John Robertson, Director at Large Bill Rice, Director at Large Clem Rice, Director at Large Lois Thomas

Back Rowe, L to R: Treasurer Clyde Snyder, Secretary Peggy A. Snyder,  Director at Large Dianne Weiker, Vice President Gwen Bates.

BYLAWS OF DCHS

Board Members are:

President: Peggy A. Rowe-Snyder
Vice-President: Gwen Bates
Treasurer: Clyde L. Snyder
Recording Secretary:  Roxana Grant
Corresponding Secretary: vacant
Membership: Ken & Lois Deatherage

Directors at Large:
Dianne Weiker
Ken Deatherage
Lois Deatherage
Roxana Grant
Cynthia Rockney
John Robertson, former President

Umpqua Trapper Co-Editors:
Peggy A. Rowe-Snyder & Dianne Wieker

Webmaster: Peggy A. Rowe-Snyder
Society researcher: Peggy A. Rowe-Snyder

The Douglas County Historical Society was started in 1953.  It was formed to protect and preserve the historical records, artifacts and buildings in Douglas County which were important in the building of our country and in the lives of the people who lived here. The heritage of Douglas County belongs to all of us as well as to the future generations whom we wish to engage with about our County.  The only way we can ensure that those later generations will receive this rich inheritance is by preserving artifacts and engaging the younger folks now.

Board Member Biographies:

John Robertson, former President, Director At Large

Profession: Management, Retired
Researching his family’s history and background has really sparked John’s interest in our local history.  In 1854, the Conn family arrived in Oregon by wagon train and established residency in what is now the Melrose area. John is a descendant of this Douglas County pioneer family.  John has been a DCHS Board Member since 2004.

Gwen Bates, Vice President

Profession: Small Business Owner
Seven generations of Gwen’s family have lived in Douglas County.  Joshua and Nancy Simmons Mathews came across The Oregon Trail in 1851 and settled on a donation claim in the Dixonville area in 1852.  Gwen grew up listening to her grandmother’s stories about their family and the people and places in Douglas County.  That began her interest in our area’s history.  George Abdill, the first Director of The Douglas County Museum was a close family friend and many of Gwen’s family letters and artifacts are in a collection at The Douglas County Museum.  Gwen has been a DCHS Board Member since 2002.

Bill & Clementine Rice, Directors at Large – Retired

A husband and wife partnership that has very interesting origins.  Bill descends from the Douglas County pioneer  Rice family.  Dexter Rice, prominent in the Brumfield Murder case here in Douglas County is Bill’s uncle.  His family is prominent also in Myrtle Creek history.  Clementine descends from the Rondeau family line of the Umpqua Indian Tribe, the Rondeau’s are represented as one of the 7 Feathers, of the 7 Feathers Casino in Canyonville.  Considering their ancestors were enemies it is amazing that they found each other, and have loved and cared for one another for all these years.

Clyde L. Snyder, Treasurer

Profession: First line ATM Technician, retired.
Though Clyde was born in Fort Bragg, California he has family that hails from Lane County.  His grandfather, Ole Haldorson,  came from Norway to the United States around 1855 with his parents when he was just an infant.  He grew up and married Mary Severson (also Norwegian)  and they traveled to Valley City, in North Dakota.  Only their youngest son, Elmer Haldorson was born in Oregon, in 1904.  The entire family stayed in Lane County for some years.  Eventually, Clyde’s grandfather Ludwig, met and married Esther Inman and headed for Northern California.   Clyde began attending board meetings to support his wife, and finally decided to become involved.

Peggy A. Rowe-Snyder, President (2017),  former Secretary

Profession: PC Consultant & Instructor, Author
Peggy was born and raised in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, but her grandparents all lived in Marion County, Oregon; therefore she spent almost all vacations in Oregon.  As a youngster she knew that someday she would live in Oregon because that was home for her.  In 2005, she managed to make that dream come true and finally moved back ‘home’ to Oregon with her new husband, Clyde L. Snyder.

In terms of Douglas County history, Peggy’s great grandfather, Alfred B. Rowe had a gold mine on North Myrtle Creek, and through his children she has many cousins (Bovee, Pepiot, Nelson, Rowe) in Douglas County.  Her great great grandfather, Rev. Charles C. Coop was a circuit preacher for the ME church all over Oregon, but he spent a significant part of his career preaching in Canyonville, which is where retired from. One of his sons, Abraham B. Coop is buried right next door to the 7 Feathers Casino.  In terms of Oregon history, her great great great grandfather, Alden B. Rowe, built a home in Eugene that is now on the National Register of Historical Places.  Most of the family is buried there in the Pioneer (IOOF) Cemetery next to the University of Oregon. With a family background like that, she can not imagine not loving history, and genealogy, and last but not least, Oregon!

Peggy  has served the Douglas County Historical Society since 2005, and has been on the board since 2012.   She spends a lot of her time researching history for folks who want to know  their family history. She has been a guest researcher on the television series, Deadly Women by Beyond Productions.  The episode was, “Vicious Vixens.”  Her passion is people, history, culture, and genealogy.  She believes in service via volunteerism and volunteered for six years as a network administrator at St. Paul Lutheran Church & School in Roseburg.

Lois Thomas, Director at Large, Retired

Profession: Long Distance Operator, Retired from Qwest (US West) Operator Services.
Lois is a member of the Wright pioneer family.  Her father’s mother was a midwife and a dowser in the Glide area.  She has an interest in preserving historical houses and previously held office in the Umpqua Historic Preservation Society.  Lois has served as a Lane House hostess for over 20 years.  She has been a DCHS Board member since 1984.

Dianne Weiker, Director at Large

Profession: Custodian, Retired
Dianne has several friends with deep roots in Douglas County, and has always been fascinated with their recollections and connections to so many people in the county. She purchased a home in the Historic Mill-Pine District of Roseburg, and her interest in local history keeps growing.  She has been a Lane House hostess for several years, and Co-Editor of the Trapper for twelve years.  She has been a DCHS Board member since 2004.

Cynthia Rockney ,  Director at Large