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Her brother's birthday
Henry Chapman. He was 8 years older than his sister. He was a frail and sickly child, and he was never strong. -
Birthday
Born in Kentucky, christened Vittwia St. Clair Chapman. Her father Samuel Chapman was born in England and so was her mother, Sarah Smeed Chapman. -
Burlington
When she was 4 years old they moved to Burlington. This was the first time she saw Indians. -
Prarie schooners going westward
A few years later she saw lots of prarie schooners going westward with mottoes like these on the canvas tops: California or Bust, and For Oregon. She was 8 years old at that time. -
Back to Kentucky
In the early 50's they moved back to Kentucky. -
Brother started across the plains
The doctor said a complete change of climate might be beneficial to him, so, in 1853, when I was 12 years old, he and my brother Daniel started across the plains for Oregon. Danial got a job driving a prarie schooner for Enoch Walker, while Henry, who was 20, drove a wagon for Enoch's brohter, Fruit Walker. She cried because she couldn't go to Oregon with Henry. -
Ashland
Her brother's claim near Ashland in 1855 -
Back to Iowa
Just before the civil war they moved back to Iowa. -
Fort Sumter fired on
She was 20 years old when Fort Sumter was fired on and she was anxious to do all she could for the young men who were fighting for their convictions. -
Nurse
She volunteered for service as a nurse. -
Colorado
In our travels we visited Colorado. Henry thought the climate would help him, so I landed a position as cashier at the Southern Hotel at Trinidad. -
Southern Oregon
In September 1880, Henry and Vittwia camte to Southern Oregon. They went out to Henry's place in the foothills. She divided her attention between caring for Henry and raising Percheron horses. -
Marriage
When she was 49 years old she married Michael Mickelson. "I would not have married him, but he was sick and needed careful nursing, and I could care for him better as his wife than in any other way. Ever since I served as nurse during the Civil War people who are helpless or dependent or who need nursing have made a strong appeal to me. I guess it is the maternal instinct in me" -
Michael Mickelson's dead
"I traveled all over California with him for his health, but he died on October 5, 1894" -
Home
After my husband’s death I ran my brother’s ranch and also my husband’s. They were nine miles apart and I rode from one to the other on horseback through the mountains every day to superintendthe work. I bought this place and built my home in Ashland 21 years ago. Some years ago I sold both of the ranches, as I found it hard to get reliable help to run them. -
Henry's dead
He died at the age of 72 -
83rd birthday