History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon. Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

CHRISTIAN DETHMAN                       1879

     Christian Dethman was born in Germany, January 1, 1859, son of Henry and Weibke (Peters) Dethman. The parents were natives of Germany and farmers. The father fought in the war of 1848. Christian attended the schools in Germany until 1872 when he came to the United States and located in Iowa with a cousin, where he attended the public school for two years. He remained in Iowa three more years working at farm work when he was joined by his mother and his brother, his father having died in Germany.
     A year later he and his brother John came to Hood River, arriving April 17, 1879. He made a trip to the Willamette valley and then worked for Henry Kling at The Dalles for six months. At the end, of that time he and his brother filed a claim in Hood River, and have resided here continuously since.
     On November 20, 1886, he married Miss Emma Jetter of Hood River. She was a native of Iowa, of German descent. When the apple industry was in its infancy, Hon. E.L. Smith employed Christian Dethman to plant and care for an orchard at "Beulah Land." Owing to his services, this orchard became a model and attracted much favorable notice. In his work in Hood River he has added materially to the wealth of the community and deserves his well-earned success.
     The children are Frank C., Herman, Anna, Alfred, Laura, William McKinley, Jesse and Fred.

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