About Us

Captain John Oldham Chapter, NSDAR

Our chapter's focus is historic preservation, patriotism, education, service to our active duty and veterans, community classroom, Wreaths Across America and much more.

Retha Downey, founder of the Captain John Oldham Chapter

 Retha Austin Downey was the Organizing Regent of Captain John Oldham Chapter. Retha, born June 15, 1895, was the second of seven children born to George Washington and Emma S. (Austin) Downey. She was a third-generation Nevada County, California, native where working in gold mines was a tradition.

Retha graduated from Nevada City High School in 1912 and was “one of the most well-known and recognized daughters of the county.” However, after gaining skills in local employment, she moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked with the War Production Board. Retha joined the Women’s Army Corps in 1944 and served in Pennsylvania and then at Camp Beale, now known as Beale Air Force Base, only several miles from Nevada County where she was born.

Tracing her lineage to her Revolutionary patriot ancestor Job Packard, born in 1762 in Bridgewater, MA, she joined Tobias Lear Chapter, NSDAR, in Marysville, California, with number #328266 on October 24, 1941.

Her involvement in community service, historic preservation, fraternal organizations and civil defense led to her organizing the Captain John Oldham Chapter of the daughters of the American Revolution in the Downey home in 1957. Retha was named organizing regent and later held various offices.

Retha remained single and died in January 1983 in Fresno, California, where she is buried in Belmont Memorial Cemetery. Her grave has been marked recently with a DAR marker after many delays.

Photos courtesy of chapter members.

National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution