I
Historial Sketches and Experi
ences of Trail-Blazers Who Made
Alaska the Empire of the North
PIONEERS OF ALASKA
EDITED BY
JOHN W.FRAME
President Anchorage Igloo No. 15
DOINGS OF IGLOO NO. 15
Quite a lot of business was trans
acted at the meeting of the Pioneers
on Friday evening last. At the preced
ing regular meeting the big opening
ball consumed the entire evening and
business matters were postponed until
the meeting last Friday evening.
Brother Harry Hicks, who had been
elected at a previous meeting was
present and received the initiation.
The dance committee made its re
port showing a good net profit to the
Igloo.
Ray C. Larson of the building com
mittee read the detailed report of the
bills he had paid for work done and
the same was received and placed on
tile until the work was complete:!.
A large framed picture of the
steamer Portland , the first gold
steamer to arrive at Seattle from Al
aska, was presented to the Igloo by
Brother Felix Brown and received
with a rousing vote of thanks.
Then came the announcemnt from
Trustee Lynch that the beautiful or
namental electric lamp shade covering
the 500-candle power light hanging
from the center of the ceiling, was the
gift of Brother Charles E. Herron
whereupon another enthusiastic vote
of thanks was manifested by a rising
vote and three vociferous cheers giv
en the “white-haired boy from Ken
tucky.”
Next it was learned that the beauti
ful globe over the entrance door to the
hall was presented by Brother Chovir.
the electrician, and this occasioned the
liquidation of an other indebtedness os
kindness, by a hearty vote of thanks.
Next came up the matter of pur
chasing the beautiful piano used at
the dance and still remaining in the
room. The owner was reported willing
to take $50 cash and the balance of
the $300 in monthly payments. But
the Igloo had gone broke paying
! building bills, and was in great dis
I tress to think of not being able to
, close so good a deal, when Brother
j Chas. Ivafferstein arose and said he
1 would advance the $50 in payment for
a life membership, and the deal was
closed amid demonstrations of good
j will.
! And then came a more serious ques
I tion—the raising of the money to pay
! something more than $1,000 now due
! on the heating plant and other furn
ishings on the building. But nothin.-,
baffles an old pioneer. Some oh
; pioneer got up and said:
“Why there is only one thing to d'
! and that is to pay it.” As he said this
he threw a five dollar gold piece on
! the uible and said “Come on boys.'
When they quit, there was S300 on the
table and then the dance committee
piled its receipts on this and made it
fully $500.
| “Half paid and nobody hurt,” sum
the old brothel who started the game.
It was decided to have a regular old
fashioned rip-roarin’ smoker on next
Friday evening. All pioneers who pos
sibly can are going to be there. Chas.
Kafferstein, J. C. Davidson, Ray C.
Larson and M. L. Lynch are the com
mittee to make things smoke. There’ll
be something doing all the time Fii
day evening next.
Biographical Sketches of Men
Who Blazed Trails of Alaska
CARL L. JOHNSON.
The twelfth name appearing: on the
roll is that of Carl L. Johnson. He
*was born in Sweden, October 11, 1869.
He first landed in Alaska at Seward in
the fall of ’08. For several years he
was a resident of this district. In
April, 1915, he came to Anchorage and
lias been engaged in the Cook Inlet
country ever since. Mr. Carlson was a
mariner for many years, but of late
has been a prospector and miner in
Alaska. His present address is Kenai.
EMIL SONNTAG.
Emil Sonntag is the next name ap
pearing on the roll. His birthplace was
Dresden, Germany. He was born on
December 27, 1857. E'uring the yeal
1885 he came to the United States and
in 1893 landed in Alaska. Here he
* has followed prospecting and mining
and has been in many of the camps
of the north. He is a coppersmith by
trade. His home is on Fifth street be
tween B and C, east.
ALEXANDER M. BARNES.
That old veteran prospector and
miner, Alexander M. Bames, was born
at Spotsylvania Court House, Virgin
ia, on the 16th day of October, 1844.
He came to Alaska in 1883, landing at
Harrisburg, now Juneau,on the 23rd
day of April. Since his arrival in the
north he has visited most all the big
camps of the Territory. For a man
of his age he has a wonderful vitality.
During the summer just passed he
prospected all alone in the far-away
Cache creek country, returning home
only a few days ago. He was a con
federate soldier during the Civil War,
but is a firey patriot for Cncle Sam.
in the present strife with Germany,
though nearing his 75th year, would
shoulder a musket at the drop of your
hat if his country called him. He is
one of the charter members of lngloo
No. 15. His roll No. is 16.
MATT GASPER.
Matt Gasper is No. 18 on the roll.
He was born in Austria in February,
1864. He came to Alaska in the year
18!)4, landing at Juneau April 24. Matt
is a placer miner and has blazed many
a trail up and down the streams of
this great Northland. There has not
been many stampedes that he has not
been in the van. His people live in
Calumet, Michigan. He is now in the
employ of the Alaskan Engineering
commission near Talkeetna.
HENRY WOLF.
Henry Wolf, No. 19, is a native
of the good old state of Iowa. He was
born in Clinton, January 15, 1867. He
came to Alaska in 1899, landing at
Skagway, in December. He has been
all over the interior country as a pros
pector and miner. He is a tinsmith
by trade and at the present time is a
member of the Pioneer Sheet Metal
company on Fifth street. He came to
^Anchorage on the 4th day of May,
1915. His relatives live in West Lib
erty, Iowa.
! MARTIX .1. LOVOLD.
Martin J. Lovold is a native of Nor
| wav. He was born November 3, 1851.
; He came to Alaska in the year 1897,
: landing first at Juneau. He went from
! there to Fairbanks, arriving there on
! the 23rd ofApril, 1903. He is a min
! er by occupation and has prospected
j in many camps in Alaska. He has re
j latives living in Kent, Washington,
j His roll number in the local Igloo is 35.
T. R. NEEDHAM.
j There are few men more widely
j known in Alaska than T. R. Needham,
number 37, on the roll. He was born
| in Michigan, at the town of Buchanan,
May 18, 1856. He came to Alaska in
' 1895, landing at Juneau in the month
of April. Since coming to Alaska he
: has published a newspaper in Wran
gell, Juneau, Douglas, Fairbanks,
Knik and several other camps. He was
j one of the founders of the Cook Inlet
; Pioneer, the first paper published in
; Anchorage and, until a short time ago,
I had a job printing establishment on
| Fifth avenue. During the last year of
! his residence in Anchorage he was
j vice-president of the local Igloo of
1 Pioneers. He and his wife are spend
i ing the winter in Los Angeles, Cali
|fornia.
BURR A. LEE.
Burr Ameden Lee, No. 38 on the
roll was born at Leonidas, Joseph
county, Michigan, on the 6th day of
July, 1870. He came to Alaska in the
year 1899, landing at Skagway Apia]
I 20. He floated down the Yukon river
during the month of June, 1899, land
ing in Nome July 1. He came to An
chorage in 1916, arriving on the 22nd
of June.
JOHN D. McLEOD.
No. 39 on the roll is the name of
John I). McLeod. He was born at Tort
Elg-in, Canada, February, 1863. He
came to Alaska,in 1899, landing at
Skagway, in January. He came to
. Anchorage in June, 1915, and has been
I in this district ever since. By occupa
' tion Mr. McLeod is a farmer, but since
| coming north he has done considerable
j prospecting in the different camps in
i Alaska.
—
J. C. PROBST.
Among the veteran pioneers who
i meet every Friday night at Pioneer
| hall is J. C. Probst. He is a native
! Germany, having been born in that
country in 1850. He came to Alaska
in 1898, arriving at Skagway with the
great rush of that year. Mr. Probst is
a miner by occupation and has been in
many of the Alaskan camps. He came
to Anchorage when the town was in
its infancy, arriving here in 1915. His
roll number is 40.
WILLIAM ANDREW MINER.
William Andrew Miner, the “one
armed wonder,” comes next on the
roll. He is a Native Son, having been
born in San Francisco, California, in
1874. He came to Alaska in 1899,
landing first at Skagway. By trade
Mr. Miner is a locksmith, and though
he has lost his right hand, he is an
HOME OF PIONEERS OF ALASKA
-----
View of a Portion of the Buildings at the Territorial Institution in Sitka. Taken From the Waterfront.
I tablished at Sitka, on July 4, 1913.
The buildings shown in the picture
were formerly occupied by the marine
guard stationed at Sitka, but they
; were withdrawn on March 17, 1912.
leaving the barracks and other build
ings of the station abandoned.
1 he idea of using these commo
: dious structures for a home for in
digent prospectors and old men who
had spent their years in Alaska and
met with misfortune, was first con
ceived by Hon. Arthur G. Shoup and
Delegate Wickersham, they having
taken up the matter with the secre
tary of the navy by letter about the
first of January, 1913. The consent of
the secretary was obtained on March
10, 1913, and the governor of Alaska
on April 23, following, was designed
by Secretary Lane as the custodian of
the buildings and grounds. The gover
! nor.on May3, 1913, appointed Arthur
G. Shoup, of Sitka, as his representa
A CliC UUliUlil^C
and grounds and he has been in charge
i ever since. On December 23, 1914, the
building formerly used as a residence
for the governors of Alaska, and aft
erwards used as a naval hospital, was
also turned over to the representa
tive of the governor. This building
was erected about 1S47, and is one of
the historical structures of the terri
tory. It is the building to the left in
the picture.
Several new buildings have been
erected since the home was establish
ed, some of which do not appear in <
the picture here shown. The home is |
steam-heated and electric lighted and
has hospital facilities. The institution
is maintained wholly by the territory,
an appropriation being made each ses
sion of the legislature for that pur-!
pose. It is controlled by a board of
trustees, with the governor as ex-offi
cio president. The present board is \
, comprised of Allen Shattuck, of Ju
11 Cl Cl, L/l. UCULgC^lMl Ui Oi lf\cl UI1U
Governor John F. A. Strong.
The staff of the institution at pres
ent consists of a superintendent, phy
sician, three trained nurses, three
male attendants, one cook, one assist
ant cook, three waitresses, one en
gineer and fireman, and a laundrymar
with helper.
Of the inmates now in the home
seventeen are totally incapacitated
thirty-two are partially able to care
for themselves and move around, while
the balance, about 20, are able to dc
some work. A letter lately received
from the superintendent says:
“This institution has been fortunate
in having as the head of the board of
trustees a sourdough like Governor
Strong who has never been too busy
to give the home and its problems his
most careful attention. His interest
has been wholly that of a man who
knows and appreciates the Pioneer of
Alaska, and has a desire to do every
thing possible for his welfare.”
“Uncle Jimmie” Gray, Typical Pioneer, Is Lonesome
James Grey, now at the Home in
Sitka, is a typical Alaska pioneer. He
I
I
I
has been there four years, having
gone from Cordova in December, 1013.
There are many others like him in
Alaska and the incidents of their lives
would make an interesting book.
James M. Grey was born in Colum
bia, Boone county, Missouri, May 22.
1842. He left there about the begin
ning of the Civil War and went to Ne
braska City, near Council Bluffs, Iowa.
He left there a few years later with
four yoke of cattle bound for Fort
Bridges, Utah. In the fall of ’63 he left
Fort Bridges and went to Salt Lake
City, arriving there by horseback. He
remained there that winter, and then
with a six mule team he drove to Lo
gan, a small town in Utah and there
loaded with butter, eggs, and other
produce started for, Montana. He next
landed in Virginia City and finally in
Alder Gulch. Here he sold his team
and went prospecting. From here he
expert in his line. He came to An
chorage in 1016, arriving some time in
April. Hie is a regular attendant at
the meetings of the local Igloo, and
his number on the roll is 41.
PATRICK J. MEEHAN.
j It is not necessary to tell the nativ- |
itv of Patrick J. Meehan. His name;
spells Ireland. Pat was born way j
back in the year the great civil warj
closed. He wanderd up here to Alas
ka in the year 1809, and has been here
ever since. He came to Anchorage in
October, 1915, and is one of her most
enthusiastic admirers. Mr. Meehan is
a packer by occupation and throws the
diamond hitch with great dexterity.
| He has done considerable prospecting
| in the north and is well-known in most
of the camps of Alaska. He has not
been outside since 1002. His roll
| number is 42.
J. S. KENYON.
It was down in Filmore, Missouri,
on the 31st day of July, in 1855, that
J. S. Kenyon first saw the light of
day. They would not “show” him in
Missouri how to get the coin, so he
migrated to Alaska, arriving at Skag
way in 1807. He went to McCarthy
and Kennecott in 1913, and mined
there some time. In the fall of 1915
he came to Anchorage. The saw, ham
mer, plane and chisel are the imple
ments of his trade and he can handle
them with great efficiency. His out
side address is Baker City, Oregon.
His roll number is 47.
went to the place where Helena now
stands, and later went to Confederate
Gulch and staked a claim. From there
he went to Silver creek prospecting
and got into a fracas with some In
dians and received a bullet in his legj
leaving a bad wound.
After recovering he went back to
Confederate Gulch. That was in 1865. j
This time he and his partner staked a
claim that they sold for $10,000 in
gold. He wandered back to Helena,'
and bought six yoke of cattle, went to
Fort Benton and continued to freight
until the railroad came and put him :
out of business.
When he left Fort Benton he con
cluded to try British Columbia and
landed in East Ivootney; from there he
went to Slocan and with six others j
started for Peace river; stopped for a j
while at Ashcroft, a railroad station j
on the C. P. R. Here they outfitted for |
Peace river. Afterward he and his as
sociates concluded not to go to Peace
river and turned off toward the Sti
keen river and landed at Telegraph
creek. They were on the trail all win- j
ter between Telegraph creek and Tes
lin lake. Here they prospected for
some time. This was in the spring of
’97. Later they drifted down thg Yu
kon to Pella river, and from there
down to Louse Town, one mile above
Dawson. Here he met old Captain J.
J. Healey. Tried to get some grub
from him but failed. Later he went
down to Forty Mile to make a grub
stake, but did nothing all summer. In
1898 he polled back up to Dawson,
met A1 Williams and then went back
to Chicken ci-eek. He could not find
anything and went up to Dawson. In
1899 he went back to Forty Mile again
and worked the summer of '99 for
wages. Rocked that summer on Na
polean bar; then back to Dawson
again, and went to work for Frank
Morrison on 76 below on Dominion.
That fall he went to Tenakee Hot
Springs and remained there nine
weeks. Then he went up to Juneau
and from there to Seattle. Couldn’t
stand that and came back to Katalla.
where he remained one summer. That
fall he went to Coi’dova and remain
ed there until he went to Sitka, where ;
he now is. 1
That’s his story. If you would write :
the incidents of the life of any other
old timer in Alaska it would read
much the same. What a hard rough
life to lead without any success. He
tried, but fortune did not favor him.
He is now an inmate of the Home for
aged prospectors. He asks us to an- ■
swer his letter for he says he is “lone
some.” That word expreses the feel
ings of many of the men who have
prospected in Alaska and found it not.
The life of several of the members oi
the United States senate, for the first
twenty years was much the same a
“Uncle Jimmie’s, but fortune at thal
time favored them and they went tc
the top. Some must fail ,others win.
Nevertheless a United States senato’
killed himself and left a note that he
did the rash act because he was “lone
some.” What’s the difference!
HE ANSWERED S. O. S. CALL.
In our endeavor to gather the data
for Alaskan history it is a pleasure to
make mention of those who put theii
shoulders to the wheel and do their bit
Among those who have promptly an
swered the call for a litle help is
Brother Fred E. Tanner, of Skagway.
Mr. Tanner is a son of U. S. Marshal
James Tanner, of the First division.
He wasborn in Dunlap, Iowa, on April
1, 1882. He came to Alaska in ’95
from Tacoma, landing first in Juneau.
In ’97 he went to Skagway and has
resided there ever since. On the 29th
of last March he was maried to a
Douglas belle. He is now engaged in
the plumbing business. He is a mem
ber of No. 12, Skagway Igloo, Alaska
Pioneers.
OLD MARINER PASSES AWAY.
Captain Jas. Warren, a pioneer
sealer, who brought to the coast the
Beaver, the first steamer on the Pa
cific ocean, in 1835, died at his home
sn Victoria September 11.
The picture of the arrival of the
steamer Portland at Seattle bringing
:he first shipment of gold from Alas
<a, presented by Felix Brown, to Igloc
Mo. 15, Pioneers of Alaska, at theii
ast meeting, is very much appreciated
jy the members. That is the most his
;orial day in the life of that enterpris
ng city. At that time her greatness
,vas waning, but from the day of the
irrival of the Portland to the present
;ime Seattle is known to most all peo
sle in all countries.
If you receive a sample copy of thr
Weekly' Times, read it through and
:hen mail it to a friend* Every local
paper the size of the Weekly Times
s an advertisement within itself. Why
.vaste it.
GOOD OLD WAGON’S
DONE BROKE DOWBT
The editor of this page has received
from the governor, a number of ap
plication blanks which every old-timer
asking for an allowance must fill out,
thereby answering all questions re
quired to be answered under the lam.
These can be had by any pioneer wb»
wishes to make application for an al
lowance of his or her due portion of
the $30,000 appropriated by the las*
legislature. The law was amended at
the last session of the legislature fix
ing the maximum allowance to women
at $25. There was no other material
change in the law.
GOVERNOR STRONG’S RESPONSE
The following letter has been re
ceived by Igloo No. 15, from Governor
strong in response to the resolution
0i the Igloo endorsing his reappoint
ment as governor of Alaska:
De.tr Sirs and Brothers:
I beg to acknowledge receipt of
your letter of August 28, advising me
that Ingloo No. 15, Pioners of Alaska.
had unanimously endorsed my candi
dacy tor reappointment as Governor
of Alaska and had expressed the same
by telegraph to the president ;also that
it is the desire of the members of Tg
loo No. 15, that I receive reappoint
ment, etc.
In reply I have to thank the mem
bers of the Igloo for this evidence of
their confidence. I need scarcely say
that this is an honor which I appre
ciate most highly and especially com
ing as it did to me without my know
ledge or solicitation. I am convinced
that if the Pioneers of Alaska—the
men who have made this Territorv
possible for othei's—will stand togeth
er in the interests of honest and effi
cient government, their work wilt
leave a lasting impress upon not only
the present but the future history of
this great Territory of oui'S:
With a deep appreciation of the
honor you have done me, I am,
Fraternally yours,
J. F. A. STRONG.
LEAVE IT TO THEM.
“The members of Igloo No. 15, at
Anchorage, are evidently still on the
alert,” declares the Ketchikan Pro
gressive Miner. “Their years of hard
ship endured in Alaska have not dim
inished their desire and love for peace;
: if you can judge by their action in or
ganizing what they call Home Guard.
“It appears that when their atten
tion was called to the number of agi
I tatoi’s congregating in their town and
vicinity, they saw trouble ahead and
they immediately proceeded to organ
I ize their forces to meet the foes.
“Alaskans who have been north
since 1900, for instance, remember
quite well how everybody worked in
i harmony. Everybody worked hard;
but everybody was happy. They never
heard of a strike until agitators in
vaded the Fairbanks district in 1907
OS. They still remember how pleasant
it was up till then. Men would work,
when it pleased them and quit like
wise.
“We remember distinctly in the
Council district where men worked ten
hours for $3.50 up to $10 a day, ac
cording to their capacity for work.
And there was no grumbling, no fault
finding. They were men and not agita^
tors. Today the kids of those days im
agine they should manage things; but
as their experience does not permit
them to dictate wisely, they want to
dictate foolishly by strikes and other
wise. However, the oldtimers have
stood about as much as their good
nature will allow and from now on,
they are likely to show the “kids” that
they are still bosses of the country,
j Leave it to them.”
There is a great deal of truth in the
foregoing. There are 4,000 Pioneers
in Alaska who have enrolled their
j names, and there’s at least a couple of
I thousand other pioneers who came
here ten or twelve years ago, and
! many more who came seventeen years
ago, who are not registered. They are
i every one time Alaskans. They are not
here on any “job.” Their home is in
Alaska. Why let some chechaco, who
is exploiting the country do all the
“bossing?”
OFFICERS OF JUNEAU IGLOO.
The officers of Igloo No. 6 (Juneau)
are:
President—J. T. Martin.
First Vice-President—H. B. Le
Fevre.
Second Vice-President—R. E. Davis.
Secretary—Charles E. Naghel.
Treasurer—E .Valentine.
Historian—Rev. Kashevaroff.
Chaplain—J. B. Barnes.
Sergeant—Murdoch C. Stewart.
The heating plant is being installed
in the Pioneer building this week.
Frank Korth is doing the work.