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
BIOGRAPICAL SKETCHHES OF MEN
WHO BLAZED TRAILS OF ALASKA
CAMILE McGOWN.
Camile McGown, who came to the
north in 1898 and chased the many
stampedes for gold, was bom in Jo
liette, Canada, on the 20th day of Sep
tember, 1861. He was all through the
great Dawson country in her palmiest
days. For several years he was a
federal official at Cordova. This was
during the building of the Copper Riv
er Railroad. He came to Anchorage
in the spring of 1915 and has been
here ever since. His people live at
Missoula, Montana, but Camile’s home
address is Anchorage. He is the pro
prietor of the California pool rooms.
ROBERT B. LOTHROP.
One of the first pioneers to enroll
his name as a member of Igloo No.
15, was Robert B. Lothrop. Robert is
a “State of Mainer.” He was bom in
Portland on the 21st of August, 1875.
He first came to Alaska in the spring
of '98, landing at Valdez. He, also,
was a Dawson stampeder, and for
some time resided on the famous For
ty Mile river. He finally drifted
around to Anchorage coming here in
her early days. He is at present en
gaged in driving the carriage team for
the government officials.
JOSEPH RASMUSEX.
This old pioneer was born in Den
mai'k, on February 22, 1857. He came
to southeastern Alaska 'way back in
1883. He has been in most of the
camps in Alaska and for several years
was a miner ar.d prospector in the
Fairbanks district. He came to An
chorage when it was non est, and is
now a prominent agriculturalist in the
Potato Belt.
R. ARMSTRONG.
Mr. Armstrong is from the land of
Sweden. He was boi-n in June 26,
1874. He came with the crowd in 1808
and has remained with the north.
There are not many camps of Alaska
that he has not worked in. He has
traversed the hills, and swam the
streams of Alaska until he calls it
“pleasure.” His home address is An
chorage.
THEODORE ALLERTOX.
He first saw the light in old “In
diana. ” Huntington is his old home
town. It was here that he was born
on September 23, 1856. He came to
Alaska in 1896, landing at Sitka. He
is the proprietor of the Red Boot re
pair shop and if you want your sole
saved, call on him at the Red Boot. If
the world looks dreary to you and you
feel all “run down in th heel,” see
Theodore. He came to Anchorage in
the days of her infancy and has been
“peging away” ever since.
ROBERT WHITE.
Among the younger members of the
“Loyal Order of Old Stiffs,” is Robert
White. He was born in New York,
just a few years ago—January 11,
1884. He has lived on Cook Inlet ever
since he was ten years old. For many
years his home was at Sunrise when
that camp was a young Dawson. He
' came to Anchorage the first of last
I year and has been here ever since. He
j was one of the charter members in
• the local Igloo.
FRANK E. WILSON.
He doesn't look like Woodrow Wil
| son ,but he is a good member of Igloo
| No. 15, just the same. He was one of
i the original 200 who were instrument
! al in organizing the local order. Frank
was born in Clinton, Iowa, in 1868. He
i first came to Alaska in 1896, landing
in Juneau in the month of March.
I From there he has tried most all the
| camps of Alaska and finally reached
Anchorage early in 1915.
JOHN C. PAULSON.
Norway is the native land of Broth
er Paulson. He was born in that
northern country on August 3, 1856.
‘ When he first came to Alaska, in
181)8, he landed in the crowded city
of Dyea. It was quite a hustling burg
at that time and John thought some
of building a four-story brick there,
but finally concluded to go on to Daw
son. Having traversed the northern
hills and mountains of Alaska ever
since that time he finally came to the
metropolis and settled down. Mr. Paul
son is a painter by trade and under
stands thoroughly how to “brush dull
colors away.” His home in the states
is Portland, Oregon.
JAY STANLEY MATTHEWS.
Mr. Matthews is a native of Ohio.
He was born in Cincinnati, April 22,
i 1866. He first came to Alaska in 1896,
landing at Eagle in the month of Oc
tober. He is the recording secretary
of the local Igloo and was one of the
charter members. He has prospected
in most of the camps of Alaska. He
is the author of the present city direc
tory and has done some newspaper
business in his time. His home in the
1 states is at Spokane.
ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM
AT ANCHORAGE
Anchorage needs a museum, a store
house and exhibit room for the care
and display of objects of interest in
connection with the early history of
the town, and of the Territory. Pio
neers today have in every town in Al
aska, among their belonging articles
of great value considered from the
standpoint of their association with
the growth of this most picturesque of
new countries. The men and women
who joined their lives with that of the
land of the hidden treasures in days
long past, would gladly place their
many personal souvenirs of pioneer
times in the hands of responsible or
ganizations, where they could be car
ed for and preserved long after the
original owner had grown careless of
their fate.
Indeed many pioneers who love their
Alaska, would rather yield their cher
ished mementoes of her youth and
theirs, to her representatives during
their life time, than to have to fear
the loss or destruction of these articles
at the hands of later owners.
There are many of our prospectors
and exploresr who have one or more
articles which wrould be of interest if
only they were packed where they
could be enjoyed by a curio loving
public.
A collection of such souvenirs of
notable events or famous places or
people of Alaska, would be a great at
traction to tourists and students of
history, many of whom are drawn to
visit the northland by the lure of the
early-day romance.
The Pioneers of Alaska is the pro
per organization to atend to this work.
They are the people who could suc
cessfully carry through a plan for col
lecting and housing such an exhibit.
The workers who undertake this task
will earn the sincere gratitude of all
who are interested in seeing the signs
of old times preserved. Let’s get busy.
Who is the first to turn over to the
local Igloo of Pioneers a souvenir or
relic of early days ?
The Anchorage Daily Times is th
biggest paper in Alaska.
SETTLEMENTS EACH HAVE
OWN LOCAL HISTORY
The very purpose of the Pioneers of
Alaska is to“collect and preserve Alas
kan history.” Then why not get busy?
j To organize for this particular pur
pose and then sit down, is exrtemely
foolish. There is scarcely a pioneer in
1 V'.tsK .. who been h. re ten years
| who has not an extremely historical
story that is worth preserving as
j early history.
| Every settlement in Alaska has a
| history that is rich and worth preserv
! ing. Why let it go to waste ? Most
people are anxious to write a story of
I fiction. Why not write one of history
j founded on facts. Take your pencil
and plan one. It may be taken as the
I basis of an historical movie in the
near future. As it is said in holy writ,
“Why stand ye here idle? Go into my
vineyard and work and I’ll give unto
thee what is right.” The historial
vineyard in Alaska is one of the rich
est in the world. Why sit ye idle here?
The history of the town of Kodiak
; would make a story that would rival
that of Robinson Crusoe. The lives of
j the men associated with most any set
! tlement in Alaska, however small the
i settlement, would make a far more
^ exciting “movie ” if placed on the
i screen, than many of the stale things
j now going the rounds of the circuit.
You don’t have to plot your story
| when writing of some of the camps
in Alaska. The history of the camp,
when woven into a truthful recital of
the facts, would be a plot, which, with
very little embelishment would move
the world, as did Rex Beach’s Spoil
ers. Try it. Send the Pioneer page the
story.
ILLINOIS POLITICIAN.
William Canavan, who 20 years ago
was a prominent factor in politics in
the state of Illinois, and a lifelong
friend of former Governor Duneen,
I but for the past nineteen years an
! Alaskan, -was on the island this morn
j ,ing to call on his oldtime friend, the
editor of the Douglas Island News.
Mr. Canavan has been lately connect
ed with the Kennecott mine and is on
his way westward from a trip to the
outside.—Douglas News.
DOINGS OF IGLOO NO. 15
The local igloo, No. 15, had a glor
ious time at their big smoker last Fri
day evening. At the meeting, before
the smoker began to smoke, there was
quite a lot of regular business trans
acted. There were four new appli
cants for membership, viz.: J. E.
Fern, J. P. Frisby, Wm. H. Kentzell,
and Olaf Swanson. Messrs. Fern,
Frisby and Kentzell, together with
Mr. George Nylan, who was elected
! at a previous meeting, were reported
present, and on motion the rules were
suspended and the applicants duly in
itiated. Mr. Swanson was not pres
ent.
Brothers Chas. E. Herron and
Chas. KlafTerstein, upon application
were each granted a life membership,
and during a short recess they were
given an enthusiastic reception. At
this time Captain Webb made appli
cation for a life membership, to be
considered at the next meeting.
ine building committee reported
that the heating plant would be in
stalled by the time of the next meet
ing. The furnace is already built and
Contractor Korth now has nothing left
to do but connect the pipes.
On motion it was agreed by the
vote of the igloo that the hall should
be given to the Home Guard on Thurs
day evenings, free of charge, it be
ing understood that no drilling was
to be done on the floor.
The assistant secretary, Brother
Ray C. Larson, reported about $175
paid in during the meeting on the
building fund. The receipts of the
evening for dues, membership fees,
etc., was $117.
After the routine business was over
the members retired to the club room
below where a sumptuous spread
awaited them. There was hot coffee,
Palace of Sweets sandwiches and oth
; er good things to eat, too numerous
! to mention.
After the lunch the brothers again
gathered in the hall, and, with music
and song entertained themslves for
an hour or more, when Home Sweet I
Home was sung with variations, and
more or less enthusiasm.
THE NEW MEMBERS
WM. H. KENTZELL.
Wm. H Kentzell is a Native Son,
having been bom in California, De
cember 22, 1884. He came with the
great rush for the Kolndike, landing
in Skagway in 1898. For several years
he traversed the hills and vales of the
interior country and finally landed in
Ketchikan. From Ketchikan he came
to Anchorage, arriving here in the
spring of 1915. Mr. Kentzell is a
i baker by trade and knows what it is
to handle the dough. He was initiated
: at the last meeting of the local igloo.
J. P. FRISBY.
J. P. Frisby was born in Rochest
er, Minnesota, in the year 1860 He
came to Alaska in the year 1898, land
ing at Dutch Harbor, in June, in 190*
he came to Knik and for several years
was a resident of that garden spot. By
trade Mr. Frisby is a miner and has
seen and worked in many of the camps
of Alaska. He was made a member of j
the local Igloo Friday evening.
J. E. FERN.
Mr..Fern is a native of Illinois, hav
ing bedrr born in Springfield December
22, 1864. He came to Alaska in 1893
and has seen most of the great north
| land. He came to Knik in 1910 and
has been mining in the Willow creek
; country for several years. At the pres
ent time he is the foreman in the Mar
tin mines and his post office address is
Wasilla. He joined the “Pioneer Four
Thousand” at the last meeting of the
Igloo.
VETERAN MARINER IS
ORDERED TO DUTY
Captain Joseph Jandos, of this city,
a veteran mariner, has just received
instructions from the war department
i to report at Fort Gibbons next April
| to take command of the United States
army transport Jefferson Davis, which
plies between St. Michael and Eagle
City on the Yrukon river,
i Captain Jandos was master of the
Jefferson Davis from 1905 until 1912,
when he retired from the service. Last
! year he applied for reinstatement and
took the physical examination at Ket
chikan, passing it successfully.
Captain Jandos was born in Elgin,
Illinois, in 1831, being 86 years of age.
He served in the ervil war and his
wife, now dead, was a member of the
| Red Cross on the field. They were
| discharged, with special honors at the
j close of the rebellion.
I The captain is one of the dis
tinguished members of Igloo No. 15,
; Pioneers of Alaska, and at their re
: cent dance was one of the chief danc
ers.
VETERAN OF THE CIVIL WAR.
Capt. John H. Evans, one of Mata
' nuska’s prosperous farmers, was in
! the city yesterday buying his winter’s
| supplies. Mr. Evans is a veteran of
; the civil war. For many years he
was a resident of Nome and for a
time thought that he was a “beech
billionaire,” but all was not gold
i that glittered. His son Frank Evans,
j is an accountant in the offices of the
Alaskan Engineering commission.
! The old veteran has made application
I to become a member of the Alaska Pi
| oneers. He was born in ’44 and for
! many years was a government scout
in the hills of Montana.
_
i HENRY RODEN IS SURPRISED AT
TREMENDOUS STRIDE MADE
BY ANCHORAGE.
Henry Roden, well known attorney
from the interior is in town and is
staying at the Richter House. Mr.
Roden, who makes his headquarters in
Ruby came from Nome on the Vic
toria, which called at Seward on its
way south. Mr. Roden, desirous of see
ing Anchorage and of visiting many of
his old friends here, left the steamer
at Seward and came over the trail to
this city yesterday. He was here last
year and at that time was amazed at
the rapid growth of the town. This
year he was even more surprised and
says that Anchorage is making tre
mendous strides in developing into the
metropolis of Alaska.
Are you going to spend the winter
in the states? Then subscribe now for
the Weekly Times that you may keep
posted as to what is going on in Al
aska. It is better than a letter. It
will soon be time to go. Don’t wait
until the last minute and then “for
get” it.
THE WEEKLY AND SUNDAY
TIMES.
There seems to he some misunder
standing among the pioneer readers of
The Times as to the Sunday and
: Weekly editions. Many of them who
; have not yet seen the Weekly edi
| tion, published each Thursday, have
the idea that the Sunday Daily is the
' Weekly edition of the Times, merely
bcause it is some largr than the Daily
on other days of the week.
The Daily Times is published seven
days in the week and the Sunday edi
tion is entirely new matter, and car
ries nothing found in the issues of
any other day of the week. The Sun
i day edition is two pages larger than
the other Daily editions, inasmuch as
it carries church and other special
| matter.
The Weekly edition of the Times is
• published on Thursdays. The local
news of the Daily during the week is
largely carried in the Weekly, and,
I aside from this, are the special pages
of Labor, Mining, farming and Pio
neer news, most all of which is new
! matter not found in the Daily.
The Pioneer page is in the Weekly,
printed every Thursday, and this mat
; ter is not found in the Daily. The pio
! neers who subscribed for, or bought
| copies of the Sunday Times, believing
they were getting the Pioneer page,
, will now understand that they got the
wrong paper. If you want the Pioneer
| page, subscribe for the Weekly, pub
lished every Thursday. The Daily
Times, published every day of the
week, is $1.25 per month. The Week
i ly Times is $2.50 per year.
._
Allowances to Aged Pioneers.
The last territorial legislature ap
propriated the sum of $30,000 for al
lowances to aged pioners. Any pio
neer of Alaska, regardless of sex, who
has attained the age of 65 years and
shall have resided in Alaska for ten
consecutive years or more since the
year 1905, and is entitled to the bene
fits of the Pioneer Home, atSitka, may
in lieu of an application to be received
and cared for at the Home, have an al
lowance, to be paid out of the money
thus appropriated.
Each allowance granted shall be of
such amount, not exceeding $12.50 per
month, as the board in its discretion !
shall allow, having regard to the nec- j
essities of the applicant. Each allow- i
ance is paid quarter-yearly, the same j
being forwarded to the commissioner !
within whose precinct the beneficiary ;
resides.
Any inmate of the Home may at
any time make application for the al
lowance in lieu of the support and
maintenance provided for them at the
Home.
The last legislature amended the
law enacted at the previous session by
making the proviso that in extreme
cases the board may, in its direction,
make a maximum allowance to pio
neer women, who shall be 65 years
of age and otherwise qualified to re
ceive such allowance, in the sum of
$25 per month.
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS, WOMEN
PIONEERS OF ALASKA. FAIRBANKS
The charter officers of Igloo No. 3,
(Fairbanks), Pioneer Women of Alas
ka, organized February 19, 1916, are:
Anne P. Caskey, president.
Bertha Patterson, first vice-presi
dent.
Fannie D. Johnston, second vice
president. V
Agnes P. Hering, secretary.
Mary E. Gould, Treasurer.
Lydia M. Protzman, sergeant.
Margaret Williams, guard.
The charter members are:
Jennie K. Archibald,
Annie M. Anderson,
Jorgine Anderson,
Ida Bartlett,
Bessie Blaker,
Margarette A. Brandt, l>li
Ethel M. Bennett,
Blanch Burnett,
Laura Burnett,
Nettie Baatz,
Minnie A. Clark,
Josephine L. Calderhead,
Rae B. Carter,
Minnie Crossan,
Martha J. Cox,
Marie De Camp,
M. Ella Card Clark,
Sanova E. Cooney,
Belinda A. Carbonneau,
Minnie Creamer,
Genevieve V. Creamer,
Marian L. Creamer,
Mary Driscoll,
Mary Delaney,
Lillian Ervvin,
Leona Foster,
Charlotte E. Foley,
Laura Hagan Foster,
Marion E. Fowle,
Della Groves,
Marie P. Gutherie,
j
!
Mayla Guis,
Bessie Hering,
Etheal Hayes,
Kittie M. Hensley,
Alice Hyde,
Clara J. Holmes,
Lilian W. Heilig,
Grace Healey,
Mina Holmes Halset,
Ida M. Joy,
Hannah A. Johnson,
May Johnson,
Christina Johnson,
Martha A. Judd,
Ida May Kellum,
Robert Kincaid,
Georgiana Keys,
Bertha King,
Frances L. Ivrans,
Wandla V. Kalning,
Goldie Keeler,
Sophia Keith,
Marsleia Lavery,
M. Lucille Latimer,
Sarah Latimer,
Agnes C. Lawson,
Jennie Lillico,
Emma Lytle,
Mary E. Laumiester,
Ella V. Laughlin,
Mabel Moore,
trieirietEiriciEiEiEinncicLEiEtnncir
Blanche Martin,
Florence Maquilken,
Christine Magnus,
Lurisse T. Haddocks,
Cora Dell Meyer,
Anna M. Meyers,
Ellen M. Mahoney,
Catherine McCarthy,
Catherine McKinnon,
Fannie McKenzie,
Ellen M. McDonald,
G. G. McKain,
H. Martine Nelson, 4
Eva O’Gara,
Margaret E. O’Connor,
Mary Passy,
Mina Patten,
Hannah Porter,
Ella Peters,
Nellie Preiss,
Rosa Pratt, C,
Ellen Acklen Pyne,
Catherine Palmer,
Stacia T. Rickert,
Mary Raap,
Annie Russell, %
Queenie Iv. Russell,
Alma Rynearson,
Mattie G. Stroecker,
Ulrica Sanford,
Margie Schmendiman,
Katherine Somerset,
Florence Sullivan,
Adelina Simpson,
August L. Spencer,
Minnie Slater,
Gussie H. Sanderlin.
Carrie Stoner
Louisa R. VanBiber
Catherine VanCurler
Celia Whitman
Debbie Wickersham,
Julia Watson
Lou Williams
Nellie J. Yager
Members elected since charter vas
closed:
Minnie D. Geis
Agnes Logan
Annie Louise Martin
Ethyl I. Moyer
Etta McGowen
Eleanor Doty Robinson
Alta Russell
Cordelia M. Ivarshner
Josephine Sherman
Belle Campbell
Anna V. Horner
Bertha Groff Hamilton
Deceased members:
Fannie D. Johnson.
The present officers are:
President—Nellie E. Gould.
1st Vice-President—Minnie D. Geis.
Second Vice-President—Jennie K.
Archibald.
Secretary—Mattie G. Stroecker.
Treasurer—Leona Foster.
Sergeant-at-Arms—Blanche Martin.
Historian—Mabel Moore.
Guard—Mary Passy.
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