Yusdishlaq' Village and Susitna Station in Alaska .
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YUSDISHLAQ and NEARBY
SUSITNA STATION
ALASKA

by Coleen Mielke 
 

2021

Twenty five miles up the Susitna River (spelled Sushitna on 1898 maps), was Susitna Station. On an island that sat (mid-river) in front of Susitna Station (pre-1900) was the Dena'ina village of Yusdishlaq.

These two (now abandoned) villages were located 2 miles down river from the confluence of the Yentna and Susitna Rivers.

 


Yusdishlaq Village and Susitna Station 1898

The first Russian Orthodox Church, in the Susitna River drainage area, was built on Yusdishlaq Island in the 1860's or 1870's. By 1885, the island was also home to a small ACC store and many Dena'ina cabins. Shem Pete, a Dena'ina Elder, was born on this island in 1900; he said that Yusdishlaq means "On the Little Point".

~~~~~
In 1898, the U.S. Government sent three teams of men to explore Alaska. Their main task was to find access into Alaska's Interior without crossing British [Canadian] Territory. One of the men was A.Beverly Smith, who wrote an article about his travels on the Susitna River and Yusdishlaq Island.

The following are excerpts from Smith's article titled In the Wilds of Alaska which was published in the The World Wide Magazine in 1898.

"The Natives of this part of Alaska present a somewhat interesting study. Their villages are built without any attention to regular order. The houses are of logs, usually consisting of 1 or 2 rooms and an outer shed which also acts as a storm door to the house and always contains an open fire of logs. The roofs are covered with strips of birch bark, held in place by logs laid upon them."

"Each cabin has its attendant cache, which is a small house built of logs and mounted upon high posts. In the cache is stored dried fish and other provisions of the owner, secured from predatory animals. Each supporting post usually has a circlet of tin or other metal near the top, to prevent the encroachment of the smaller climbing animals. Attached to many of the houses, is a low structure of logs, with the floor sunk underground and an entrance leading into the cabin. These are bath-houses. The Russians taught these people the use of the steam bath and at least once each week, a huge fire is built, great stones heated, and the families retire into these cells. The hot stones are then brought in and water poured over them, making a dense steam; this is followed by a general rubbing down and massage of one another."

"The priest is the real head of the tribe, although there is generally a Head Chief and Second Chief to each. All the tribes of the Sushitna district are under the spiritual leadership of one man, Father Ivan Bortnofsky. He is stationed at Kenai and has nine villages under his charge, which he visits at least twice each year. He is an earnest man and venerated by his scattered flock."
  
Photo taken by A.Beverly Smith in 1898

"Each native bears two names, one of Indian origin and the other conferred upon him at his baptism into the Greek Church. For the latter, the name of one of the saints of the church is generally selected and as there are not enough saints to go around, the result is a puzzling duplication of cognomens. Ask for "Stephan" at one of their villages and four or five will appear; whilst 'Ivan' will bring forth half of the male population."

"The ordinary costume of the natives is a travesty on that civilization. For the men, a flannel shirt and overall pantaloons with always a Derby hat if they can get it. The women wear a loose gown of printed cotton goods, usually much the worse for wear.....on gala occasions a new gown, with a bright bandana kerchief on the head and beaded moccasins set off the woman, while the men appear in the full glory of "store clothes" of varied makes."

"The natives bury their dead, erecting over each a structure of hewn logs or sometimes (in the case of children) a little tent of gaily colored calico, with always the triple cross of the Greek Church at the head. One custom is peculiar, the dead are always buried with the head to the north east."

Indian Cemetery at Susitna Station

"It is difficult to obtain a photograph of the native women. They seem to have great objection to having it done and it is only under positive orders from their Chief that they will pose.........the men are not so chary about having their pictures taken and the camera was a never ending source of wonder and amusement to them. Allowed to look through it (at their companions), they would evince the greatest delight, chattering volubly and laughing heartily at seeing them apparently standing on their heads. They could not understand how it was possible to see people upside down whom they knew were standing on their feet. One old fellow insisted on turning the camera over and then looking through it and was mystified at this making no difference."

WOMEN and CHILDREN ON SUSITNA RIVER
Photo taken by A.Beverly Smith  1898

"The food of the natives consists mostly of dried salmon and other fish, also the flesh of moose and such other animals as they may kill during the fall and winter. Salmon forms the bulk of their diet and is plentiful during the season, which begins about July 1st and lasts until frost comes in September. It is a common occurrence during a canoe trip for the Indians to reach out and capture a salmon in their hands as it is swimming past the boat. The natives clean and strip the fish and then hang it up to dry in the open air, using no salt or other preservative. Each cabin, during the season, has before it a frame work filled with the drying fish. The preparation of the salmon drying, etc., is entirely the work of the squaws."


"The Sushitna Indian builds his boats of birch bark or, for navigating the Inlet, of the skins of the hair seal. In the construction of these boats, he manifests considerable ingenuity, but little originality of design. The framework is always of spruce, bound together with sinew or with spruce roots split to the requisite thickness. The joints and imperfect places in the bark are rendered water tight by cementing with copious applications of spruce gum. These boats are very light. Two men can hold one up with little effort and they can safely carry about 400 lbs."


"The ascent of the Sushitna River proved to be a difficult and tedious accomplishment. Now wading and dragging the boats through the riffles, then towing them by long ropes through the swift reaches, first hewing a trail through the dense underbrush along the banks or again crossing and re-crossing the river constantly to avoid the rapids as much as possible. The progress was very slow, sometimes five miles, sometimes a little more in a days work."

Prospectors trying to navigate the Susitna River 1898

"Twenty-five  miles above the mouth of the Sushitna river, the Alaska Commercial Company established a trading post for the accommodation of the Indians and prospectors. There is also an Indian village at the same place. This writer was at this trading post on September 7th, 8th and 9th [1898], when there occurred a sudden flood which did a great deal of damage. It had rained steadily for days; not the gentle rain of the temperate zone, but a steady downpour, as if the heavens were opened for the destruction of the world. The river rose slowly but surely. Not withstanding the numerous channels, it became full and finally overran its banks. The swift current began to wash out the banks and sections, sometimes acres, in extent and bearing great trees upon them, crashed into the water with loud reports that reverberated among the mountains like thunder."
"Steadily the water rose. The Indians beheld with horror the approaching ruin of their cabins and stores of food. They held night services in their little log church and thus tried to avert the impending disaster. Finally, they got out of their canoes and placed in them, the most precious of their effects and then awaited the coming of daylight."

YUSDISHLAQ  ISLAND  beginning of the flood
Taken 9/6/1898 by A. Beverly Smith


"When day broke, on the morning of September 9th, it showed a scene of desolation and damage. The water was nearly 4' deep all over the island on which the trading post was situated. All the houses were uninhabitable and only the store proper and the cache's, on their high foundations, were above the water and the river was still rising. All night the white men and Indians had worked, side by side, in the darkness to save their precious goods and outfits. There were, at the trading post, large quantities of prospectors outfits, clothing and food that had been cached in the log houses by those who had gone up river and not yet returned. These were nearly all covered by the water and lost; each man at the post worked hard to save property without respect to ownership. Owing to the scarcity of boats, it was impossible to save all, and of course, each man looked out for his own first."
YUSDISHLAQ ISLAND  FLOOD
Photo taken by A.Beverly Smith 1898

 "Breakfast that morning was light and prepared in many novel ways. One party built a fire on a little knoll, the top of which projected a few inches from the water, and they fried the inevitable bacon and pancakes over it. Another party set up their camp stove in their boat and cooked on it, standing around knee deep in the water to eat the meal. At 6 AM all hands turned in to help remove the goods from the traders store and by noon, all abandoned the island for the mainland, getting across the swollen channel in their heavy boats with difficulty, but without accident."



END OF SMITH's ARTICLE

~~~~~

As I understand it, after the flood of 1898, the Dena'ina that lived on Yusdishlaq (island) moved their village to nearby higher ground (Tsat'ukeght)and the white population moved their possessions to Susitna Station.

In about 1907, H.W.Nagley, with the financial backing of Frank Churchill and Arnold Litchfield, built a trading post at Susitna Station. A year later, the money men backed out of the deal and sold everything to the Alaska Commercial Company.

In 1908, Nagley decided to build his own store, but the land he wanted was owned by Susitna Chief "Big Evan", so, on 6/10/1908, he and the Chief traded lots (Deed Vol.1, page 264 Susitna) and Nagley built his own store.

In 1909, when gold was discovered in Alaska's Interior, hundreds of prospectors traveled from Seward (by train) to the end of the tracks at Kern Creek (mile 71). From there, they traveled by foot, horse or sled to Knik and then on to Susitna Station which was their last supply stop on the way to the gold fields at Iditarod.

In 1910, the Federal Government surveyed and improved a trail from Susitna Station to Skwentna, Rainy Pass, Rohn, Takotna, Ophir, Shaktoolik, Safety and finally on to Nome


Susitna Station Business Section at high tide (in about 1917)
Photo taken by Phinney S. Hunt for the Alaska Engineering Commission

The Susitna Station Post Office was open from 1906 to 1943. On the far right side of the above photo is H. W. Nagley's General Store, which he operated from 1908 to 1918.

Influenza in 1918-1920 decimated much of the Dena'ina population at Susitna Station. The remaining population was devestated, even further, by TB, measles and whooping cough. In 1934, Chief Simeon Chickalusion (of Tyonek), took most of the survivors to his village by boat.

The very last Dena'ina to live at Susitna Station was Nikolai Barbol and his wife Mattie Stepan (both born at Susitna about 1885) and their pre-school nephew named Nick Nicolai. This family was the only family listed on the 1941 BIA Census for Susitna Station. Records show that they lived in a 12' x 14' framed house, had 3 dogs and a canoe.

When my husband was a boy (in the 1950's) his family boated up the Susitna River to visit with an old family friend (Howard Ross) at Susitna Station.  The water had eroded the river bank to a great extent and the only thing still standing (as he remembers it) was Nagley's old store, but it too was on the verge of falling into the river. It still had bales of tea packed in lead foil, mouse traps, feather dusters, round bottomed fire buckets, catalogs and receipt books that the Nagley family left behind in 1918. 



THIS ALASKA COMMERCIAL COMPANY TRADING POST

SUSITNA STATION

The following census record, for Susitna Station, is fairly complete, however, the person who took down the information, not only spelled phonetically, but made statistical notations right over the top of some of the entries, making them nearly impossible to read.  I did my best to transcribe the record accurately, but there are (no doubt) errors here. Many of the people on this census record only had one name, as was custom until the Russian Orthodox church came into their lives and baptized them with two names.


SUSITNA STATION
1900 U.S. CENSUS
Name
 Born
 Notes
 Notes
Cleghorn, James
 Cleghorn, Marie
Cleghorn, Jennie
Cleghorn, Lucy
Cleghorn, James
Cleghorn, Mary
Ballou, Katie
 		1856 New York
 1872 Alaska - wife
1894 Alaska - daughter
1896 Alaska - daughter
1898 Alaska - son
1900 Alaska - daughter
1891 Alaska - step-daughter
 		White
 Tyonek Tribe
Tyonek Tribe
Tyonek Tribe
Tyonek Tribe
Tyonek Tribe
Tyonek Tribe
 		Entered Alaska 1886
McConahay, Arthur
 McConahay, Martha
McConahay, Mary
McConahay, James A.
McConahay, Martha A.
McConahay, Katie
 		1858 Iowa
1868 Alaska - wife
1893 Alaska - daughter
1895 Alaska - son
1897 Alaska - daughter
1899 Alaska - daughter
 		White
 Knik Tribe
Knik Tribe
Knik Tribe
Knik Tribe
Knik Tribe
 		Entered Alaska 1886
Arthur  McConahay's nickname
was "Long Shorty"
Stoll, Lewis
 		1855 Illinois
 		White
 		Entered Alaska 1898
Eckles, L.
 		1854  place unknown
 		White
 		Entered Alaska 1898
Hartzell, Sam
 		1860 Pennsylvania
 		White
 		Entered Alaska 1898
Herndon, L.
 		1868 Missouri
 		White
 		Entered Alaska 1896
Perry, William
 		1873 England
 		White
 		Entered Alaska 1896
Churchill, Frank
 		1863 Nova Scotia
 		White
 		Entered Alaska 1898
Tutustootka
Tenickna Tutusttoutka
Cheya
Ephimka
Agrifina
Tilkelda
Stephan
 		1845  Alaska - Chief
1868  Alaska - wife
1892  Alaska - son
1894  Alaska - son
1898  Alaksa - daughter
1852  Alaska - mother-in-law
1888  Alaksa - brother-in-law
 		Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Ilkitnataken
Klutalna
Ivan
Stephan
Chanagan
Tekeshan
 		1855  Alaksa - head
1865  Alaska - wife
1892  Alaska - son
1894  Alaska - son
1898  Alaska - son
1899  Alaska - daughter
 		Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Kutchilna
Kustatan
Olga
Nadalhia
Maria
Takishan
 		1855  Alaska - Widower
1877  Alaska - son
1884  Alaska - daughter
1887  Alaska - daughter
1892  Alaska - daughter
1897  Alaska - daughter
 		Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Kustahkan
Gunina
Chuna
Bughcan
Seter
Sywitna
Inga
Chenagan
Tekishan
 		1852  Alaska - head
1860  Alaska - wife
1889  Alaska - daughter
1887  Alaska - son
1885  Alaska - sep-son
1892  Alaska - daughter
1894  Alaska - daughter
1898  Alaska - son
1899  Alaska - daughter
 		Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Myetta
Teitnilna
Ahkyka
Perutchia
Nunetehlan
Kishau
Ignacia
 		1860  Alaska - head
1865  Alaska - wife
1891  Alaska - daughter
1893  Alaska - son
1895  Alaska - daughter
1899  Alaska - daughter
1893  Alaska - brother-in-law
 		Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Slintha
Stepanetta
Nilvish
Stephan
 		1855  Alaska - head
1860  Alaska - wife
1891  Alaska - son
1899  Alaska - son
 		Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Philip
Pete
Sherigan
Nelchuck
Stephan
Wetshum
Nicholi
Becilintootna
Nelchuk
Nicholi
Marpha
 		1850  Alaska - head
1878  Alaska - son
1882  Alaska - son
1884  Alaska - daughter
1887  Alaska - son
1890  Alaska - son
1894  Alaska - son
1870  Alaska - son-in-law
1882  Alaska - daughter
1896  Alaska - son
1898  Alaska - daughter
 		Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Chekak
Nickorn
Tunilna
Tekeshan
Chanigan
Afanasse
Turilna
 		1865  Alaska - head
1870  Alaska - wife
1888  Alaska - daughter
1894  Alaska - daughter
1898  Alaska - son
1886  Alaska - adopted son
1888  Alaska adopted daughter
 		Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Betulchil
Idanya (?)
Chem
Katrina
 		1860  Alaska - head
1870  Alaska - wife
1892  Alaska - daughter
1894  Alaska - daughter
 		Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Bitahekayan
Cochana
Stephan
Alexa
 		1865  Alaska - head
1870  Alaska - wife
1892  Alaska - son
1894  Alaska - son
 		Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
Shushetna Tribe
SUSITNA    
1910 U.S.CENSUS
NAME
 BORN
 NOTES
Gill, Oscar
Gill, Emma
Gill, Victor
Gill, William
Dorman, Henry
Dorman, Henry C.
Gill, Hilberry
 		Age 29 Pennsylvania
Age  24 Iowa
Age 3 Washington
Age 2  Alaska
Age 61 Germany
Age      Iowa
Age 32 Iowa
Wife
Son
Son
Father-in-law
Son
Brother
Ryan, Idin C.
 		Age 48 Pennsylvania
Clark, John
 		Age 49 Michigan
Fekite, Steve
 		Age 21 Hungary
 		Entered USA 1905
Burnton, Tom
Burnton, Della
 		Age 24 Kansas
Age 21 Idaho
Wife
Cobb, Arthur
 		Age 34 Texas
Sharp, Henry
 		Age 46 England
 		Entered USA 1903
McMelian, Malcolm
 		Age 38 Missouri
High, Joseph J.
 		Age 32 Indiana
Bauer, Magdalena
 		Age 34 Germany
 		Engered USA 1897
Ridley, George
 		Age 44 Michigan
Nagley, Horace
 		Age 33 Washington
Hanson, Chris
 		Age 66 Denmark
 		Entered USA 1885
Kelley, Sam
 		AGe 49 North Carolina
White, James
White, Rose L.
 		Age 36 England
Age 39 England
 		Entered USA 1901
Entered USA 1903
Mertland, William
 		Age 29 Canada
Briton, Case
 		Age 34 Illinois
Morris, John W.
Morris, Anna L.
Morris, Matheu S.
Morris, ________
 		Age 40 Texas
Age 21 Pennsylvania
Age 3 California
Age 5 Washington
Wife
Son
Daughter
Price, Hugh
 		Age 38 Iowa
Gates, George A.
 		Age 57 Iowa
Martin, Carl E.
 		Age 26 Iowa
Nichols, Hattie
 		Age 21 Montana
Anderson, Henry
 		Age 54 Minnesota
Lindberg, James
 		Age 44 Sweden
Williams, John
 		Age 48 Canada
Axel, Wilberg
 		Age 27 Sweden
Goodell, Huie
 		Age 36 Kansas
Johnson, Will
 		Age 38 Iowa
Hitchcock, Green B.
 		Age 52 Washington
Weirman, Joe
 		Age 38 Oregon
Stewart, Thos. M.
 		Age 37 California
Heath, Paul
 		Age 21 Germany
Nirison, Robert
 		Age 58 Canada
Perkins, Geo
 		Age 52 New York
Williams, Jack
 		Age 64 Rhode Island
Coffee, John
 		Age 35 Canada
Kummenacher, Joe
 		Age 28 Germany
 		Entered USA 1884
Keller, John
 		Age 48 Germany
Goth, Lenard
 		Age 50 Germany
 		Entered USA 1880
Johnson, Geo
 		Age 51 Iowa
Bonderant, Nelling
 		Age 61 Germany
McLean, Jack
 		Age 40 Scotland
 		Entered USA 1900
Lohan, Sam
 		Age 40 Norway
Dennison, William
 		Age 26 Iowa
Cramer, George
 		Age 41 Germany
Zorn, Frederick
Zorn, Otto
 		Age 51 Pennsylvania
Age 21 New York
Son
Cone, Cha E.
 		Age 67 Missouri
Blair, George
 		Age 48 Germany
Blowers, Sam E.
 		Age 26 Ohio
Hunter, ______?
 		Age 65 New York
Biggi, Frank
Biggi, Kittie
 		Age 38 England
Age 27 Virginia
Kast, Monroe
 		Age 56 Wisconsin
Stugner, Mike;
 		Age 52 Ohio
Fischer, Joe
 		Age 34 Minnesota
Brady, Joe
 		Age 34 Minnesota
Hardey, Chas L.
 		Age 25 Iowa
Bahrinberg, Henry
 		Age 31 California
Johnston, Fred
 		Age 51 Canada
Contts, Neal
Contts, Trigg
 		AGe 31 Scotland
Age 29 Pennsylvania
Wife
Carlson, William
 		Age 23 Alaska
Robinson, Howard S.
 		Age 40 Arkansas
Zavealglya, Domimick
 		Age 34 Italy
Anderson, Claus
 		Age 40 Sweden
Park, William J.
 		Age 40 Ireland
Kyvig, Knute
Kyvig, Gretha
 		Age 42 Norway
Age 38 Norway
Wife
Marshell, Robert L.
Marshell, Hilda
Marshell, Robert V.
 		Age 41 Ireland
Age 39 Sweden
Age 3 Alaska
Wife
Son
Oleson, Ernie E.
 		Age 46 Norway
Wadell, Wilson
 		Age 38 Massachusetts
Sorenson, Henry
 		Age 51 Denmark
Evan, John
Evan, Educia
Effim, Little
Effim, Danna
Pete, Big
 		Age 30 Head
Age 39 Lodger
Age 17 Nephew
Age 15 Niece
Age 19 Nephew
 		Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Effim, John
Effim, Ocimia
Effim, Engma
Effim, Ruffe
Effim, Belvell
Effim, Andrew
Effim, Anna
Alexander
 		Age 40  Head
Age 30  (wife)
Age 13  (daughter)
Age 7   (son)
Age 6   (son)
Age 3  (son)
Age 4 months (daughter)
Age 75  (father-in-law)
 		Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Evan, Longhair
Evan, Educia
Evan, Christina
Evan, Mary
_____, Mary
Negeta, Sam
 		Age 40  Head
Age 16  (wife)
Age 2 mos. (daughter)
Age 14
Age 50  (lodger)
Age 15  (lodger)
 		Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Evan, Big
Evan, Anna
Evan, Jack
Evan, Valia
Evan, John
Evan, Little
Evan, Dick
 		Age 45  Head
Age 34  (wife)
Age 16  (son)
Age 14  (daughter)
Age 34   (?)
Age 31  (lodger)
Age 3 (lodger)
 		Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Evan, Chief
Evan Cataline
Evan, Alick
Evan, Vecilia
 		Age 70  Head
Age 60  (wife)
Age 13  (son)
Age 20  (lodger)
 		Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Pete, Nicholi
 Pete, Anna
Pete, Vicilia
Pete, Bedelma
Pete, Alexandra
 Age 40  Head
Age 40 (wife)
Age 16 (son)
Age 15 (son)
Age 3 (daughter
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Stephan
Stephan, Vernscola
Stephan, Nagiffer
Stephan, Cathrina
 Age 50 (Widower)
Age 20 (Widow)
Age 2 (son)
Age 18 (daughter)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Evan, Red Shirt
Evan, Natalia
Evan, Lacesia
Evan, Oakaleana
 Age 30 Head
Age 20 (wife)
Age 16 (lodger)
Age 10 (lodger)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Jacko, Jack
Jacko, Anna
Jacko, Nadalia
Jacko, Silva
Jacko, Stephan
Jacko, Charlie
Jacko, Andrew
Jacko, Engia
Jacko, Nick
 Age 27 Head
Age 40 (wife)
Age 18 (daughter)
Age 24 ( son)
Age 20 (son)
Age 17 (son)
Age 10 (son)
Age 9 (daughter)
Age 6 (son)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Stephan, Little
Stephan, Belia
Stephan, Stephan
Stephan, Alexan
Stephan, Nick
Stephan, Alvan
Stephan, Anna
Valia, John
Balia
Alick
Valaska
Balia Baby
Barvill
 Age 40 Head
Age 40 (wife)
Age 15 (son)
Age 8 (daughter)
Age 7 (son)
Age 6 (son)
Age 1 mos. (daughter)
Age 20 (lodger)
Age 20 (lodger)
Age 5 (lodger)
Age 3 (lodger)
Age 3 mos. (lodger)
Age 18 (boarder)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Chuma, John
Chuma, Madali
Jacko, Little
 Age 22 Head
Age 17 (wife)
Age 18 (lodger)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Effim, Big
Effim, Liminu
Effim, Assibidu
Effim, Stephan
Effim, Engia
Effim, Willie
 Age 27 Head
Age 17 (wife)
Age 15 (sister)
Age 75 (father) (widower)
Age 14 (sister)
Age 12 (brother)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Cashur, Philip
 Age 25 Russia
 Entered USA 1908
Stippin, James
 Age 30 Russia
 Engered USA 1909
Onebrak, John
 Age 26 Norway
Holden, Claud
 Age 22 Kansas
Miller, Arthur
 Age 28 Wisconsin
Wagner, Sam
 Age 32 Pennsylvania
Lason, John
 Age 43 New York
Murry, William
 Age 27 Wisconsin
Drew, Joseph
 Age 34 Belgium
Merideth, Tom
 Age 52 Ohio
Peterson, William
 Age 55 Minnesota
Gouthier, Albert
 Age 32 Canada
 Entered USA 1896
Bingham, Albert H.
 Age 36
Denny, John
Age 42 Pennsylvania
McDonald, William
McDonald, Minnie
McDonald, Clyde
 Age 53 Scotland
Age 52 Germany
Age 18 Washington
 Entered USA 1860
Entered USA 1862
Piggel, John C.
 Age 55  Indiana
 Widower
Irwin, William
Age 49 Nebraska
 Widower

SUSITNA STATION
1920 U.S.CENSUS
NAME
 BORN
 NOTES
Healy, Rowland
 Age 44 Ireland
 Entered USA 1894
Mumphy, Michael
 Age 44 Canada
 Entered USA 1891
Johnson, Adelia
 Age 38 Germany
 Roadhouse Owner
Denison, William
 Age 36 Iowa
Efrim, Jim
Efrim, Medie
Efrim, Baska
Efrim, Annie
Efrim, Andrew
 Age 26 Head
Age 24 (wife)
Age 10 (step-son)
Age 6 mos. (daughter)
Age 12 (brother)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Shim, Pete
Shim, Inga
Joko
Fidodle
Chiligan
Stepan
 Age 23 Head
Age 19 (wife)
Age 60 (mother-in-law)
Age 9 (orphan)
Age 20 (widower)
Age 1 (orphan)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Stepan
Stepan, Okulena
Stepan, Nick
Stepan, Levan
Stepan, Annie
Stepan, Ewole
Stepan, Alexander
 Age 62  Head
Age 18 (wife)
Age 20 (son)
Age 12 (son)
Age 9 (daughter)
Age 7 (son)
Age 9 (orphan)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Nicolai
 Age 47 Head
 Susitna Tribe
Evan, Alex
 Age 22
 Susitna Tribe
Collins, Patrick
 Age 42 Connecticutt
 White
Stepan
Inga
Bobbie
Annie
Buger
 Age 23 Head
Age 20 (wife)
Age 13 (brother-in-law)
Age 9 (sister-in-law)
Age 7 (brother-in-law)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Stepan
Alexan
Tom
Woodrow
Christine
 Age 28 Head
Age 27 (wife)
Age 3 (son)
Age 1 (son)
Age 10 (orphan)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Bobbie
Kittie
Sava
Gemoska
 Age 52 Head
Age 18 (wife)
Age 12 (cousin)
Age 6 (orphan)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Evan, John
Evan, Mona
Mary
Nicolai
Gadena
Stepan
Olga
Billy
Simeon
 Age 40 Head
Age 18 (wife)
Age 48 (lodger) (widow)
Age 18 (orphan)
Age 13 (orphan)
Age 10 (orphan)
Age 7 (orphan)
Age 5 (orphan)
Age 3 (orphan)
 Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe
Susitna Tribe


SUSITNA STATION
1930 U.S.CENSUS
NAME
 BORN
 NOTES
McGuire, Edward
 Age 58 Pennsylvania
 Fur Trapper
Gedgean, Jean
 Age 52 Kentucky
 Fur Trapper
Matheson, Robert
Matheson, Chas
 Age 38 Texas
Age 46 Texas (brother)
 Fur Trapper
Fur Trapper
Austin, W. E.
Austin, Luca (wife)
 Age 47 California
Age 45 Athabascan
 Boatman
Pierce, Chas W.
 Age 65 Canada
 Fur Trapper
Wilson, Chas
 Age 40 Unknown
 Fur Trapper
Ohman, Eric
 Age 43 Sweden
 Trapper
Zorn, Frederic
 Age 72 Austria
 Mineral Explorer
Jones, Ray
Jones, Eva
 Age 30 Michigan
Age 18 Canada
 Fur Farmer
Derry, Fred
 Age 56 Ireland
 Fur Trapper
Gagnon, Alfred D.
 Age 45 Minnesota
 Fur Trapper
Caugnan, Fred
 Age 43 Canada
 Fur Trapper
Patterson, William
 Age 47 Ireland
 Fur Trapper
McLean, John
 Age 52 Scotland
 Fur Trapper
Jansen, S. W.
 Age 46 Denmark
 Fur Trapper
Trepte, Mukea
 Age 36 Russia
 Fur Trapper
Kusei, Walter
 Age 30 Germany
 Fur Trapper
Shallabarger, Max
Shallabarger, Belle
Shallabarger, Maxine
Shallabarger, Clifford
Shallabarger, Leon
 Age 30 Colorado
Age 31 Oregon (wife)
Age  9 Oregon (daughter)
Age 7 Oregon (son)
Age 1 Alaska (son)
 Trapper
McElroy, John H.
 Age 48 Illinois
 Trapper
Norberg, John
 Age 43 Sweden
 Trapper
Ross, Ernest E.
Ross, Ethel Bessie
Ross,  Ernest Jr.
 Age 32 Oregon
Age 27 Oregon (wife)
Age 7 Oregon (son)
 Carpenter
Wagner, Sam
 Age 56 Montana
 Trapper
Strom, Albert
 Age 40  Texas
 Trapper
Goodell, Huie
Goodell, Ella E.
 Age 55 Kansas
Age 42 Texas (wife)
 Trapper
Wood, Burns
 Age 27 Louisianna
 Trapper
Jensen, Emil
Jensen, Robert E.
 Age 38 Denmark
Age 27 Denmark (brother)
 Trapper
Trapper
Kadgin, Edmund
 Age 50 Ohio
 Fisherman
Walker, W. H.
 Age 53 Oregon
 Fur Trapper
Heffner, Alfred
 Age 49 Montana
 Fur Trapper
Winter, Fred
 Age 71 Germany
 Fur Trapper
Ryan, J. E.
Ryan, Elsie
 Age 35 Oregon
Age 27 Washington (wife)
 Trapper
Nelson, Chas
 Age 71 Sweden
 blank
Briggs, E. G.
Age 48 Arizona
 Fur Trapper
Forry, George
 Age 49  USA
 Fur Trapper
Geise, Emil
 Age 33 Germany
 Fur Trapper
Thompson, G. E.
Thompson, A. L.
 Age 39 Montana
Age 35 Montana (brother)
 Fur Trapper
Fur Trapper
Keller, John J.
 Age 70 Switzerland
 Fur Trapper
Healy, R. R.
 Age 55 Ireland
 Trader in General Store
Besset, J. W.
Age 50 "Foreign"
 Fur Trapper


SUSITNA VILLAGE
1930 U.S.CENSUS
NAME
 BORN
 NOTES
 NOTES
Barbul, Nicholi
 Age 27
 Athabascan
 Fur Trapper
George, Henry
 Age 23
 Athabascan
 Fur Trapper
Jacko, Annie
 Age 65  Widow
 Athabascan
Stephan, Anderson
Stephan, Sava
 Age 23 Widower
Age 9 (son)
 Athabascan
Athabascan
 Fur Trapper
Stephan, Kroto
Stephan, Nick
Stephan, Levan
Stephan Nena
 Age 65
Age 26 (son)
Age 20 (son)
Age 9 (daughter)
 Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
 Fur Trapper
Fisherman
Cannery Laborer
Chelattin, Chelattin
Chelattin, Christina
Chelattin, Alexander
Chelattin, Joe
Chelattin, Kathryn
Chelattin, Inga
 Age 50
Age 45 (wife)
Age 22 (step-son)
Age 20 (step-son)
Age 18 (step-daughter)
Age 14 (step-daughter )
 Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
 Fisherman

Trapper
Fisherman
Ephim, Jimmy
Ephim, Media
Ephim, Bosco
Ephim, Irene
 Age 36
Age 33 (wife)
Age 11 (son)
Age 9 (daughter)
 Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
 Fisherman
Stephan, Jackso
Stephan, Alexan
Stephan, Tommy
Stephan, Nora
Stephan, Balda
 Age 45
Age 30 (wife)
Age 14 (son)
Age 8 (daughter)
Age 2 (son)
 Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
 Cannery Laborer
Pete, Billy
Pete, Anne
Pete, Coronia
Pete, Wilua
 Age 32
Age 25 (wife)
Age 11 (daughter )
Age 7 (son)
 Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
 Cannery Laborer
Stephan, Bobby
Stephan, Katie
Stephan, Nellie
Stephan, Fedora
Stephan, Olga
 Age 36
Age 27 (wife)
Age 9 (daughter)
Age 7 (daughter)
Age 5 (daughter)
 Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
 Fur Trapper
Pete, Shem
Pete, Billy
Pete, Mary
Pete, William
 Age 30 Widower
Age 10 (son)
Age 8 (daughter)
Age 1 (son)
 Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
Athabascan
 Cannery Laborer
Semyon, E. P.
 Age 53 Widower
 Athabascan
 Fisherman


SUSITNA STATION
1940 U.S.CENSUS
NAME
 BORN
 NOTES
Woods, Burns A.
Woods, Ruth
 Age 38 Louisiana
Age 23 Minnesota
 Trapper
Trapper
Amondt, Christian
Nickoli, Joe
 Age 78 Norway
Age 4  (lodger)
 Grocery Clerk at Nagley's
Austin, William E.
Austin, Lukia
Danilof, Nancy
 Age 57 California
Age 50 Athabascan  (wife)
Age 10 Athabascan (lodger)
 Trapper
Trapper
Keller, John J.
 Age 79 Switzerland
 Pension
Pete, Shem
Pete, Billy
 Age 39 Athabascan
Age 20 Athabascan (son)
 Emard's Cannery
Emard's Cannery
Nickoli, William
Nicoli, Barbeal
 Age 22 Athabascan
Age 42 Athabascan (mother)
 Trapper
Trapper

SKWENTNA AND YENTNA WATERSHED AREA
1940 U.S.CENSUS
NAME
 BORN
 NOTES
Shellabarger, Maxwell
Shellabarger, Bell
Shellabarger, Clifford
Shelabarger, Leon
 Age 40 Colorado
Age 41 Oregon
Age 17 Oregon (son)
Age 11 Alaska (son)
 Fur Business
Postmaster
Bull, Chester
 Age 44 Wisconsin
 Railroad Brakeman
McLean, John
 Age 70 Scotland
 Trapper
Skaggs, James D.
 Age 30 South Dakota
 Trapper
Ross, Howard S.
 Age 29 South Dakota
 Trapper
Quigg, Fred
 Age 35 Ohio
 Trapper
Ward, George
 Age 52 Missouri
 Trapper
Shupert, Ernie
 Age 25 Montana
 Trapper
Forry, George
 Age 60 Wisconsin
 Trapper
Gagnon, George
 Age 55 Minnesota
 Trapper
Heffner, Alfred
 Age 57 Minnesota
 Trapper
Kreager, Walter
 Age 72 Oklahoma
 Railroad Laborer
Patterson, William
 Age 60 Ireland
 Trapper

SKWENTNA
1950
NOTE:  The quality of this census was poor (in sections), so there are no doubt errors here
Theile, Carl
Theile, Carl Jr.
 Age 73 widower  b. Germany
Age 24 son  b. Alaska
 Trapper
Trapper
Roberts, Lawrence
Anderson, Andrew
Anderson, William
 Age 27  b. USA
Age 50  b. USA  Uncle
Age 56  b. USA  Uncle
 Trapper
Trapper
Trapper
Barbul, Nichol
Barbul, Matt
 Age 55 b. Alaska
Age 59 b. Alaska  wife
 Trapper
Forry, George
 Age 73 b. USA
 Trapper
?Clark, Kenneth
?Clark, Lillian
?Clark, Michael
 Age 39 b. USA
Age 35 b. Alaska wife
Age 6   b. Alaska son
 Trapper
?Krause, Thomas?
 Age 58?  b. Alaska
 Trapper
Ross, Howard
 Age 48 b. USA  divorced
 Trapper
Quigg, Fred
 Age 69 b. USA divorced
 Trapper
Sorenson, Kenneth
 Age 32 b. USA
 Trapper
Brown, Wayne
Brown, Marjorie
 Age 36 b. USA
Age 32 b. USA
 CAA Radio Operator
?Francis, James P.
?Francis, Mary M.
?Francis, Mary M.
 Age 31 b. USA
Age 25 b. USA wife
Age 3   b. USA daughter
 CAA Aircraft Communicator
?______, Milo?
?______, Ethel L.
?______, Gail
?______, Arlene
 Age 29  b. USA
Age 28 b. Alaska
Age 5 b. Alaska daughter
Age 6 b. Alaska daughter
 CAA Aircraft Communicator
Shellabarger, Maxwell
Shellabarger, Anna D.
Shellabarger, Leon E.
Whitberg, Edward
Whitberg, Paul
 Age 51 b. USA
Age 51 b. USA
Age 22 b. Alaska  son
Age 14 b. Alaska step-son
Age 10 b. Alaska step-son
 Trapper

Commercial Pilot
?Heffner, Albert
 Age 65 b. USA
 Trapper
Delia, Joe
 Age 20 b. USA
 Lumber Camp Logger
Branham, Estell
Branham, Denise
Branham, Mildred
 Age 38 b. USA  divorced
Age 26 b. USA  sister
Age 25 b. USA  sister-in-law
 Commercial Pilot
Commercial Pilot
Kozisek, Louis
 Age 44 b. USA
 Trapper
Gagon, Fred
 Age 71 b. USA
 Trapper
Greer, Rudy
 Age 78 b. USA
 Trapper
Ward, George
 Age 53 b. USA
 Trapper
Sneller, Joseph
 Age 56 b. USA
 Trapper
?Viapan, George
 Age 64 b. Romania
 Trapper
?Estram, James
 Age 71 b. USA  widower
 blank
Wooden, Charles
 Age 53 b. USA
 Trapper



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