.
.
ALASKA
A collection of miscellaneous
articles extracted from early editions
of Anchorage, Knik
& Palmer newspapers... Alaska State Recorders archives
and historical diaries.
Please make sure you check the bottom of this page for
early diary entries.
By Coleen
Mielke 2008
Everything
on this web page and the attached web pages, has been copied exactly as
I found them, Some records have obvious errors, some have politically
incorrect words. Please know that these are not MY words. For the
sake of accurate historical information, I am publishing them on this web
site just as I found them.
NEW INFORMATION
AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
Death 1/11/1906 Matt Miller age 50 died crossing the tide flats at the Head of Resurrection Bay while going to a logging camp. His body was found 1/29/1906 and he was buried north of Seward township on 2/1/1906. He was survived by a wife.
Marriage
Record 2/26/1908 (this record was found in the State
Recorders archives):
This
is to certify that on this 26th day of February 1908, at my office at Knik,
Alaska, I united in marriage Olga Ivan and Cheluits, with their mutual
consent, in the presence of T. L. Wilson and Otto Langel, father of Olga
and Nakita.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marriage
Record 11/15/1908 (this record was found in the State Recorders
archives):
I the
undersigned, a United States Commissioner, for Cooks Inlet of Alaska, hereby
certify that on the 15th day of November 1908, I united in marriage james
STring of Susitna, Alaska and Maud Rose Mason, also of said Susitna in
the presence of Frank Ervin and Bert Hinckly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marriage
Record 7/13/1912 (this record was found in the State Recorders
archives):
This
is to certify that on this 13th day of July in t he year of our Lord 1912,
Jack, called Hanson, a Native and Inga, a Native girl, were united in marriage
at Susitna, Cook Inlet, Alaska. Witnesses, Mrs. H. W. Nagley, and
Jacko, a Native.
signed
Lee Van Flyke U. S. commissioner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Herning
Diaries June 25, 1914
Report
came that John Young committed suicide by tying Evinrude engine to his
neck and jumping overboard at point above Goose Bay. Evening tide
Traveler brought body to Knik found same 10 ft. above deep channel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Herning
Diaries December 7, 1914
Indian
Jim came to town and reported he shot and killed Old Tom Stephan some 20
days ago near Nelchina District. Jim hauled him down to Chickaloon
Coal Camp and buried him no details. Reported to have had a quarrel.
Herning
Diaries December 13, 1914
Indians
arrived with Old Tom Stephans body who Indian Jim shot. They rang the bell
15 minutes in his honor. Indian Jim got put in jail. Sentenced to three
years at McNeil Island on July 22, 1915.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Herning
Diaries October 26, 1915
Una
Pettit, alias Mansfield, underworld woman, died at Knik Hospital of pneumonia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Death
Calls Chief Nicholai Anchorage Times 7/27/1916
The
Daily Times has received authentic information that Chief Nicholai died
several days ago at Point Possession from consumption and that this dreaded
disease was working havoc with the natives of that section. It is
reported that Chief Nicholi's wife and several others of the village were
in the last stages of the disease and that the ailing family of Chief Nicholai
was destitute and without medical aid. Proper authorities should
be notified and immediate assistance given to his people. Chief Nicholai
has been the head of his tribe for many years and was looked up to by his
tribesman as a man of good judgment; he was authority in all matters pertaining
to their fishing and hunting rights and he was a picturesque character,
well known to the old-timers in the inlet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Skookum
Jim" Discoverer of the Klondike, Dies in Poverty
Anchorage Times 9/1/1916
"Skookum
Jim", a native, the real discoverer of gold in the Klondike district, died
here last night following a prolonged illness. He was practically penniless
when death called him. At one time he was worth a hundred thousand
dollars, gained from his mine in the Klondike and was the richest native
in the northland. Dissipation was the cause of the loss of his fortune.
Dawson,
Yukon Territory
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story
of Indian Tragedy Told In Court by Victims Children Anchorage
Times 7/31/1917
Knik
Nikolai, alleged murder of Talkeetna Stepan, a native at Talkeetna Lake
in the latter part of June, was bound over to the grand jury without bail.
He will be taken to Valdez by Deputy Marshal Kassier. Inga Stepan,
16 year old daughter of Stepan’s wife and Bob Stepan, 11 year old son of
Stepan, will be witnesses. The murder of Talkeetna Stepan resulted
from a fight that happened when he and Nikolai had been drinking home brew.
In court, Inga Stepan, a 16 year old native girl unhesitatingly told the
story the murder. She said the two men started fighting. Their
party of five was camped in a tent at Talkeetna Lake. Inga said Stepan
had pulled the ridge pole of the tent down and the pole struck Nikolai
in the face. As the canvas fell, covering Stepan and Negolia, his
wife, the children ran out of the tent. Nikolai got out of the tent
and picked up a club and began beating Stepan and Negolia (for hitting
him with the pole). The blows crushed Stepan’s skull and broke Negolia’s
arm, according to the young girl. When Nikolai pulled the canvas
off of the couple he had been beating, Talkeetna Stepan was dead and Negolia
was bent over his body, crying. The murderer went and laid down.
In the morning, Nikolai took a shovel and dug a grave for his victim and
while doing that, the widow shot and killed herself with a .22 rifle by
tying a string to the trigger. Talkeetna and Negolia Stepan were
buried side by side in a grave lined with canvas and their faces were covered
with canvas. After the burial, Nikolai burned the tent, the bloody
clothes and a few other articles. He then took the children and headed
towards the town of Talkeetna. After reaching Foster’s, Nikolai departed
and was later captured at Susitna. Deputy Marshal M. H. Healey of
Talkeetna went to Talkeetna Lake with Little Bob, G. L. Kennedy and
Indian guide named Pedro. They examined the surroundings at the camp
and also dug up the graves so that they could look at the bodies. Neither
Little Bob nor the guide would go near the graves. Little Bob went
on the witness stand to corroborate the evidence of his step-sister, but
unlike her, he was unable to speak English and the services of an
interpreter, Augus Topan, were required. Several times the boy was
almost too frightened to talk and became confused after being questioned.
Inga, the young native girl, quiet pretty, said she did not know what an
oath meant when she was sworn as a witness but she said she knew what the
truth was . She has never been to school but she answered the questions
of the judge and attorneys straight forwardly. Inga’s own father,
Tom Stepan was murdered only a few years ago by Indian Jim.
*
SEE NOTE UNDER 1924 KNIK NICOLAI STORY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obituary
Mrs.
Stepan, elderly wife of Montana Creek Indian Chief died at the hospital
on C Street Friday 11/22/1918
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Twenty
Seven Nome Residents Die of Spanish Influenza
Anchorage Times 12/30/1918
The
following people died of Spanish Influenza recently in Nome, Alaska:
Walter Shields (B.I.A.); Anderson (life saving station); Captain Erickson
(Flyer); Mrs. Harry Clark, Neva Brown (Billie Brown's daughter); Fred Larson,
John Milne (Humane Officer); Fred Segar (Lives near Hastings Creek); Gus
Nordstrom; Fin Rosvold and wife (Jeweler, worked for S & H); Sam Boich
(a Serbian called "Sport"); Ida Mascha (Worked for Jim Swartzei); John
Lutschinger; Chris Anderson; George Prosser; Mrs. Clarence Riggs; Mat Lawson,
George Watson; Mrs. Seedler; Frank Mielke (Barber); Pascoff (Soldier);
Maheras (Soldier); Oscar Hendrickson (Soldier); Headley (Soldier); Andy
Thompson (Soldier); Ed Bridesen; and Nick Scovich.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anchorage
Times: 3/1/1921 page 5
Dr.
J.B. Beeson reports the death this morning of a native woman known as "Chickaloon
Mary". The deceased has been an inmate of the government hospital
for two months. Death was due to consumption.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
United
States Commissioner, Talkeetna, Alaska October 13, 1921
New
We,
the undersigned, appointed by the U. S. Commissioner, at Talkeetna, October
11, 1921 to make a search for Matanuska Stephan and his wife and children.
We proceeded to the Talkeetna River by following an old Indian trail and
we found the Stephan family marooned under a tree on an island, much in
distress and in need of food, which we supplied. Old Matanuska Stephan
was flat on his back with a carbunkle on his neck and one of the little
girls was sick with the flu. We cut some wood and assisted them in
getting a fire. Everything was flooded and mostly under water.
The second day, we loaded them into a skin boat and brought them to their
home on the Susitna River, having a very narrow escape on account of raging
waters caused by flood which was at that time subsiding. (Signed
by M. J. Rose and C. Brannon)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suspect
Foul Play in Death at Kenai Anchorage Times 11/3/1923
John
Nikolai, an Aleut, was found dead on the beach at Kenai, Wednesday morning.
Nikolai and two other Indians, including Knik Pete, were reported to have
partied the night before and it is said that Nikolai’s companions reported
that Nikolai had drowned. The body, however, is said to show evidence
of foul play. An investigation is under way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knik
Nicholai, Native, Shoots City Officer Anchorage Times
1/2/1924
Harry
Kavanaugh, city police officer, was shot and probably fatally wounded by
Knik Nicholai, a native. Nicholai was later shot and instantly killed by
police officer Charlie Watson. The attempted murder and killing happened
at a log cabin at 8th & B Street. Knik Nicholai, who killed another
native a year or so ago* had been on a rampage for several weeks,
terrorizing his girlfriend, Polly Rufe and her brother Jack Rufe.
Harry Kavanaugh and Charlie Watson went to Nicholai’s cabin to arrest him.
They went to the rear of the cabin and up a ladder to the loft where Nicholai’s
girlfriend, Polly, said he slept. The officers called for him to
come out of the cabin, which he said he would do. The officers then
heard a shot and Kavanaugh yelled “look out Charlie he’s got a gun” and
Kavanaugh started to run, heading for the road on 8th Street. Watson
ran to the front of the cabin and as he did, the native, who had come down
the ladder from the loft, fired two shots at Kavanaugh with a .30-.30 Winchester,
one bullet penetrating his back and emerging from his stomach. Watson
stepped in the front door of the cabin and waited for the native to pass
a window on the east side. Upon his failure to appear, Watson said
he opened the front door and Nicholai was standing directly in front of
him, Watson then fired two shots with is revolver, killing the native instantly.
*
Knik Nicholai is the same man that shot Talkeetna Stepan in 1917.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Local
Indian Chief Died Here Yesterday
Anchorage Times 4/28/1924
Chief
Naketa of the local tribe of natives, died at the government hospital yesterday.
Chief Naketa was about 78 years of age and had been a patient at the hospital
for some time suffering from tuberculosis. He is survived by his
wife who is confined in the Morningside sanitarium and several children.
Two of he children are at the Tyonic orphanage and the others are in Anchorage.
The body is at the Williams Mortuary and services will be held there at
2:00 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Rev. C. G. Denton will officiate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anchorage
Daily Times August 18, 1924 page 8
"Native
Wife Shoots in Self-Defense When White Husband Attacks Her"
An article in the 8/18/1924 issue of the Anchorage Times relates the death of Jess Wickersham who was killed by his common-law native wife on 8/16/1924 at a cabin about two miles above Chickaloon on the Chickaloon River.
The article says that the native woman reported that she had been originally attacked by Mr. Wickersham on July 4th. She told him at that time she would not allow him to beat her again. On August 16, Mr. Wickersham, who was drunk, started to attack the native woman with a sheaf knife. After being cut on her hands, she shot her husband with a .32 Savage automatic three times. One shot grazed the left side of his head, the second shot entered the neck and lodged in his spine and the third shot entered his hip. Lee Harrison contacted the Deputy Marshal Frank Hoffman and told him of the shooting.
A coroners jury produced a verdict saying that Jess Wickersham had been killed by gunshot wounds at the hands of his common-law wife. The body was taken to Chickaloon and placed on the railroad speeder car and sent to Anchorage. The Marshall found a still at the cabin, that was not in use, as well as four gallons of moonshine, both were destroyed immediately.
The newspaper article gives a brief description of Jess Wickersham. He was reportedly well known in Anchorage and the surrounding territory and was about 48 years old. He was a veteran of the Spanish American war. The newspaper reported that he had wealthy relatives in Arkansas. Mr. Wickersham was survived by his native wife and their three children, the oldest one being 2 and the youngest being 6 months.
The native
woman was arrested and brought to Anchorage and lodged in the federal jail,
along with her youngest child.
She
was to face a grand jury for the shooting.
Jesse C. Wickersham was buried at the Anchorage Cemetery.
NOTE:
The article does not say who the native woman is. I feel fairly certain
that the woman was Anne (Nicolai) Wickersham (who later married Lee Harrison).
I searched the Anchorage criminal files for 1924 and found no mention of
a trial, so I'm assuming that she was not charged with anything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mysterious
Attack Follows Departure of Victim from Party Anchorage Times 6/12/1925
Deputy
U.S. Marshal Hurlburt and Commissioner Ralph V. Anderson of Seldovia arrived
in Kenai to investigate the death of Mrs. Sergy Pete, an Indian woman,
50 years of age, who was killed last Saturday night during a party which
was located between Kenai and the McNeil & Libby cannery. Two daughters
and a son of the victim were present and their testimony indicated that
the woman left the tent and was attacked. The woman was strangled
and severely cut on the back of her neck with a knife. The daughters
of the murdered woman told authorities they knew who committed the murder.
The husband of the woman is Sergy Pete, who was in Anchorage (in jail for
fishing violations) at the time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Autopsy
Held Sunday Fails to Reveal Crime Anchorage Times 2/9/1931
An autopsy
was held yesterday afternoon in Anchorage to determine the cause of the
death of Alfred Danieloff and Billie Stephan who were burned in a cabin
in Kenai on 12/23/1931 which will result in clearing Steve Ephim of charges
of manslaughter. At the time of the finding of the bodies in the
ruins of the cabin, the evidence showed that the door had been locked from
the outside before the fire. Steve Ephim, the owner of the cabin,
told different stories upon being taken into custody and questioned.
X -ray pictures of the supposed wounds failed to show any depth to the
holes. There was no evidence of the passage of a bullet through the
body and the heart and lungs were normal and intact. A woman also
died in the fire, but she hasn't been identified yet. Ephim, now
held in Kenai on charges of manslaughter will soon be released.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Death
Summons Valley Farmer Anchorage
Times 4/6/1931
Matanuska
Valley lost one of it's pioneer farmers last night in the passing of W.
J. (Jesse) Bogard who died at his farm a few miles from Matanuska.
His illness assumed a serious aspect yesterday and a call was sent to Anchorage
for a speeder to
take
him to the hospital. He died before the speeder arrived. George S.
Moshier, who owns the homestead next to Bogard and Gerrit Snider of Wasilla
were in charge of the body on it's way to Anchorage. Bogard had a
sister in Boise, Idaho.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Native
Slain; White Jailed Anchorage Times 3/31/1932
After
being missing for five days, the bullet riddled body of CHIEF GOODLATAW,
a native and resident of nearby Chitina, was found Saturday, buried in
the turnip patch of R. L. Reed, about two miles from Chitina. Reed
has been taken into custody and is being questioned by the authorities.
It is known that Reed has had trouble lately with the natives and it is
thought that there may be some connection. Reed is reported to have
had several encounters with the law in the past due to liquor violations
and only recently it is stated that his home was the scene of a drunken
brawl in which Reed was severely beaten by some of the other natives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chitna
Paper Tells of Native's Murder: Clue Found in Ashes Anchorage
Times 6/6/1932
Details
of the finding of the body of Joe Goodlataw, widely known native of the
Chitina District, are related in the 5/291932 issue of the Chitina Herald
as follows: Joe Goodlataw who is the son of the late Chief of the
native tribe, went out on Monday at 11:00 at Eight Mile. He told
his wife he would be back soon. he took no gun with him so it is
certain he did not go hunting. Captain Goodlataw, as he is known,
has been missing for the last six days. Natives hunted all over for
him but couldn't find a trace. Some people thought he was at Mr.
Reed's, where he frequently goes, so they got a search warrant and some
of the officials went out and made a careful inspection of the place.
While hunting they found the ashes of a recent fire and in the ashes found
some shoe eyelets, buttons and buckles from Goodlataw's clothing.
While they were hunting, Frank Billum found a pair of stockings and a belt
behind some moss and under a stump. So they sent into town and got
15 shovels and set 15 men to work digging for his body in a turnip patch
which is about 1/4 acre in size. When they were about half done with
it they found Goodlataw's body about 1 ½ feet in the ground on solid
frost, so it was in good condition except for a bullet hole in the neck
and the back. They brought him into town and packed his body in ice
so it would keep until a doctor could come to town to perform an autopsy.
they are trying to get an attorney from Anchorage. Mr. Reed has been
charged with murder and is in the custody of the Marshal at present.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal
Note: After reading the above article, I was shocked to find this next
article!!
Evidence
Lacking in Slaying Trial Anchorage
Times 12/20/1932
Inability
of the government sufficiently to connect the defendant R. L. Reed with
the death of Captain Goodlataw, native of Chitina, resulted in a verdict
of not guilty. The jury deliberated for 7 hours. The murder trial was held
in Valdez court and took 4 days. the jury consisted of: Mrs. A. S.
Day, E. C. Edgerton, Mrs. M. Gravelle, Mrs. Ted Johnson, Owen E.
Meals, W. H. Palmer, Isabelle Streeter, Todd Winter of Valdez;
W. W. Jones, Robert Manthey, Roy Neville and Mrs. Hilma Urie of Seward.
According to testimony, Captain Goodlataw left his home in Chitina
on 5/23/32 to visit relatives residing 8 miles out of Chitina on the
Richardson Highway. He left his home about 11:00 in the morning, promising
to return about 9:00 in the evening the same day. So far as known
he was not seen on the road to 8 Mile that day nor did he return home that
night nor the following day. A messenger sent to 8 Mile reported
that he had not arrived at that place. A search instituted by the
Natives between Chitina and 4 Mile revealed no trace of the missing man.
A later search by the Natives between 8 Mile and 4 Mile did not yield any
results. It was alleged that there was a deep enmity between Reed
and Goodlataw and actions of the former during the search by the Natives
excited their suspicion that he might have had a part in the mysterious
disappearance of Goodlataw. On 5/29/32, armed with a search warrant,
Deputy Marshal Nels Sobby and U. S. Commissioner Q. A. Nelson visited the
Reed homestead to search the place for intoxicating liquor. They
searched the property with the aid of several Natives from Chitina and
found several kegs of moonshine. In the ashes of a fire (near the
turnip patch) the also found some buttons, shoe nails and other articles
and under a stump they found a belt and a pair of heavy German socks that
belonged to Goodlataw. Commissioner Nelson gave the natives permission
to dig in the turnip patch and after three or four hours of work the body
of Goodlataw was found buried in the patch, minus shoes socks and trousers.
An examination of the body revealed three bullets had entered the body
from behind, any one of which would have been fatal according to Dr. W.
H. Chase of Cordova. A loaded .30 government rifle, an auto loading
shotgun, loaded and a revolver, also loaded were found in the cabin of
Reed. At the conclusion of the government's case, Attorney's Donohoe
and Taylor, for the defense, made a motion for a directed verdict of not
guilty on the grounds of insufficient evidence to connect the defendant
with the commission of the crime charged. The defendant did not take
the stand or speak on his own behalf. Argument to the jury was opened by
Attorney Taylor for the defense. He was followed by Assistant U.S. Attorney
J. L. Reed, and he in turn was followed by Attorney Donohoe. Closing argument
was made by U.S. Attorney W. N. Cuddy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obituary
Anchorage Times 1/30/1935
Mrs.
Barcillia Stephan from Montana Station on the Alaska Railroad died in an
Anchorage hospital 1/30/1935
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chief
Ezi of the Once Powerful Eklutnas Is Given Colorful Adieu Anchorage Times
2/24/1935
Covered
in a beautiful fringed and highly colored blanket, and with another warm
blanket beside him, and wearing a strikingly designed, new, pair of mukluks,
and attired in a new suit of clothes and other garnishments, Chief Ezi,
for many years the respected idol of the once powerful tribe of Eklutnas,
was laid to rest in the Anchorage Cemetery. Mourned by scores of
his people who were present, and also honored by a number of white friends,
the old Chieftain was lowered into the grave as men, women and children
of his tribe chanted in Russian and as the burial ritual was recited in
Russian by Mrs. Billy Austin. The old Chief rests beneath a “TOP”
house, largest of the kind seen in this region, made by his own sons and
placed above the grave yesterday immediately after the service and burial.
The house stands 5 feet above the grave, is 6½ feet long and 3½
feet wide. Over the house rises a large wooden cross, cut out of
a log in one solid piece. The services continued for 2 hours and
were characterized with numerous songs, chants and readings, all in Russian,
according to the ritual of the Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in who’s
faith they had been reared and trained from childhood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John
Goodlataw Drops Dead While Working Jonesville Anchorage Daily times
2/22/1935
John
Goodlataw, employee for the Alaska Railroad dropped dead while shoveling
coal at Jonesville.
He is
survived by a widow and little daughters, who are at Jonesville.
Before coming here, it is believed the family lived in Cordova
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obituary
Anchorage Times 2/20/1935
Mrs.
Lugila Nickolai, native, passed away at an Anchorage hospital after an
illness of several days. Her son Tommy Nickolai is now in Anchorage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obituary
Anchorage Times 3/28/1935
Funeral
for the late Chief Nicholai is at 3:00 tomorrow. All friends are
welcome
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obituary
Anchorage Times 2/14/1934
A fire
about 6:00 Friday morning completely destroyed the home of Mrs. Nick Sablatking,
native, and burned to death George Nicolai and Alexie Gregorieff, both
natives according to the Valdez Miner newspaper on January 20th. The bodies
were taken to Tatitlek on the gas launch "Pansy" for burial.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anchorage
Times 12/22/1942 Page 1
A report
reaching Anchorage today reveals the death of Capt. "Slivers" McNeil, a
native who lived in the Wasilla district for many years. "Slivers",
as he was known to all who knew him, is said to have frozen to death last
Friday night on the trail between Wasilla and the point where he had killed
a moose. He had been in to Wasilla after downing the animal and it
was on his return trip that he died. He was about 40 years old.
It is reported here, that he was buried by his native friends in their
own burial ground.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anchorage
Times 2/7/1944 Page 1
Thomas
McNeil, 37, died of a self inflicted gunshot wound last Friday near Palmer.
According to evidence brought before a coroner's jury, the man shot himself
with a 30.30 hunting rifle. McNeil, a trapper, is survived by a sister,
Myrtle, a brother Victor and his father, Malcolm McNeil. Haines funeral
Parlors have the body in charge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anchorage
Times 3/28/1945
The
lives of four women and two sailors were claimed by the icy waters of Kupreanoff
Straits on Sunday night when their boat capsized in rough waters on their
way home from a movie. The party of six was returning home to Afognak,
north of Kodiak. On their return trip the motor of the small boat failed
and the two sailors left in a small dory to return to Latnik to get help.
While they were gone, the craft capsized in rough water. The women were
Mrs. Sophie Nelson, mother of 5 and her sister-in-law Jessie Nelson,
mother of 2, Jean Mitchell, mother of 1 and her cousin, Augusta Gregorieff
all of Afognak. The names of the Navy serviceman were being withheld. The
only body recovered as of press time was Jessie Nelson.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obituary
Anchorage Times 4/28/1945
Margaret
Longcarp, 17, student at Eklutna school, died 4/27/1945 in a Palmer hospital.
She had been sick for a long time with Hodgkins disease.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blind
Man Steps Off Road To Miss Death Anchorage Times 5/4/1950
Two
law enforcement agencies are carrying on a joint search today for a hit-and-run
driver who fatally injured Annie Stephan, 64 year old native woman, early
Wednesday on the Willow Creek road near Wasilla. Mrs. Stephan, member
of a large and widely known clan, was killed when a speeding vehicle bore
down on her blind companion, Nick McNeil. Mrs. Stephan's neck was
broken by the impact. Her skull was fractured and she was badly cut.
McNeil, known in the area as "Blind Nick" heard the car or truck approaching
and stepped off the road. However, he was injured when Mrs. Stephan's
body was hurled across the road with such force as to knock him down.
McNeil's shouts for help aroused the dead woman's children who were asleep
in the Stephan cabin about 100 yards away. The driver of the death
vehicle, meanwhile left the scene. McNeil was unable to tell whether
the vehicle was a car or truck but told investigators that it was running
without a muffler. On that slender clue, Deputy Marshal Bill Bouwens
of Palmer and Patrolman Stanley Laird of the Highway patrol have been trying
to find the driver. The spot where the accident happened is about a mile
north of Wasilla on a road known both as Willow Creek Road and as Fishhook
Road. Funeral services were held for Mrs. Stephan at Knik.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7
Year old Murdered, Dillingham Man Held
Anchorage Times 8/18/1956
A Dillingham
cannery worker is in Federal Jail here charged with the murder of a 7 year
old boy. He is Robert Henry, 40, of Momokutuk, Chief Deputy U. S.
Marshal, James Chenoweth said Henry is charged with second degree murder
in the fatal shooting of young Billy Nikiti, May 10th. The childs
body was reported to have been buried shortly after he was shot in the
back of the head with a .22 caliber rifle. Details of the shooting
are not known. Henry is a native of Togiak, also near Dillingham.
He was arrested August 11th.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Family
of Five Found Dead Near Iliamna Anchorage Times 1/6/1956
The
frozen bodies of a Newhalen family of five were found buried in drifting
snow 14 miles north of Igiugig near Lake Iliamna. Forty year old
Simeon Wassela and his wife Catherine, 35, a daughter, Xanie 17, a 7 year
old son and an infant were found frozen to death. Lt. Dick Jensen
and scanner, Murphy Nickolai said the family apparently died of exposure
as their dog team was nearing it's destination in the 50 mile trip from
Newhalen to Iguigig. Only 2 of the 9 dogs the family took on the trip were
found alive. Wassela left with three other families on the
journey December 27th, but lagged behind soon after their departure.
Nothing was thought of their absence at first because it was thought they
were taking a different trail. However, when they didn't arrive in
Igiugig, several days later, Wassela's brother, Ira, reported them missing
to CAA.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copper
Center Man Is Slain; Suspect Held Anchorage
Times 4/4/1956 page 1
A Copper
Center man was found shot to death in the yard in front of his cabin last
night, Territorial Police said here today. The police said five bullet
wounds were found in the body of JOHNNY JOE, about 30. They said
the owner of the cabin, identified as Austin P. Davis 30, has been taken
into custody. Joe's body was discovered about 8:00. the cabin
is located on the Richardson Highway near the Klutina River bridge.
Preliminary investigation indicates Joe was shot to death in the Davis
cabin. As Joe lay on the floor, four more bullets were pumped into
his body. Austin P. Davis has been arraigned on a manslaughter charge
and his bail set at $1000 at Copper Center. Davis and Joe were reported
to be unemployed. Joe lived with his father near the Tazlina River.
Davis, formerly lived in Homer and California. Copper Center is about 200
miles northwest of Anchorage and is the site of an Indian village.
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Sophie
R. Joe, 23, Dies Here Anchorage
Times 5/27/1958 page 13
Sophie
r. Joe, 23, of Scammon Bay, died at the Alaska Native Hospital after a
five month confinement. She was born at Scammon Bay 8/6/1934 and is survived
by her husband, Mike Joe, and a brother, Ralph Johnson of Anchorage.
Funeral services will be tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Evergreen Memorial
Chapel. Eric Tetpon, assistant pastor to Rev. Job Kokochuruk of the
Evangelical Covenant Mission of Anchorage will officiate. Interment will
be at Evergreen Memorial Park.
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Obituary
Anchorage Times 8/31/1962
Ponto
Eugene Goozmer, age 10 months, of Tyonek died at A.N.S. Born 10/6/1961
at Tyonek, he leaves his mother Barbara Goozmer and grandfather, Pedro
Goozmer both of Tyonek.
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Obituary
Anchorage times 6/17/1969
Nellie
Inez G. Gregorieff 78 of Valdez died at Alaska Native Medical Center.
She was born at Nuchek and is survived by son Edward Gregorieff at Tatitlek.
Three daughters, Freda Hartman, Dorothy Lancaster and Ann Cabel of Seattle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARIES OF O.G. HERNING WHO CAME TO KNIK IN 1898.
HE OPERATED A TRADING POST AT KNIK FROM 1906 UNTIL 1917 AND A GENERAL STORE
AT WASILLA FROM 1917 UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1947. THE DATES YOU SEE HERE ARE
DIARY ENTRY DATES NOT NECESSARILY EVENT DATES. MR.
HERNING WAS NOT A GOOD SPELLER, SO SOME OF THESE NAMES ARE PHONETIC SPELLINGS.
KEEP IN MIND THAT THE NAMES AND INFORMATION PERTAIN TO PEOPLE WHO LIVED/WORKED
(PRIMARILY) IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA...AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, KNIK, WASILLA,
MATANUSKA JUNCTION, SUSITNA STATION, ANCHORAGE AND SEWARD.
1/29/1906 Matt Miller
body found at head of bay buried at Seward
8/13/1906 Elmer R.
Herning age 10 buried at Knik/grave moved to Anchorage 1947
3/17/1907 John Headburg
of Knik married the Talkeetna slave woman*
*Census records show that her name was Nastasa
(it also says she was Aleut born 1886).
6/10/1908 Evan Orloff
died at Knik (assumed buried at Knik).
11/15/1908 James String
and Maud Rose Mason both of Susitna married
6/27/1911 Dr. Cowen
of Knik married
12/20/1911 Harry St.
Clair died at Glacier Creek
1/6/1912 D. C. Wisner
died at Knik buried at Knik
6/27/1912 Capt. Ward’s
baby died at the Station (probably Susitna Station?)
7/13/1912 Jack (also
called Hanson) and Inga (both Native) married at
Susitna, witnessed by Mrs. Nagley and a Native named Jacko.
4/27/1913 Larson’s
son Jacko died (assumed buried at Knik)
10/21/1913 John Travers
killed by slide at Gold Bullion Mine Willow Creek Mining District
1914 John Young committed
suicide by tying Evinrude motor around neck and jumping
into Goose Bay buried at Knik.
3/17/1914 Sherman
of Knik married Mrs. Dalton #1
5/19/1914 Old man
Hunter died lived at Old Knik
2/11/1915 Mrs. Carrie
buried at Knik
2/14/1915 R. E. Romano
funeral with Masonic honors (assumed buried at Knik)
3/20/1915 Adam Block
of Seldovia died at Sitka Pioneer Home
4/16/1915 Tom Hanmore
died at Iliamna
7/22/1915 P. J. McDonald
married Miss Longmire at Knik
10/26/1915 Una Pettit
Mansfield (underworld woman) died at Knik hospital of pneumonia
1/15/1916 Unnamed
man died-buried at Knik (cook at Cannon’s Knik Roadhouse)
2/1/1916 Mr. Styles
of Hope died in Anchorage (brother of Dr. Dugan)
1/15/1917 H. C. Emery
and Bert Steward killed in snow slide at Martins
Mine Willow Creek Mining District.
11/28/1917 Meehan
baby (1st death at Wasilla) (assumed baby buried on homestead)
3/5/1918 Agent Jackson
at Matanuska died
11/25/1918 Six Natives
died of the flu at the Station (assumed Susitna Station?)
3/27/1919 Getchell
(old-timer) married Frank Kelly Wasilla
6/10/1919 Unnamed
man died at mile 32 mining camp
4/29/1920 W. A. Black
died at mile 174 of railroad
2/4/1921 Mrs. Sparks
married soldier from Matanuska Junction named Monroe
3/28/1921 Mrs. W.
A. Black died at Anchorage
8/22/1921 Byron Bartholf
Jr. died in Willow Creek mining accident buried Anchorage
9/10/1921 Mr. Kimball,
Anchorage storekeeper, died in Anchorage.
9/13/1921 Joe Laubner
was killed in Talkeetna Mine Willow Creek Mining District
12/13/1921 George
Small got married in Anchorage
12/1/1922 Railroad
conductor Sessions died
1/16/1922 William
“Bill” Hughes of Knik died buried Anchorage
5/27/1922 Lander and
Niemann married in Anchorage
7/22/1922 Unnamed
RR man killed mile 277½ when railroad bridge collapsed killing engineer.
6/15/1923 F. B. Cannon
died at Wasilla buried Anchorage (Postmaster-Commissioner of Wasilla)
7/26/1923 Mrs. Capt.
Ward died at Anchorage
9/12/1923 Mrs. Al
Davis died
1/21/1924 Dave McGinnis
killed in snow plow accident
5/17/1924 Frank E.
Young died at Anchorage
11/10/1923 August
Carlson died at Anchorage
11/21/1923 Dr. Leopold
David died US Commissioner at Knik 1910, 1st Mayor of
Anchorage, buried at Anchorage.
11/28/1923 Dan McArdle
died at Anchorage.
8/5/1924 Zink and
Springstein married at Fairbanks
3/26/1925 C. A. Gooding
died at Anchorage.
3/26/1925 Jerry Murphy
died at Anchorage.
4/20/1925 Dave England
died at Anchorage.
5/22/1925 Frank Fleckenstein
murdered in Dillingham buried in Anchorage.
2/1/1926 Mr. Reedy
died on his trap line
3/14/1926 Stanley
Herning married Eva Fleckenstein in Wasilla
6/21/1926 Mrs. W.
A. Johnson died in Anchorage Susitna Roadhouse keeper
8/6/1926 George Haslett
died in Cordova
8/13/1926 J. J. O’Brian
of Knik died in Anchorage hospital
8/24/1926 Clo King
married John Chamberlin in Fairbanks
11/5/1926 Mrs. Gust
Haller died in Anchorage (skull fracture by train in Wasilla)
10/15/1927 Chief Nakela
died (assumed buried in Knik)
10/19/1927 Clarence
Marsh married at Nenana
11/9/1927 Chris Sterns
(old timer) died in Portland
12/28/1927 Mary Vail
married _____ Phelps (4th husband)
3/17/1928 James Girdwood
died in New York (Crow Creek prospector 1896)
3/1928 Mrs. W. E.
Bartholf died stateside age 74
7/27/1928 Baldwin
(railroad man) died
10/6/1928 Al Harper
died
10/6/1928 Fred Simmons
died
10/10/1928 Mrs. Murray
of Knik (moved to Palmer Station) died
11/22/1928 Tuck (old
agent) married 6’ tall Texan girl Wasilla
1/28/1929 Charles
Magaha died at Anchorage
6/10/1929 Henry Fischer
died
2/8/1929 Charles Magaha
funeral buried at Anchorage
4/11/1930 George W.
Palmer died (suicide) Kenai buried Anchorage (to Alaska 1893 merchant)
7/6/1930 Harry Lander
of Wasilla died in Michigan
11/28/1930 J. W. Kempf
died at Anchorage (old time Willow Creek prospector)
2/10/1936 Fern, a
Native girl died (not sure where, or where buried)
3/28/1936 George Sexton
died at Seward (in Alaska 38 years)
4/22/1936 Mr. Machell
died at Anchorage
7/8/1936 Mrs. Oscar
Tryck died buried at Anchorage
8/2/1936 Edward Fries
died at Palmer hospital (old time rancher) buried at Palmer
8/28/1936 Harry Vail
died age 49
12/11/1936 H. H. Healy
died at Susitna Station
12/11/1936 Leckwold
died
1/22/1927 Eckman died
at Anchorage (furniture man)
5/28/1937 Jim Murray’s
son died at Cache Creek Willow Creek Mining District
8/19/1937 Frank Churchill
died buried at Knik in McGuire Cemetery to Alaska 1898
11/28/1937 Tom Cavanaugh
died at Knik beer hall
4/17/1937 Frank Hoffman
died in Anchorage US Marshall
5/25/1937 Dorothy
Hill and Peter Nelson married
5/28/1937 Miss Pryer
Wasilla schoolmarm married
8/5/1937 Dr. Romig
married again
8/8/1937 Wanda Soper
married
9/2/1937 Pat Snider
married in Anchorage
2/1/1938 Mrs. Oscar
Bergman died in Anchorage
4/28/1938 Oscar Bergman
died in Anchorage railroad section man
9/17/1939 Sharon Fleckenstein
married Florence Strigga Edlund at Wasilla
10/8/1938 Mrs. McNeil
of Knik died
2/24/1939 Harvey J.
Bartholf died age 70
7/27/1939 Wasilla
agent Browne’s oldest daughter married Arlo the Caterpillar man
12/2/1939 Mr. Redwood
died in Palmer hospital (old timer)
2/22/1940 Word arrived
in Wasilla that Pete Snider died on Navy boat in Honolulu
2/6/1940 George Zink
died at Portland
2/9/1940 Harry Staycer
died at his Crow Creek Mine (ex-marshal of Anchorage)
8/27/1940 John Thomas
died at Willow Station
9/3/1940 Trusty Kelly
died of pneumonia
5/11/1940 Kenneth
Soper married Monte Edlunds wife
5/14/1940 Elizabeth
Bergman married at Anchorage
7/4/1940 Jack Slumberger
married
4/3/1941 Mattie Vail
died in auto accident buried Palmer (came to valley 1915)
2/7/1941 Mrs. Fred
Simmons of Knik died (old timer)
2/8/1941 Mr. Wilson
of Knik died at Sitka Pioneer Home (Knik old timer)
4/11/1941 Vic Blodgett
died
7/8/1941 Mrs. Dan
Donovan died
7/9/1941 Bill Taylor
died at Sitka Pioneer Home
9/16/1941 Anna Simmons
died
6/26/1942 Hi Gill
died
2/21/1942 Nels Larsen
died at Palmer hospital
6/4/1943 Major Kermit
Roosevelt died at Ft. Richardson (suicide) son of Teddy Roosevelt
8/5/1943 Gus Geller
died
1/3/1944 Jacob Metz
died at Palmer (old time rancher)
6/21/1944 Adam Werner
died at Palmer (old time rancher)
12/2/1944 McAllen
died at Fairbanks (ex-Willow Creek Mining District supervisor)
1/23/1945 George Nylen
died at Sitka Pioneer Home (old time Matanuska farmer)
2/19/1944 E. B. Buck
Sparling died (old time Willow Creek prospector)
3/13/1944 Pearl Horning
died in Seattle (old time Willow Creek quartz miner)
3/13/1944 Chris Gustafson
of Nelchuck Mine died in Anchorage
3/23/1945 M. J. McNeil
of Fairview Farm District died (old timer)
3/24/1945 A. J. Swanson
died at Palmer (ranched in valley 30 years)
4/14/1945 Mrs. W.
S. Horning died (old time miner)
4/11/1944 A. O. Wells
died (old time miner)
6/8/1944 Mrs. Sexton
died (Colonist)
11/23/1944 Ernie Pyles
wife died age 44
6/2/1946 O. O. Krogh
died in California (old time Matanuska store keeper)
1/20/1946 L. V. Rae
died at Seward (lawyer, partner of Leopold David)
3/2/1946 Chas J. Tecklenberg
died stateside buried in Seward (old timer)
4/6/1946 T. W. Hawkins
died age 78
5/15/1946 Red Jack
Bartell age 86 died (old Cook Inlet boat captain)
10.20/1946 Mrs. J.
B. Fleckenstein died in Anchorage
9/30/1946 Ray Morrison
married Virginia Browne at Wasilla
4/18/1947 Orville
G. Herning died at Anchorage (to Alaska 1898, merchant 1906-1947)
1948 N. J. Gaikema
died buried Anchorage
I will be adding to this page often, so check back. If there's something you would like me to look up (in the Anchorage Times archives), please let me know
