Fox, P.H.

Occupation: Baker; Douglas community organizer

Active in Alaska: 1880s–1890s

Associated places: Douglas, Alaska; Douglas Island, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska

Biography

P.H. Fox was among the early residents of Douglas Island during the 1880s, when the Treadwell mining operations drew workers and their families to the Juneau–Douglas area.

By 1886 a number of families connected with the Treadwell mines had begun settling permanently on Douglas Island. Among the early residents were Richard McCormick, Nickolas King, George Shatter, Mike McKanna, P.H. Fox, and Henry Mead.

Fox participated in Douglas's early commercial life. The first bakery in the community was opened by P.H. Fox and Mike McKanna, providing baked goods and supplies for the rapidly growing mining town.

Fox was also active in civic affairs in Douglas. In 1899, mining engineer W.A. Sanders agreed to give the residents of Douglas “the dry knoll this side of Lawson Creek” for use as a cemetery if the community would not object to his land patent. Sanders also agreed to build a road to the cemetery grounds, though he declined to put the agreement in writing and stated that his word was sufficient.

Immediately following the meeting, a Cemetery Committee consisting of P.H. Fox, M.J. O’Connor, Reverend Peplogle, and W.C. Boyd took possession of the knoll and ran a line from Third Street in Douglas to the site, helping establish what would become one of the early burial grounds serving the Douglas community.

Sources

• Survey and Inventory of Douglas Historic Cemeteries