Primary Name: Stephens, John

Filed as: Stephens, John

Also known as: John “Tom” Stephens; Tom Stephens

Occupation / Association: Carpenter; prospector; Charter Member, Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Men's Igloo

Associated places: Juneau, Alaska; Nome, Alaska; Sitka, Alaska; New York

Keywords: John Tom Stephens, Tom Stephens Juneau Alaska, Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Men's Igloo charter members, Juneau carpenters, Alaska gold rush prospectors, Nome Alaska prospectors, Sitka Pioneers Home residents, Evergreen Cemetery Juneau

Biography

John “Tom” Stephens was a carpenter, prospector, and a charter member of the Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau Men's Igloo.

Stephens first came to Juneau in 1885 from his home in upper New York State. Although trained as a carpenter, he spent much of his time in Alaska prospecting during the territory’s gold rush era.

He first traveled to Alaska’s interior during the gold rush of 1897. Three years later, he went to Nome, where he remained for about four years, prospecting and working at his trade.

From 1904 until 1920, Stephens made his home in Juneau. In 1920, the Juneau Elks Lodge proposed sending him to the Elks Home in the states, but he declined the offer, choosing instead to remain in Alaska.

Stephens spent his final years at the Pioneers Home in Sitka, where he died on April 11, 1927. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Juneau.

Sources

Daily Alaska Empire, April 13, 1927.