Colonel Solomon Ripinski was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo.

Ripinski was born on April 15, in Rypin, Poland. He received a good European education and studied at some of the best military schools in Europe. Here he acquired a thorough knowledge of drafting and considerable skill in sketching, drawing and painting.

Mr. Ripinski graduated with the rank of second lieutenant of cavalry and being too young to enter the service, visited many of the principal cities of Europe.

Coming to the United States he made a partial tour of the Eastern and Southern States and located at Shreveport, La., where he engaged in merchandise. He moved to Sacramento, California and opened a studio where he painted several fine oil paintings.

After a short residence in California he located at Salem, Oregon, in 1878, and became identified with the State Militia, rising rapidly to the rank of colonel.

In 1878 he received from the Oregon State Fair Association and Mechanics fair, at Portland Oregon the, first prize for the emblematic Masonic chart.

Under the administration of Governor W.W. Thayer, Mr. Ripinsky was honored with an appointment on His Excellency’s staff as aide-de-camp, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was a High Free Mason and a Sir Past Chancellor Commander Knights of Pythias, and a member of the Arctic Brotherhood.

Colonel Ripinsky came to Alaska in 1884, with the famous Arctic explorer the late Lieutenant Frederick Swatka. Under Attorney-General Haskett he was appointed clerk and in 1885 commissioned to establish a United States Government school in Western Alaska. Transferred from Unalaska to Chilkat, he became principal of the school at that place, and served one term.

He was owner and founder of the townsite of Haines Mission. From 1887 to 1890 he was connected with
the Pyramid Harbor salmon cannery, and during the latter year opened a general merchandise
store on his own account at Chilkat, Alaska.

In view of his services to the Government, one of the Chilkat Mountains has been named for him; Mount Ripinsky is 3,680 feet high.

Biographies of Alaska-Yukon Pioneers 1850-1950, Volume 1, p270-272, by Ed Ferrell (May 1, 200

Josias Tanner was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo.

Tanner was born in Oakland County, Michigan on February 22, 1850. His grandfather served in the Revolutionary War, having enlisted when fifteen years old. A brother of Senator Tanner’s grandfather, William Tanner was a member of the bodyguard of President George Washington at the time an attempt was made by the British and Tories, to capture the First President.

“Senator Si,” as Alaskans affectionately refer to the Skagway solon, is serving his second term in Alaska’s law-making assembly.

Senator Josias Martin Tanner started out in life to be a miner. When he was twenty years of age, he left his home in Michigan and went to Central City, Colorado, then one of the famous mining camps of Gilpin county. Young Tanner worked in the gold mines and mills of Colorado for four years.

In 1871 he was married to Miss Juliette Valentine, sister of Former Mayor Emery Valentine of Juneau. To the union three children were born, two girls, who are now married and living in Tacoma, Wash., and a son, Fred Tanner who is associated in business with his father at Skagway. The family moved to Tacoma, where Mr. Tanner was engaged in the contracting business.

In 1896 he took a position in Emery Valentine’s general store located in Juneau.

He moved to Skagway in July, 1897, during the Dawson excitement, and has lived in the Gem City ever since. He was in charge of the Vigilantes, organized to preserve the peace and dignity of Skagway. The secret organization disbanded after the reign of terror created by the notorious outlaw, Soapy Smith. Organized lawlessness at Skagway culminated in Smith’s death on July 8, 1898.

For his executive ability and coolness during the time his men were endeavoring to drive Smith’s gang from the city, Mr. Tanner was appointed Deputy United States Marshal by Marshal J. M. Shoup. He served in that capacity for two years.

He was for five years a member of the Skagway City Council, and thrice served the city as mayor. He also was municipal magistrate for a term of five years.

Senator Tanner is an Elk, Oddfellow, and the Arctic Brotherhood.

He is owner of a hardware store, and is interested in the Home Power Co. of Skagway.

Biographies of Alaska-Yukon Pioneers 1850-1950, Volume 2 p321-322, by Ed Ferrell (May 1, 2009
Alaska Digital Archives, James Joseph Connors Photograph Collection PCA 457