Ripinski, Solomon

Association: Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau Men's Igloo

Role: Charter Member

Biography

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

Ripinski was born on April 15 in Rypin, Poland. He received a European education and attended several military schools where he studied drafting and developed considerable skill in sketching, drawing, and painting.

He graduated with the rank of second lieutenant of cavalry. Because he was too young to enter service immediately, he traveled through many of Europe's principal cities before immigrating to the United States.

After arriving in America, he traveled through the eastern and southern states before settling in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he engaged in merchandising. He later moved to Sacramento, California, where he opened an art studio and produced several oil paintings.

In 1878, he relocated to Salem, Oregon, where he became active in the Oregon State Militia and quickly rose to the rank of colonel. That same year he received first prize from the Oregon State Fair Association and the Mechanics Fair in Portland for an emblematic Masonic chart.

During the administration of Governor W. W. Thayer, he was appointed aide-de-camp on the governor’s staff with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Ripinski was also active in fraternal organizations, serving as a High Free Mason, a Sir Past Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias, and later as a member of the Arctic Brotherhood.

Ripinski came to Alaska in 1884 with the noted Arctic explorer Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka. Under Attorney General Haskett, he was appointed a clerk and, in 1885, was commissioned to establish a United States Government school in western Alaska. After being transferred from Unalaska to Chilkat, he served as principal of the government school there for one term.

He later founded and owned the townsite of Haines Mission. From 1887 to 1890, he was associated with the Pyramid Harbor salmon cannery, and in 1890, he opened a general merchandise store in Chilkat, Alaska.

In recognition of his work in the region, one of the nearby mountains was named for him. Mount Ripinsky, overlooking the Haines area, rises to an elevation of approximately 3,680 feet.

Sources

• Biographies of Alaska-Yukon Pioneers 1850–1950, Volume 1, pp. 270–272, Ed Ferrell

Primary Name: Tanner, Josias Martin

Filed as: Tanner, Josias Martin

Also known as: Josias Tanner; “Senator Si” Tanner

Occupation / Association: Charter Member, Juneau Men's Igloo; Alaska Territorial Senator; Mayor of Skagway; Deputy United States Marshal; merchant; miner

Associated places: Oakland County, Michigan; Central City, Colorado; Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Tacoma, Washington

Keywords: Josias Martin Tanner, Senator Si Tanner, Juneau Men's Igloo charter members, Skagway Alaska mayor, Soapy Smith era Skagway, Alaska Territorial Legislature, Skagway Vigilantes, Arctic Brotherhood members, Alaska-Yukon pioneers

Biography

Josias Martin Tanner was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo of the Pioneers of Alaska and one of the prominent early civic leaders of Skagway during Alaska’s gold rush era.

Tanner was born in Oakland County, Michigan, on February 22, 1850. His grandfather served in the Revolutionary War, having enlisted at the age of fifteen. A brother of Tanner’s grandfather, William Tanner, was reportedly a member of President George Washington's bodyguard when the British and Loyalists attempted to capture the first President.

Known throughout Alaska as “Senator Si,” Tanner served two terms in Alaska’s territorial lawmaking assembly.

As a young man, Tanner began his career in mining. At the age of twenty, he left Michigan and went to Central City, Colorado, one of the famous mining camps of Gilpin County. There he worked in the gold mines and mills of Colorado for four years.

In 1871, he married Juliette Valentine, the sister of Emery Valentine, who later served as mayor of Juneau. Three children were born to the couple: two daughters, who later lived in Tacoma, Washington, and a son, Fred Tanner, who eventually joined his father in business in Skagway.

The family later moved to Tacoma, where Tanner worked in the contracting business. In 1896, he accepted a position in Emery Valentine’s general store in Juneau.

During the Klondike Gold Rush, he moved to Skagway in July 1897 during the Dawson stampede and remained there for the rest of his life. In Skagway, he played an important role in maintaining order during the turbulent gold rush years.

Tanner helped organize and command the Skagway Vigilantes, a citizens’ group formed to preserve law and order during the period when the notorious outlaw Soapy Smith and his gang dominated the town. Organized lawlessness in Skagway culminated in Smith’s death on July 8, 1898.

Because of his leadership and composure during the effort to drive Smith’s gang from the city, Tanner was appointed Deputy United States Marshal by Marshal J. M. Shoup and served in that position for two years.

Tanner remained active in Skagway's civic affairs for many years. He served for five years on the Skagway City Council, was elected mayor three times, and also served for five years as municipal magistrate.

He was also active in fraternal organizations, including the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Arctic Brotherhood.

In addition to his political and civic career, Tanner operated a hardware store in Skagway and held business interests in the Home Power Company of Skagway.

Sources

Ferrell, Ed. Biographies of Alaska-Yukon Pioneers 1850–1950, Volume 2, pp. 321–322 (2009).

Alaska Digital Archives, James Joseph Connors Photograph Collection, PCA 457.