Juneau, Joseph
Primary Name: Juneau, Joseph
Filed as: juneau_joseph
Also known as: Joe Juneau; Joseph “Joe” Juneau
Occupation / Association: Prospector; co-discoverer of gold at Juneau
Born: May 1836, Lower Canada (Quebec)
Died: January 1899, Dawson, Yukon Territory
Parents:
Spouse:
Children:
Associated places: Quebec, Canada; Schenectady, New York; Sitka, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Dawson, Yukon
Keywords: Joseph Juneau, Joe Juneau, Juneau Alaska founder, Juneau gold discovery 1880, Richard Harris, Chief Kowee, Silver Bow Basin, Alaska Juneau Gold Mine
Biography
Joseph “Joe” Juneau was one of the discoverers of gold in the Juneau area in 1880 and the man for whom the city of Juneau is named.
Juneau was born in May 1836 in Lower Canada (Quebec). As a young man he moved to the United States and worked as a miner and prospector throughout the American West.
In 1879, he joined Richard “Dick” Harris in prospecting for gold in southeastern Alaska for Sitka merchant George Pilz. Their guide in the region was Chief Kowee, who led them into the mountains behind Gastineau Channel.
In October 1880, Harris and Juneau discovered rich placer deposits in Silver Bow Basin. Within a short period, they staked claims on some of the richest ground in the basin, discoveries that eventually led to the development of the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mine.
The settlement that developed near the discovery was first called Harrisburg, then Pilzburg, and later Rockwell. In 1881, the miners voted to rename the town Juneau in honor of Joe Juneau.
Juneau later sold his interest in the mining claims and continued prospecting in other northern districts, eventually traveling to the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush.
He died in Dawson, Yukon Territory, in January 1899.
Sources
Alaska Consortium Library — Joseph Juneau Correspondence
Tags: Joseph Juneau, Joe Juneau, Juneau Alaska founder, Richard Harris, Chief Kowee, Silver Bow Basin discovery, Alaska Juneau Gold Mine
2024 Scholarship Recipients: Johnson, Holst
Thunder Mountain High School senior Molly Johnson, daughter of proud Trish Dawson-Johnson, granddaughter of doubly proud King Regent Tom Dawson. Juneau Igloo's Presidents Dorene Lorenz and Brad Austin.
Juneau Igloo Officers
Presidents: Brad Austin & Dorene Lorenz
First VP: Bruce Botelho & Karen Bonnet-Peterson
Second VP: Terry Brenner & Kate Austin
Historians: Jim Caroll & Summer Putnam
Chaplain: Kirk Thorsteinson & Tobin Brenner
Inner Guard: Lyman Thorsteinson & Janice Holst
Sergeant-at-Arms: Tom Dawson & Denise Carroll
Recording Secretary/Treasurer: Fred Thorsteinson
Recording Secretary: Lorinda Kassner
Treasurer: Trisha Dawson
Financial Secretary: John Pivar & Irene Gallion
Marshall: Barbara Potter
First Year Trustees: Dan Kassner & Virginia Calloway
Second Year Trustee: Kirby Day & Lorinda Kassner
Third Year Trustee: John George & Victoria Reed
Baggen, George
Primary Name: Baggen, George
Filed as: baggen_george
Also known as: —
Occupation / Association: Juneau pioneer
Born: Norway
Died: —
Parents: —
Spouse: Sandbery, Olga
Children: George Baggen Jr.; L. C. Baggen; Betty Baggen-Vrooman
Associated places: Norway; Juneau, Alaska
Keywords: George Baggen, Baggen George, Olga Sandbery Baggen, Betty Baggen Vrooman, Juneau Alaska pioneers
Tags: George Baggen, Baggen family, Betty Baggen Vrooman, Norway immigrants, Juneau pioneers
Biography
George Baggen was born in Norway.
He married Olga Sandbery, who was also from Norway. They had three children: George Baggen Jr., L. C. Baggen, and Betty Baggen-Vrooman.
The family immigrated to Juneau, Alaska.
Sources
Family references; Juneau historical records
Vrooman, Betty
Primary Name: Vrooman, Betty
Filed as: Vrooman, Betty
Also known as: Betty Baggen Vrooman
Occupation / Association: Member, Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Igloo; homemaker
Associated places: Juneau, Alaska; Annette Island, Alaska; Sitka, Alaska; Fairbanks, Alaska; Gustavus, Alaska; Yakutat, Alaska; Anchorage, Alaska; Stillwater, Oklahoma
Keywords: Betty Vrooman, Betty Baggen Vrooman, Baggen family Juneau, Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Igloo women, POA Roll Number 413, Juneau Alaska families, Sitka Alaska residents, Annette Island CAA Station families, Alaska territorial families
Biography
Betty Vrooman was born in Juneau, Alaska, on May 7, 1923, the daughter of George Baggen and Olga Sandbery, both immigrants from Norway. The Baggen family was among the Norwegian families who settled in Southeast Alaska during the territorial period.
On April 19, 1943, she married James R. Vrooman in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The couple later returned to Alaska and lived for a period at the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) station on Annette Island, where they resided for two years. Their daughters, Lynda and Jamie, were both born during this period.
Over the years, the family lived in several Alaska communities, reflecting the mobility common among families connected with federal aviation and territorial services. In addition to Annette Island, Betty lived in Sitka for seven years, Fairbanks for two years, Gustavus for two years, Yakutat for two years, and Anchorage for two years.
Betty was initiated into the Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau Igloo, on January 28, 1955, receiving Roll Number 413. Her membership application recorded that she was five feet two inches tall and weighed 118 pounds, with a medium complexion, blue-green eyes, and light brown hair. At the time of her application, she was noted to be in good health.
Her application was endorsed by Joan M. Baggen and May Wright and confirmed by members of the membership committee: Edna Anderson, Leona McKinnon, and Odelia Light.
Her relatives included George Baggen Jr. of Sitka, L. C. Baggen of Juneau, and Elsie Johnson of Granite, New Mexico.
Betty Vrooman died in Sitka, Alaska, on February 11, 1975.
Sources
Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Igloo Membership Application records.
Vanwart, Mrs .Edwin
Primary Name: Vanwart, Mrs. Edwin
Filed as: Vanwart, Mrs. Edwin
Also known as: Mrs. Edwin Vanwart
Occupation / Association: Member, Pioneers of Alaska; homemaker
Associated places: Yorkshire, England; Juneau, Alaska; Prospect Lake, Vancouver–Fraser region, British Columbia
Keywords: Mrs Edwin Vanwart, Vanwart family Juneau, Yorkshire England immigrants Alaska, Pioneers of Alaska members, early Juneau women, Juneau pioneers
Biography
Mrs. Edwin Vanwart was born in Yorkshire, England, on November 30, 1857.
She later immigrated to North America and first came to Juneau, Alaska, in July 1919. In her application for membership in the Pioneers of Alaska, she described herself as four feet eight inches tall, weighing approximately 135 pounds, with blue eyes, gray hair, a fair complexion, and a medium-high forehead.
She was married to Edwin Vanwart and described herself as a housewife. At the time of her Pioneers of Alaska membership application, she listed her nearest relative as Mrs. H. Whitehead of Prospect Lake, British Columbia.
Her application for membership in the Pioneers of Alaska was endorsed by Ms. Jus H. Skiekitt and Ms. M. P. Berry. Her membership was favorably accepted by Mary McMongale, Josephine Langreth, and Mrs. J. McCleul.
Mrs. Edwin Vanwart died on September 2, 1930.
Sources
Pioneers of Alaska Membership Application
Hendriksan, Anna
Primary Name: Hendriksan, Anna Lousia
Filed as: hendriksan_anna_lousia
Also known as: Anna Lousia Hendrickson, Anna Louise Hendrickson, Anna L. Hendriksan
Occupation / Association: Resident of Treadwell City, Alaska
Born:
Died:
Parents:
Spouse: August E. Hendriksan
Children: Lans Edvin Hendriksan; Alma Ideal Hendriksan
Associated places: Treadwell City, Alaska; Douglas, Alaska
Keywords: Anna Lousia Hendriksan, Anna Louise Hendrickson, Hendriksan family, Treadwell City residents
Biography
Anna Lousia Hendriksan married August E. Hendriksan. The couple had two children, Lans Edvin Hendriksan and Alma Ideal Hendriksan.
The family lived in Treadwell City, Alaska. The family surname also appears in records as Hendrickson.
Sources
Find-A-Grave Memorial: August E. Hendriksan
Hendricksen-Hendriksan-Hendrickson, Lans Edvin
Primary Name: Hendricksen, Lans Edvin
Filed as: hendricksen_lans_edvin
Also known as: Lans Edvin Hendriksan; Lans Edvin Hendrickson
Occupation / Association:
Born:
Died:
Parents: August Emil Hendricksen-Hendriksan-Hendrickson; Anna Alma Louise Hendricksen-Hendriksan-Hendrickson
Spouse:
Children:
Associated places: Treadwell City, Alaska
Keywords: Lans Edvin Hendricksen, Lans Hendriksan, Lans Hendrickson, August Emil Hendricksen, Anna Alma Louise Hendricksen, Alma Ideal Hendricksen Wildes, Treadwell City families
Biography
Lans Edvin Hendricksen was the son of August Emil Hendricksen-Hendriksan-Hendrickson and Anna Alma Louise Hendricksen-Hendriksan-Hendrickson.
He had a sister, Alma Ideal Hendricksen-Hendriksan-Hendrickson Wildes. The family lived in Treadwell City, Alaska.
Sources
Tags: Lans Edvin Hendricksen, Lans Hendriksan, Lans Hendrickson, August Emil Hendricksen, Anna Alma Louise Hendricksen, Alma Ideal Hendricksen Wildes, Treadwell City Alaska
Hendriksan, August E.
Primary Name: Hendricksen, August Emil
Filed as: hendriksan_august_emil
Also known as: August Emil Hendricksen; August Emil Hendriksan; August Emil Hendrickson
Occupation / Association:
Born: July 18, 1873, Finland
Died: May 20, 1905, Treadwell City, Alaska
Parents:
Spouse: Anna Alma Louisa Hallonquist Hendricksen
Children: Lans Edvin Hendricksen; Alma Ideal Hendricksen Wildes
Associated places: Finland; Treadwell City, Alaska; Douglas, Alaska
Keywords: August Emil Hendricksen, August Hendriksan, August Hendrickson, Anna Alma Louisa Hallonquist Hendricksen, Lans Edvin Hendricksen, Alma Ideal Hendricksen Wildes, Treadwell City residents
Biography
August Emil Hendricksen was born on July 18, 1873, in Finland.
He married Anna Alma Louisa Hallonquist Hendricksen. The couple had two children, Lans Edvin Hendricksen and Alma Ideal Hendricksen Wildes. The family lived in Treadwell City.
Hendricksen died on May 20, 1905, at the age of 31. Funeral services were held at the Congregational Church with the Rev. J. A. Levin officiating. He was buried in the Douglas City Cemetery.
Sources
Tags: August Emil Hendricksen, August Hendriksan, August Hendrickson, Anna Alma Louisa Hallonquist Hendricksen, Lans Edvin Hendricksen, Alma Ideal Hendricksen Wildes, Treadwell City, Douglas City Cemetery
Hayes, Vivian May
Vivian May Hayes was born on June 24, 1915 in Alaska to John Wesley Hayes of Union City, Pennsylvania, and Ethel Eva Hamilton-Hayes of Crawford Country, Pennsylvania.
She died on December 23, 1915 at age 5 months of petussis. G.F. Midford served as undertaker. She was buried in the Douglas City Cemetery.