Barnes, John B.
Primary Name: Barnes, John B.
Filed as: barnes_john_b
Also known as: John B. Barnes
Occupation / Association: Night watchman; Charter Member, Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Men’s Igloo No. 6
Born: 1871, Massachusetts
Died: December 1935, Juneau, Alaska
Parents:
Spouse:
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Associated places: Juneau, Alaska
Keywords: John B Barnes, Barnes John B, Juneau night watchman
Biography
John B. Barnes was a charter member of the Juneau Men’s Igloo of the Pioneers of Alaska.
Barnes was born in 1871 in Massachusetts and came to Alaska in 1891. He was living in Juneau at the time of the 1910 United States Federal Census.
At the time of his disappearance on December 25, 1935, Barnes was working as a night watchman in Juneau. He was last seen around 3:30 a.m. in the lobby of the Alaskan Hotel, where he had stopped to rest and complained about not feeling well.
Barnes had lived in Juneau for many years. It was reported that he had a considerable amount of money on his person at the time of his disappearance, giving credence to the possibility of foul play. His body was later found under the docks on the waterfront.
He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery on January 4, 1936.
Sources
Daily Alaska Empire, December 30, 1935; 1910 U.S. Federal Population Census
Berry, Henry
Primary Name: Berry, Henry
Filed as: berry_henry
Also known as: Henry Berry
Occupation / Association: Cigar merchant; Charter Member, Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Men’s Igloo No. 6
Born: October 1851, Germany
Died: 1930, San Diego, California
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Spouse:
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Associated places: Juneau, Alaska; Haines, Alaska; San Diego, California
Keywords: Henry Berry, Berry Henry, Juneau cigar merchant
Biography
Henry Berry was a charter member of the Juneau Men’s Igloo of the Pioneers of Alaska.
Berry was born in Germany in October 1851 and immigrated to the United States in 1854.
He moved to Juneau in 1894 and operated a cigar business at 165 Front Street. Berry later moved to Haines in 1929.
He died in 1930 while under treatment in a sanitarium in San Diego, California.
Sources
1910 U.S. Federal Population Census; Anchorage Daily Times, August 28, 1930
Burford, George C.
Primary Name: Burford, George C.
Filed as: burford_george_c
Also known as: George C. Burford
Occupation / Association: Merchant; Proprietor, Burford’s Corner; Charter Member, Pioneers of Alaska Juneau Men’s Igloo No. 6
Born: June 16, 1876, Palino, California
Died: December 12, 1957, Vallejo, California
Parents:
Spouse:
Children: Jack Burford
Associated places: Juneau, Alaska; Seattle, Washington; Vallejo, California
Keywords: George C Burford, Burford George C, Burford's Corner Juneau
Biography
George C. Burford was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo.
Burford was born on June 16, 1876, in Palino, California. He first came to Juneau in 1898. He was in charge of the men's department at B.M. Behrends store for several years and then branched out on his own.
He opened Burford’s Corner, a recreational center and cigar and candy stand, one of Juneau’s first establishments catering to the “white collar” trade. It was located in the First National Bank building at the corner of Front and Seward Streets.
Burford was active in Juneau community affairs during the city's early days. He extended the hand of friendship to all and was loved by a host of friends throughout the Gastineau Channel area. Always working toward progress for Juneau, Mr. Burford brought the first automobile to the city in 1912, a Paige passenger car. He was issued car license No. 1, which was held by his son, Jack Burford, in Juneau until it was assigned to the governor of Alaska in the 1930s.
Mr. Burford was joined in Juneau by his brother Will Burford, who came with his son Wilbur in 1910 from California to assist in the Burford’s Corner business. In 1923, George Burford sold the business, which was later owned by his brother, and in 1926, he left Juneau to make his home in Seattle.
He moved to Vallejo, California, in 1953, where he died on December 12, 1957.
Sources
Juneau Empire, December 13, 1957; Alaska Digital Archives ASL P226-201
Davis, John Montgomery
Primary Name: Davis, John Montgomery
Filed as: davis_john_montgomery
Also known as: John M. Davis
Occupation / Association: Mining company bookkeeper; Assistant Superintendent; City Clerk; Magistrate; Wharfinger; Charter Member, Juneau Men's Igloo
Born: August 29, 1856, Liverpool, England
Died: February 19, 1933, Juneau, Alaska
Parents:
Spouse: Frances Caroline Brooks (m. 1892)
Children:
Associated places: Liverpool, England; Pennsylvania; Florida; Massachusetts; Juneau, Alaska; Silver Bow Basin, Alaska
Keywords: John Montgomery Davis, John M Davis, Davis John Montgomery, Nowell Gold Mining Company, Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Juneau, Juneau municipal wharfinger
Biography
John Montgomery Davis was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo.
Davis was born in Liverpool, England, on August 29, 1856. After arriving in the United States in 1882, he lived in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Massachusetts.
He later came to Alaska and joined Thomas Nowell at the Nowell Gold Mining Company in the Silver Bow Basin near Juneau. At first, he worked as a bookkeeper at the mines and later became assistant superintendent.
In 1892, he married Frances Caroline Brooks, an artist. The couple built the Davis House on Sixth Street and assisted in the construction of portions of Seward and Sixth Streets near their home.
Davis helped found the present-day Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and was an active member of the congregation, serving as the Cathedral's secretary from 1908 to 1912.
He also served the community as city clerk and magistrate. For fifteen years, he was employed as the wharfinger of the Municipal Wharf until his illness and death on February 19, 1933.
Sources
Alaska Gold Rush Pioneers of Juneau–Douglas Area, 1880–1921, p. 36
Tags: John Montgomery Davis, John M Davis, Juneau Men's Igloo charter member, Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral founders, Juneau city clerks, Juneau wharfingers
Davis, Robert
Primary Name: Davis, Robert
Filed as: davis_robert
Also known as: Robert Davis
Occupation / Association: Marine engineer; Charter Member, Juneau Men's Igloo
Born: 1841, London, England
Died:
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Associated places: London, England; Victoria, British Columbia; San Francisco, California; Alaska
Keywords: Robert Davis engineer, Davis Robert marine engineer, Juneau Men's Igloo charter member, Alaska steamship engineers
Biography
Robert Davis was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo.
Davis was a marine engineer who was born in London, England, in 1841. He began sailing out of English ports in 1860. In 1875, he arrived on the Pacific coast, where his first vessel was the steamer Favorite, on which he served for a year.
He next worked aboard the Eliza Anderson and the Annie Stewart for several months before going to Victoria, British Columbia, where he spent two years working on the steamer Isabel.
Davis later entered the employ of Capt. Joseph Spratt and remained with him for five years. During that time, he served as an engineer on the Cariboo, Fly, Maud, Emma, and Wilson G. Hunt. After leaving this employment, he went to San Francisco.
From there, he made several trips to Alaska on the steamship Afognak. After leaving that route, he was employed on the steamers Michigan, Los Angeles, Whitesboro, Farallon, and Caroline.
Sources
Biographies of Alaska-Yukon Pioneers 1850–1950, Volume 3, p. 77, Ed Ferrell (May 1, 2009)
Tags: Robert Davis, Davis Robert, marine engineers Alaska, Juneau Men's Igloo charter member, Alaska steamships
Drange, Oliver J.
Primary Name: Drange, Oliver
Filed as: drange_oliver
Also known as: Oliver Drange
Occupation / Association: Fish merchant; Founder, Juneau Cold Storage Company; Charter Member, Juneau Men's Igloo
Born: December 1870, Norway
Died: December 14, 1940, Seattle, Washington
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Associated places: Norway; Juneau, Alaska; Seattle, Washington
Keywords: Oliver Drange, Drange Oliver, Juneau Cold Storage Company founder, Juneau fish merchants, Norwegian pioneers Juneau
Biography
Oliver Drange was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo.
Drange was born in Norway in December 1870. He immigrated to the United States in 1892.
He came to Juneau in 1900, where he established a fish business that later became the Juneau Cold Storage Company.
Oliver Drange died in Seattle, Washington, on December 14, 1940.
Sources
1910 U.S. Federal Population Census
Tags: Oliver Drange, Drange Oliver, Juneau Men's Igloo charter member, Juneau Cold Storage Company, Norwegian Americans Juneau
Graves, Henry Sheldon
Primary Name: Graves, Henry "Shelley" Sheldon
Filed as: graves_henry_shelley_sheldon
Also known as: Henry Sheldon Graves; Shelley Graves; H. S. Graves
Occupation / Association: Merchant; Fur dealer; Clothing store proprietor; Charter Member, Juneau Men's Igloo No. 6
Born: March 16, 1873, Chestertown, New York
Died:
Parents:
Spouse: Mary Alice Smith (m. 1903, Juneau, Alaska)
Children: Daughter (name not recorded)
Associated places: Chestertown, New York; Dawson, Yukon Territory; Skagway, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Long Island, New York
Keywords: Henry Shelley Sheldon Graves, H S Graves, Shelley Graves, Juneau Men's Igloo charter member, Goldstein Department Store Juneau, H S Graves clothing store South Franklin Street
Biography
Henry “Shelley” Sheldon Graves was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo.
Graves was born in Chestertown, New York, on March 16, 1873. During the Klondike gold rush in 1898, he traveled from California to Alaska and went to Dawson in the Yukon Territory. After returning to the coast, he spent several years in Skagway, where he operated a men's clothing store.
Graves came to Juneau in the early 1900s. In Juneau in 1903, he married Mary Alice Smith.
He was engaged in the fur business and, for a number of years, worked in the men's department of the Goldstein Department Store. Around 1914, he opened his own men's clothing store, the H. S. Graves store on South Franklin Street, which he operated for nearly four decades.
In January 1953, he sold the business to Bill Matheny. A few months later, in May 1953, Graves and his wife left Juneau to make their home near their daughter on Long Island, New York.
Sources
Pioneers of Alaska Men’s Igloo No. 6 Biographical Sketch
Tags: Henry Shelley Sheldon Graves, H S Graves, Shelley Graves, Juneau Men's Igloo charter member, Goldstein Department Store, Franklin Street merchants
Wagner, John
Primary Name: John Wagner
Filed as: Wagner, John
Died: August 4, 1942 – St. Ann’s Hospital, Juneau, Alaska
Associated places: Skagway, Alaska; Chilkoot Pass; Juneau, Alaska
Occupation / Association: Packer, Chilkoot Trail
Affiliation: Charter Member, Juneau Men's Igloo
Keywords: Chilkoot Trail packers, Klondike Gold Rush, Chilkoot Pass history, Alaska pioneers, Pioneers of Alaska
Biography
John Wagner was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo.
He first appeared in Skagway in 1896 during the Klondike Gold Rush and worked as a packer on the famous Chilkoot Trail.
Wagner became known as the strong man of Chilkoot Pass and was reputedly the only packer strong enough to carry a complete cook stove over the trail.
Wagner “mushed over the Great Divide” at St. Ann’s Hospital in Juneau on August 4, 1942, at the age of 80.
Sources
- Alaska Sportsman, January 1943, p. 19
- Pioneers of Alaska Men’s Igloo No. 6 Biographical Sketch
Wallen, Oscar
Primary Name: Oscar Wallen
Filed as: Wallen, Oscar
Born: November 1876 – Alaska
Associated places: Alaska
Occupation / Association: Not recorded
Affiliation: Charter Member, Juneau Men's Igloo
Keywords: Juneau pioneers, Alaska settlers, Swedish immigrant families, Pioneers of Alaska
Biography
Oscar Wallen was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo.
Wallen was born in November 1876 in Alaska. His father, Oscar Wallen Sr., was born in Sweden and worked as a painter.
Sources
- 1900 U.S. Federal Population Census
- Pioneers of Alaska Men’s Igloo No. 6 Biographical Sketch
Waydelich, West
Primary Name: John W. Waydelich
Filed as: Waydelich, John W.
Also known as: “Wes” Waydelich; “West” Waydelich
Died: August 17, 1914 – Juneau, Alaska
Associated places: Auke Bay, Juneau, Alaska; Stikine River; Windham Bay; Shuck River; Cassiar; Montana; Cariboo
Occupation / Association: Farmer; miner; early settler
Affiliation: Charter Member, Juneau Men's Igloo; member, ’87 Pioneers Association
Keywords: Auke Bay homestead, Waydelich Creek, early Juneau settlers, Auke Bay agriculture, Alaska mining frontier
Biography
John W. Waydelich was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo and was one of the first white settlers in the Auke Bay area.
Waydelich’s birthplace is not recorded, although he was reported to have been a graduate of Yale University. He first went west to Montana, then to the Cariboo and the Dominion of Canada, and eventually into the Cassiar.
In 1874, he operated a farm on one of the islands at the mouth of the Stikine River. He later moved to Windham Bay, where he mined on the Shuck River.
In 1881, he moved to Juneau. In 1892, he claimed a 160-acre homestead “on Auk Bay, about two miles east of Old Auk Town,” on the creek that now bears his name. He cleared part of the homestead and raised produce, which he sold in Juneau.
Waydelich was a member of the ’87 Pioneers Association, and his signature appears on the original charter of that organization in the Territorial Museum.
Usually known as “Wes” or “West,” he died at Juneau on August 17, 1914. At the time of his death, his age was reported as both 74 and 80.
Waydelich Creek, located on the mainland and discharging into Auke Bay about eleven miles northwest of Juneau, was named for John W. Waydelich. The name has been incorrectly spelled “Wadleigh” on some maps.