Mattson, Martin
Primary Name: Mattson, Martin
Filed as: Mattson, Martin
Also known as: Martin Mattson
Born: August 1864, Oulanka, Salla Municipality, Lapland, Finland
Died: April 1908, age 43
Burial: Douglas Eagles Cemetery, Douglas, Alaska
Associated places: Oulanka, Salla Municipality, Lapland, Finland; Douglas, Alaska
Keywords: Martin Mattson, Douglas Alaska pioneers, Douglas Eagles Cemetery burials, Finnish immigrants Alaska
Biography
Martin Mattson was born in August 1864 in Oulanka, Salla Municipality, Lapland, Finland.
Mattson died in April 1908 at the age of 43 and was buried in the Douglas Eagles Cemetery in Douglas, Alaska.
Sources
Douglas Eagles Cemetery
Douglas Aerie, No. 117 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles was organized in July of 1901 witha membership of 120. In October of that same year a fancy ball was given to raise money for purchasing, clearing and fencing a cemetery tract.
In 1902 the area was enclosed with a white picket fence and a sign with the Eagles emblem was placed above the entrance. In August 1904 the tract was formally dedicated with speeches and songs. Part of the speech by the Grand President, Douglas druggist, Elmer E. Smith read, "For when an Eagle takes his last homeward flight, here he may rest in peace..."
The earliest date identified on a marker was that of a child who died in October 1901. The latest date was that of G.R "Mex" Isaak who died on Jwie 8, 1988. Records indicate there were 61 burials in the cemetery although 10 of these were moved in 1980 to the Alaskan Memorial Park due to a road construction project.
The survey identified 27 markers with citations. Additional unidentified markers were placed in later years as the originals wooden markers had deteriorated beyond recognition. Some of the more elaborate stone monuments are showing signs of deterioration.
The late G.R "Mex" Isaak dedicated over 25 years to keeping the area clean and the grass mowed. He marked all the unidentified graves with simple white wooden markers.