Primary Name: John Yamanoi

Filed as: Yamanoi, John

Also known as: John Yamanoi

Nationality: Japanese

Occupation / Association: Treadwell Mine worker

Associated places: Douglas, Alaska; Treadwell Mine; Douglas Asian Cemetery

Died: 1907 – Douglas, Alaska

Burial: Douglas Asian Cemetery

Keywords: Japanese immigrant; Treadwell Mine; Douglas cemetery; Alaska mining history

Biography

In 1907, unrest was reported at the Treadwell Mine because of rumors that if a man died and had no relatives, his body would end up in the mill tailings piles.

That same year, John Yamanoi, a Japanese mine worker associated with the Treadwell operations, was murdered.

A week later, the “Treadwell Funeral Riots” began. Workers demanded special coffins and funerals complete with the Treadwell Band, marked graves, and notification of deaths to relatives. In 1913, the Treadwell Company agreed to pay funeral expenses not to exceed $125 per interment.

Sources

• Survey and Inventory of Douglas Historic Cemeteries
• Douglas Asian Cemetery burial records