YUKON RIVERBOAT CAPTAINS

By Jerry E. Green Greenje@muohio.edu

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The information in the following pages is the result of several years of research on the Yukon Territory in general and on Yukon River steamboats and their captains specifically. This updated version of the Captains List has been considerably enhanced by information supplied by Dick Morris of Anchorage, Alaska who provided me with material from Alaskan newspapers and the U. S. Census. To him I owe considerable thanks. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Art Knutson of Kirkland, Washington who never failed to answer my many questions about river-boating on the Yukon. Thanks also to the many individuals who have responded to the website with additional information and photographs. Many of those responders were writing in regard to an ancestor and I am glad to have been of some help. Any errors are my responsibility and I would appreciate correspondence from those who have additions or corrections.

Revised version, August12, 2011

INTRODUCTION

Captains of Yukon River steamboats came from a variety of river systems and each had a wide range of experiences. The following list of captais identifies some two hundred and eighty-one derived from the sources in the bibliography. Most came from rivers in the United States. Those who were from Canada have been identified as such with an asterisk (*) and the captains with non-North American origins have been identified with a pound sign (#).When known, the river on which the captain began his career is noted in small type in parentheses. To simplify the references, some abbreviations have been used as follows: For those references cited as "Register", the source was Canada, Department of National Revenue, Customs Port Records, 1899-1924, Dawson Register of Vessels Inward. "FCS" refers to the Family Chronicle Supplement, "Dawson City, Yukon Territory and Alaska Directory and Gazetteer, 1901" by M.L. Ferguson, publisher, September/October, 1996, pp. 3-48. Nugget refers to the newspaper Klondike Nugget of Dawson.

See bibliography for full citations.

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ABBOT, W. B.

1899, Master of the WILLIE IRVING, May 20 (Register).

1898, Nugget for June notes him as Captain of the IOWA. Hunt also notes him as Captain but uses the initials E.G. (p.5).

* ADAMS, CHARLES WILBUR, (Yukon River)

1963, Died, September, age 87.

1961, Recollections with photos published in September, 1961 issue of The Alaska Sportsman.

1947, Retired to Los Angeles, The Alaska Sportsman, September, 1961.

1923, Master of the ALASKA (Register).

1918, Master of the JULIA B.

1918, Work application filed with British Yukon Navigation Co.

1911, Noted in the May19, 1911 issue of the Fairbanks Daily Times as manager of the MINNEAPOLIS.

1901, Captain of the LaVELLE YOUNG, age 26; (Alaska Sportsman, September, 1961). He was engaged by E.T. Barnette to carry supplies up the Tanana River to Tanana Crossing (Tanacross).

1875, Born, October 18, Hanover, Ontario, Canada.See also WWI Registration, State of Alaska.

SEE: Newell, p. 681, 1966.

ADAMS, HOWARD L.,

1953, Cited in Anderson as Captain of the TANANA.

1949, Captain of the NENANA (Newell, p. 560, 1966).

Captain Howard Adams was the nephew of Captain Charles W. Adams.

ALLAN, ED,

1899, Master of the Tyrell (Register).

ALLANBY, T.W.,

1907, Master of the VIXEN (Register).

1902, Master of the VIXEN (Register).

ALLENBACK,

1899, He was noted in Holder, p. 32, in connection with the JOHN C. BARR. In late 1899 or early 1900, Captain Allenback was in the restaurant business in Nome with George Holder (“Steamboat Stampeder”,  The Alaska Sportsman, November, 1958, p. 38).

ANDERSON, AMUND,

1931, Died, age approximately 60, May, Unalaska.

Noted as former Yukon River steamboat pilot  (Newell p. 413, 1966).

ANDERSON, P.M.,

1879, He was noted by Downs (p.138) as Captain of the ST. MICHAEL.

APPLEBY,

1909, He was noted by McBride (1948-49) in connection with the GERTRUDE on the Fairbanks-Innoko Run, August, 1909.

*ARMSTRONG, FRANK P., (Columbia River)

1898, Noted in Hacking as joining with the John Irving Navigation Co. and for two seasons running boats on Tagish Lake and on the Lake Bennett-Atlin run. He was a former Columbia River Captain.

1887, Built new boats at Golden, B.C. (Newell, p. 5, 1966).

1885, Built first steamboat to ply the upper Columbia at Golden, B.C. (Newell, p. 5, 1966).

SEE: Newell footnotes #5, p. 4 and #8, p.37 (1966).

ATWELL, SI

1915, Noted in Fairbanks Sunday Times of May 30th as master of the LITTLE DELTA

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BABCOCK, JAMES,

1900, Master of the SYBIL (Register).

BAILEY, HENRY,

1919, He died, October 27, 1919 in Mayo according to Pan for Gold Database records.

1916, Master of the NASUTLIN (Register).

1913, Master of the NORCOM (Register).

1906, Master of the SCHWATKA (Fairbanks Evening News. August 14, 1906)

1903, Master of CASCO.(White Pass and Yukon Personnel Records).

1898, Master of PHILLIP B. LOW (British North America Co).White Pass and Yukon Personnel Records)

BAIN, ROBERT,

1899, Master of the RIDEOUT (Register).

BALDWIN, ROBERT, (Ohio River)

1899, Took command of the ALICE.

1898, In winter quarters at Andreafsky, December 10, 1898. (Waterways Journal, July 8, 1899, p. 7).

1898, Waterways Journal (May 21, p. 8) noted he had contracted to command a steamboat being completed at Unalaska. He was from New Albany, Indiana.

1854, He was born, New Albany, Indiana. (Federal Census, 1900,Indiana).

BARKER, FRED ORVILLE, (Yukon River)

1915, Listed in Steamboat Inspection Service under Masters and Pilots, Steam, Motor, St. Michaels.

1910, Listed in Census as steamboat captain.

1881, He was born in Kansas. (Federal Census, 1910, Washington).

BARNETTE, E (Elbridge)T(Truman),

1902, Built the ISABELLE using machinery and boilers from ARCTIC BOY. This vessel was to take him back to his settlement which became Fairbanks, Alaska. The boat was named for his wife Isabelle Cleary Barnette (Cole, p.30).

1900, Bought the ARCTIC BOY to carry goods to Tanana Crossing. It sank in the harbor at St. Michaels.

1897, One of the many S.S. CLEVELAND passengers who were stranded at St. Michaels, helped buy and was chosen Captain of the ST. MICHAEL bought from the Jesuit mission and headed for Dawson.

1897, Left for the Klondike on the S.S. CLEVELAND. Originally from Akron, Ohio, he was living in Montana when news of the Klondike strike was announced (Cole, p. 2. See also Dunham, p. 405 and Newell p.81, 1966).

# BARR, JOHN CHRISTIE, (Missouri River)

1900, Photo in Alaska Magazine and Canadian Yukoner, (March, 1900).

1899, Nugget for June 10 lists him as Transportation Manager for the North American Transportation and Trading Co.

1898, Noted by Newell (p.12, 1966) as Captain of the PORTUS B. WEARE.

1881, Lass notes him as Chief Administrator of Ft. Benton Transportation Co. in 1881 and that he returned to the Missouri River.

1860s, Curtin notes that he served in the Union Army during the Civil War (p.281).

1844, Born in Scotland, son of John Barr and Jean Christie.

The University of Washington Archives have additional information on Captain Barr.

BARRINGTON, ED, (Puget Sound)

1899, Died, September (Green ™s Mortuary Records, Pan for Gold Database).

1898, Nugget for June notes him as owner of the AQUILLA and well known on Puget Sound as skipper of the GREYHOUND plying between Seattle and Everett. Morgan notes him as a pilot on the WILLIE IRVING (p.63).

BARRINGTON, HILL WILLIAM, (Puget Sound)

1903, He was noted in Register as Master of the LOUISE. He was the younger brother of Sid Barrington and noted by Morgan in conjunction with the LA FRANCE (p. 63).There is a photo of him in Morgan, p.64.

1877, Born August 15, Washington (1910 Federal Census, Washington). (WWI Draft Registration)

BARRINGTON, SYDNEY CHARLES, (Puget Sound)

1963, (64) Died, age 88, July, Oak Harbor (Newell, p. 681, 1966).

1929, Left Yukon. He was a member of Sourdough Stampede Assoc., Inc. 1930 and was living at 1426 11th Avenue W., Seattle (Alaska-Yukon Gold Book, p. 93).

1916, With Charles Binkley, built HAZEL B #2 (Sturgis).

1915, Noted in connection with the Side Streams Navigation Co. and the flagship vessel VIDETTE (Fairbanks Daily Times, October 9, 1915)

1908, Had the HAZEL B built at Seattle (Newell, p. 255).

1908, Had the 835 ton JULIA B built by Cook and Lake at Ballard for his Yukon Transportation Co. (Newell, p. 152).

1906, Had the 59 ton HATTIE B built in Seattle for his Alaska Service (Newell, p. 118).

1901, Listed in F.C.S. as resident of Dawson, occupation - pilot.

1900, Newell (p.64) notes him as operating the FLORENCE S. when she sank July 29, 1900 (Canadian documents show this as July 25, 1900).

1899, Listed as owner of the DOMVILLE.

1898, Nugget notes he took over command of WILLIE IRVING on August 6, when his brother became ill with typhoid.

1896, He was a native of Oak Harbor, Whidby Island. Became master at age 21. He was a Puget Sound Captain and went to the Yukon in 1896; he was first person to pilot a steamer through Miles Canyon (Newell, p. 681).

1868, He was born, Washington (Federal Census, 1910, Washington). There is a photo of him in Morgan, p.64.

BASEY, D.C. (Mississippi River)

1899, Nugget for June 17 lists him as Master of the OIL CITY.

1899, Curtin (p. 164) notes him as being "...an old Mississippi River Captain...about sixty..."

1898, In command of the OIL CITY (Knutson, The Moran Fleet, 1997, p. 99).

1897, Newspaper articles indicate his interest in the development of a dredge to be built in Seattle.

1893, Waterways Journal (December 2, 1893) reported him serving on the government vessel MANDAN and that in December he had returned to his home in Brunswick, Missouri.

BEEDLE, HIRAM E., (Mississippi River)

1920, Died (White Pass & Yukon Personnel Record).

1911, Waterways Journal for November 4, 1911 mentions that Hiram Beedle was going to Bellvue , Iowa for the winter.

1909, Photo in Mississippi and Ohio Rivers Pilots Society, Historical Sketch.

1908, Pilot on the SARAH (S and D Reflector, March, 1978, p. 43).

1901, Listed in Way and Bates in Steamboat Bill  of 1959 as the first skipper of the WILL ISOM; from Bellevue, Iowa.

1899, Listed in Captain ™s List of Bluebook of American Shipping.

1897, Waterways Journal September 4, 1897, p.8 notes him bound for the Klondike.

1893, Captain of the MAY LIBBY from Hastings, Minnesota to New Orleans (Waterways Journal, November 18, 1893).

1882, Associated with the WILL S. HAYES as Chief Engineer, Cincinnati-New Orleans. (Way ™s Packet Directory.).

1881, November 4, Captain of the WAR EAGLE which sank at Keokuk (Way ™s Packet Directory).

1881, Listed in Way ™s Packet Directory as pilot on the GEM CITY, St. Louis-St. Paul.

1856, Blair notes him as a pilot at Galena, Illinois.

BERGMAN, JAMES,

1904, Master of the OIL CITY.

1900, Master of the LIGHTNING (Register).

!899, Alig mentions (p.111) a Captain Burghman(Bergman) as captain of the YUKON, February 14,1899.

1898-1899, Nugget for May 3, 1900 notes him as Master of the Alaska Commercial Co.'s BELLA for 1898-1899.

BINGHAM,

1906, Listed by McBride as Captain of D. R. CAMPBELL.

1905, Listed as Captain of the DUSTY DIAMOND on trips between Tanana and Fairbanks.

BINKLEY, CHARLES MADISON, (Ohio River)

1925, Died.

1908-10, With Sid Barrington, various HAZEL B ™s.

1899, On the BAILEY (Sturgis).

1897, He began as a pilot on the Ohio River and left for the Yukon in1897.

1880, Born, Fort Wayne, Indiana (Sturgis).

BINKLEY, CHARLES M. JR. (JIM), (Yukon River)

2003, Died, January 9(Anchorage Daily News.)

1980, Noted in S & D Reflector as a Yukon River Pilot (December, 1980, p. 2).

1971, Added DISCOVERY II to the excursion fleet.

1961-65, Served in Alaska State House (Alaska Scrapbook, Anchorage Daily News).

1955, Built and added the DISCOVERY to excursion fleet. (The Alaska Sportsman, May, 1960)

1950, Began an excursion business at Fairbanks with GODSPEED.

1920, Born, May 16, Wrangell (Anchorage Daily News 5/21/2006).

BINKLEY, JIM, JR., (Yukon River)

1995, Attended Tall Stacks  in Cincinnati; SEE: Cincinnati Enquirer  (October 15, 1995, p. B-1).

1950, Born.

BLACK, GEORGE S.,

1962, There is a biographical article in April, 1962 issue of Alaska Sportsman and a photo on p. 69 of Anderson.

1953, Died, September. He drowned during the last trip of the summer. Had been a Captain on Yukon/Tanana System for 37 years; YUTANA.

1953, Built the steel-hulled YUTANA.

1935, Bought IDLER which had diesel engines.

1930, Built the KUSKO.

Late 1920 ™s, Bought the BERTHA.

1918, Bought the stern wheeler PIONEER which was replaced by a second PIONEER in 1926. (Wallace)

1893, Born, Ballard, Washington.

BLAIR, WILLIAM A.,

1913, Captain of the ALASKA (Alaska Citizen, July 17, 1913).

1910, A William Blair is listed by Heckman as Master of the MONARCH.

1909, Captain of the JOHN J.HEALY (Polk ™s Alaska -Yukon Gazeteer,1909-1910).

1908, Captain of the EVELYN (Fairbanks Daily Times, September 16, 1908).

1907, Noted by Heckman as Captain of the J.C. BARR.

1906-1907, He is listed by McBride as Captain in connection with the ELLA on the St. Michael-Fairbanks run.

1902, Knutson (1997, pg. 96) notes him as Master of the ROBERT KERR.

1901, Listed as resident, Dawson City in F.C.S.

1872, Born, Providence, R.I. (Federal Census, 1910, Alaska).

BLEDSOE, W.H., (Mississippi River)

1908, Master of the ST. MICHAEL (S & D Reflector, March, 1978, p. 43).

1901, The Davenport Republican for Aug.11, 1901 has an interesting article regarding his being sued for breach of promise regarding his time in the Klondike.

1900, Captain Bledsoe was from Davenport, Iowa. In 1900 he was pilot on the SUSIE with Captain Dolson (Waterways Journal, May 12, 1900, p 10).

1877, Born, Iowa (Federal Census, 1920, Iowa).

# BLOOMQUIST, CHARLES JOHN, (Yukon River)

1918, Died in the S.S. PRINCESS SOPHIA Disaster. He was an employee of the White Pass and Yukon Route (Pan for Gold Database).

1914-1916, Master of the DAWSON (Register).

1907, Master of the BONANZA KING (Register).

1899, Master of the AUSTRALIAN.

Born, Stockholm, Sweden.

BOERNER, CHARLES AUGUST,

1933, He was working at Mayo for Northern Commercial. Kitchner describes him as "...one of the company's pioneer ships captains..." (p. 20).He retired to Oakland, Ca. (Kitchner, p.117).

1908, Master of the LaVELLE YOUNG (S & D Reflector, March, 1978, p. 43).

1906, Master of the LaVELLE YOUNG (Fairbanks Evening News September 6, 1906).

1904, Listed in Hedrick and Savage as the Master of the KOYUKUK, summer of 1904 (p. 26).

1875, Born, July (Federal Census, 1910, Alaska).

BONSER, JOHN HENRY, (Skeena River)

1910, Sometime after 1910 (probably 1913) he was Captain of the INLANDER in Skeena River service (Newell, p. 174).

1909, Captain Bonser is noted as captain of the NECHACO on the upper Fraser River.( Boudreau,p. 79)

1909, Mentioned in Newell (p. 162) as ...a veteran of the Skeena and Yukon Rivers... 

1906, Captain of the PHEASANT when she was wrecked on the Skeena River (Newell, p. 127).

1902, Moved to Upper Frazer River steamers CHILCO, CHILCOTIN  (Newell, p. 82).

1900, Hired from Hudson ™s Bay Company to run MONTE CHRISTO on the Skeena for R. Cunningham & Son (Newell, p.61).

1894, Command of CALEDONIA on the Skeena River (Louis and Dryden, p. 391).

BOYCE, D.C.,

1899, Master of the OIL CITY (Knutson, The Moran Fleet, 1997, p.99).

BRAGG, T.G.,

1913, Master of the NORCOM (Register).

BRAGG, W.T.,

1913, Master of the VIDETTE (Register).

1909, Master of the CASCA (Register).

1902, Master of the SYBIL (Register).

1901, Master of the BAILEY (Register).

1898, Victoria Colonist, April 21 cites him as being a Captain on the ORA. Captain Bragg was from Victoria.

BRATNOBER, HENRY (Earnest Wilhelm),

1909, Listed in Polk ™s Alaska-Yukon Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1909-1910 as living at the Golden Gate Hotel in Nome.

1909, Credited by T. A. Rickard with the idea of using a snow fence to accumulate snow which could be melted later when water was short. See Bratnober website: www.bratnober.com

1905, He built and Captained the ELLA. She was gas powered and named after his wife. (Coutts, p. 32) (Newell, p. 113).

#BREADEN, ROBERT HENRY ( HARRY ),

1955, Died, March 1, Gibson, British Columbia.

1921, Master of the THISTLE (Register).

1907-21, Crew member on PROSPECTOR, LIGHTNING, WHITEHORSE, NASUTLIN.

1907, 2nd, Mate, NASUTLIN.

1898, He was a crew member of the LIGHTNING Victoria to Yukon with ten other vessels.

1868, Born, March 27, Staffordshire, England.

*BROMLEY, WILLIAM JOHN,

According to Knutson(1979,p.64) Captain Bromley retired to Victoria,B.C.

He was Captain of the KLONDIKE #2 for over 20 years. (Weppler).

BROWN, ELMER, (Ohio River)

1919, He was port captain and superintendent of construction for the North American Transportation and Trading Co., St. Michael. He was a former Ohio-Mississippi master. Waterways Journal 4, 19, 1914, p. 52.

1901, Noted in Pan for Gold Database as resident of St. Michael where he was Port Captain. Newell (pp. 67-68) also notes he was superintendent of construction of the WILL ISOM.

1899, Noted in Waterways Journal (October 7, 1899, p. 12) as born in Pittsburgh.

1898, Waterways Journal (September 10, p. 3) notes him as Captain of KLONDIKE.

BROWN, F.L.,

1899, Master of the SYBIL (Register).

BROWN, J.B.,

1900, Master of the ANGLIAN (Register).

BROWN, THOMAS H.,

1900, Master of the ORA (Register).

BUHRO ,HARRY,

1898, Alig (p.61,129) mentions Captain Harry Buhro of the D.ARMSTRONG party as receiving his captains license for five years in July, 1898. Captain Buhro was from St. Petersburg, Russia and was born in 1875.

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CADZOW, DAN,

1929, Died

1916, Master of the RAMPART (Register).

Member of the Yukon Order of Pioneers. (Pan for Gold Database).

CALDERHEAD, RENWICK W.,

1954, Died, age 86, Coronado del Mar, California, (Pan for Gold Database).

1906, The Fairbanks Evening News  for August 1, 1906 notes Captain Calderhead as forming a new independent steamline  (Hedrick and Savage, p. 30).

1903, Polk Gazetteer notes him as Manager, Merchants Transportation Co. (Pan for Gold Database).

1902, McBride indicates him as Captain of LaFRANCE.

CAMPBELL, J. J.,

1908, Listed by Heckman as Master of the JOHN C. BARR.

1901, On S.S. BAILEY, Lynch (p. 353).

1900, Listed in the Nugget for June 17th as Captain of the FLORA.

1899, Captain of the ORA (Register).

CAMPBELL, MALCOLM,

1914, Master of the SELKIRK (Register).

* CARTER, HENRY (Harry), (Puget Sound)

1930, Died, near Kirkland, Washington.

1906, Captain of INDIANAPOLIS on Puget Sound.

1898, Went to Yukon in charge of the KATIE HEMERICH.

1858, (4) Born, New Brunswick (Federal Census,1900, Washington), Newell (pp. 117, 214, 351, 406)

CASBY, F. LARUE,

1902, Master of the SCOUT (Register).

CASEY, JOHN (James), (Puget Sound)

1899, Nugget lists him as Captain of the W. S. STRATTON.

1898, Newell (p. 37) notes him as running the schooner R. W. BARTLETT, Puget Sound to Alaska.

1898, Newell (p. 28) lists the W. S. STRATTON as being built by James Casey for his own acct. 

CHILBERG, J. E.,

1915, Polk ™s Alaska -Yukon Gazeteer and Business Directory notes J. E. Chilberg (Seattle) as President of the Miner ™s and Merchants Bank of Ketchikan. 

1909, Newell (p. 150) notes him as being President of the Board of Directors for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition held in Seattle.

1899, In his memoirs, Chilberg also notes he was responsible for the SOVEREIGN. (University of Washington Archives)

1899, Webb (p. 216) notes him as Captain of MONARCH.

CLAUSOU, C.,

1903, Master of the EMMA NOTT (Register).

CLOW, CHARLES.

1898, Alig (p.93) mentions Captain Charles Clow of the LUELLA (YOUNG?).

COLDFLEET,

1899, Nugget of January 14 notes him with Captains Green and Barrington aboard the ill-fated DOMVILLE.

*COUGHLAN, CHARLES M.

1940s, Worked on KLONDIKE II (Sturgis).

1937,1938, Master of the KLONDIKE (Yukon Territorial Records, RG 91, Vol. 69, File 14).

1920 ™s, Captain of the WHITEHORSE as noted by Alan Innes-Taylor.

1920, Master of the CANADIAN (Register).

1913, Master of the CASCA (Website for Yukon Historical and Museums Association).

COWLEY, WILLIAM,

1923, Polk ™s Directory for 1923-24 cites him as master of the NASUTLIN.

1922, Master of the CANADIAN (Register).

1915, Polk ™s Directory for 1915-16 lists him as a Dawson resident.

1907, Master of the LIGHTNING (Register).

1904, Master of the LIGHTNING (Register).

COX, C.,

1900, Master of the SYBIL (Register).

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*DALY, HUGH,

1920, Listed as born Prince Edward Island. (Federal Census, 1920, Washington)

1906, Heckman (p. 59) notes him as skipper of the salt water KLONDIKE.

1865, Born

DANAHER, M.D.,

1898, Nugget for July 27, notes him as Captain of the SOVEREIGN.

DELONCHEY, C.,

1901, Master of the EMMA NOTT (Register).

DeLUDE, NELSON,

1909, Master of the DELTA (Polk ™s Directory 1909-10).

1908, Master of the DELTA (S & D Reflector, March, 1978, p. 43).

1860, Born, Illinois (Federal Census, 1900, Oregon).

DEMENTIFF, EVAN

1909, Captain of the ST.JOSEPH ( Polk ™s Directory 1909-1910)

1877, Born (Federal Census,1910,Alaska)

DENNIER,

1900, Master of the TYRELL (Register).

DePEW,

1915, Reported as arriving in Fairbanks as Captain of the GENERAL JACOBS (Fairbanks Daily Times, June 8, 1915).

1912, Reported in Fairbanks Daily Times, April, 1912.

1906, Mentioned in the Fairbanks Daily Times (October 10, 1906) and Fairbanks Evening News (October 25, 1906) as Captain of the OIL CITY.

DIXON,

1900, Master of the CLARA (Register).

DIXON, E.D., (Mississippi River)

1902, Died at the wheel of the Northern Navigation Co.'s LEAH.

1902, Newell (p.85) notes his death. He had early experience on both the Mississippi & Missouri Rivers. Was Captain of the BELLA at beginning of the Klondike rush.

1898, Waterways Journal (November 12, 1898, p. 7) notes he was from Dubuque, Iowa and was to take charge of the Alaska Commercial Company's new steamer LOUISE.

1898, Captain of the Alaska Commercial Co.'s SUSIE after argument with North American Transportation and Trading Co. (Waterways Journal, September 10, 1898).

1898, Waterways Journal, May 7, 1898, Master of P.B. WEARE (p. 11).

1896, He left Dubuque to take command of the P.B. WEARE. (Waterways Journal, September 4, 1897).

1892, ± Webb notes Dixon being sent for by P.B.Weare to take charge of North American Transportation and Trading Co. river business.

1890, Captain of the raft boat BELLA MAC (Mueller).

1883, Captain of the CLYDE in the rafting trade.

DOBLER, WILLIAM J., (Mississippi River)

1932, He died, October 1. He drowned when the STANDARD overturned at Lake Point, La. (See Heckman, p. 46).

1915, Captain of the MINNEAPOLIS (R.L. Polk and Co., 1915-1916 Alaska-Yukon Gazetteer and Business Directory, p. 214)

1906, Captain of the raft boat NORTH STAR.

1900-1904, Captain of the raft boat KIT CARSON.

1896, Captain of the raft boat BART E. LINEHAM (Waterways Journal, April 18, 1896).

1890, Captain of the WILL H. ISOM.

Photo in S & D Reflector for March, 1995 (p. 34).

1890, Blair (p. 302) notes Wm. Dobler as Master of the raft boat HELEN MAR in 1890.

1870, Born, October 6, Wisconsin. (Federal Census, 1930, Louisiana)

DOLSON, THOMAS H., (Mississippi River)

1899, Listed in Waterways Journal (July 8, 1899, p. 7) as being at Andreafsky for winter quarters on December 19, 1898.

1898, August issue of the Nugget lists him as Captain of the SUSIE.

1898, Waterways Journal (June 11, 1898, p. 9) notes his departure for the Yukon.

1890, Blair (p. 299) notes a Thomas Dolson of Muscatine, Iowa as Captain of the raft boat MUSSER in 1890. Just before his departure to the Yukon he was Captain of the F.Weyerhauser.

Mid-1880 ™s, Master of the JAMES FISKE JR in the rafting trade.

1849, Born, Dubuque, Iowa (Federal Census, 1900, Iowa).

DOUGHERTY, A.F.,

1906, Master of the QUICK (Register).

1901, Master of the FLORA (Register).

*DOUGLAS, JOHN P.,

1914, Master of the NASUTLIN (Register).

1908, Listed by Heckman as Master of the JOHN C. BARR.

1907, Heckman notes him as a Canadian and Master of the CHARLES H. HAMILTON in the spring of 1907, (p. 39).

1903, Master of the TYRELL (Register).

*DOUSE, FRED A., Charlotte, Prince Edward Island

1904 Died, September 6, 1904 in Fairbanks as recorded by the Post Office worker list (Pan for Gold Database).

1900 Master of the EMMA NOTT (Register).

1899, Master of the W. K. MERWIN (Register).

DOWNING, J. C.,

1903, Noted as Master of JOHN J. HEALY (St. Michael Records, Oct. 23, 1903).

# DUFFY, THOMAS J., , (Puget Sound)

1937, Died, July, Pt. Angles (Newell, p. 459).

1901, Returned to Seattle.

During Gold Rush, worked on the Yukon River and at Nome.

1889, Licensed as Master/Pilot, Puget Sound area.

1867, Born, Drogheda, Ireland.

DuPUY, HART SPOFFORD, (Kootenay River)

1925, He died, January 23. Newell (p. 368).

1920, Master of the GEN. J.W. JACOBS (Register).

1903, Builder of the ENTERPRISE at Wenatchee (Newell, p. 89).

1902, Knutson (Koyukuk, 1997) indicates he was to take command of the SEATTLE #3.

1901, He is noted in F.C.S., as a Captain for Seattle Yukon Transportation Co. and resident at St. Michael.

1900, Nugget notes he was to take command of the CAMPBELL, June 7.

1899, Nugget for August 12 lists him as Captain of SEATTLE #3.

1893, Captain of the RUSTLER, a sternwheeler on the Kootenay River, owned by the International Transportation Co. Newell (p. 4).

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EDEN, B.M.,

1899, Master of the VICTORIAN (Register).

EDWARDS, ALBERT E.,

1915, Listed in the Steamboat Inspection Service, St. Michael Registry as Master of Steam and Motor.

1909, Listed in the Steamboat Inspection Service, St. Michael Registry as Master of Steam and Motor.

EMBREE, J.C.,

1905, Master of the CASCA (Register).

1904, Master of the THISTLE (Register).

1900, Master of the CLIFFORD SIFTON (Register).

ERN, E. J., (Mississippi River)

1899, November 25, Waterways Journal notes his return to St. Louis.

1899, September 9, Waterways Journal, notes him as a steward on Yukon River (the CITY OF ST.LOUIS never set sail as she was seized by the sheriff).

1899, Nugget for June 10 lists him as Captain of the steel river steamer CITY OF ST. LOUIS being built at St. Michael.

1898, Waterways Journal (September 3, p. 10) notes his departure for the Yukon from St. Louis.

1897, Waterways Journal (March 20, 1897) lists him as former owner of the BENTON.

1894, The May 19 (p.7) issue of Waterways Journal notes Captain Ern's trip up the Osage River (Missouri).

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FAIRBAIRN, J. E.,

1903, He is noted by Graves (p. 52) as Captain of the CANADIAN in 1903.

1901, Listed in 1901 Census (Pan for Gold Database).

1899, Master of the FLORENCE S (Register).

FINGER ,GEORGE C.

1914, Noted in Fairbanks Daily Times for May 19, 1914 as Captain of the MARTHA CLOW

FLANAGAN,

1914, Noted in the Fairbanks Daily Times on May 19, 1914 as captain of the MABEL on the Chisina River, which river he declared to be one big dismal failure  as to its future.

*FOREST, EMIL, (Yukon)

1960, Died, August 20. (Explore North website)

1936, He was Noted by Knutson in Sternwheelers on the Yukon (p. 67) as Captain of the British Yukon Navigation workboat LOON. Began as assistant pilot on Yukon in 1910 (Explore North website).

1889, Born.

FOSTER, G.,

1901, Master of the LIGHTNING (Register).

1898, Nugget for August 20, noted him as Captain of the COLUMBIAN, Leaving Dawson for Whitehorse.

FOTHERINGHAM, DAVID W. (H),

1924, Listed in 1923-24 Alaska-Yukon Gazetteer and Directory in association with the KLONDIKE.

1922, Master of the KLONDYKE (Register).

FREDERICKS, HUGO,

1899, Listed by McBride (p. 101) as Captain of the ARGO.

FRENCH, A.O.,

1903, Master of the MARJORIE (Register).

FRENCH, SIDNEY,

1899, Master of the GOV. PINGREE (Register).

FULLER, G.H.,

1900, Master of the REINDEER (Register).

FULLERTON,

1900, Master of the ELDORADO (Register).

FULTON, G.W.,

1900, Master of the GOLD STAR (Register).

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*GARDNER, CHARLES ALPHONSUS, (Skeena/Stikine)

1913, Master of the NASUTLIN (Register).

1903,He was in command of the MARY E. GRAFF (Knutson, The Moran Brothers, 1997).

1900, Master of the SYBIL (Register) Explore North website.

1898, Listed by McBride as in the pilot house  of the ANGLIAN when she left Teslin Lake around June 20. Knutson (1979, p.74) notes him as a Canadian.

1860, Born, British Columbia.

Captain Gardner is noteworthy as he was one of a very few Yukon River Masters of mixed European and First Nations parentage. Following his time in the Yukon he then went on to spend time working on the Mackenzie River.

# GAUDIN, JAMES R.P.,

1952, Retired from the White Pass and Yukon Railroad, River Division on September 30. He had worked for them for fifty-four years.

1914, Promoted to Superintendent Engineer for River Division, White Pass &Yukon Railroad.

1902, Promoted to Chief Engineer for White Pass & Yukon Railroad, River Division.

1898, In June, constructed the steamer ANGLIAN at Teslin Lake and sailed it to Dawson about June 20.

1897, In July, he left Victoria, BC with a crew (F.N. York, Co.) to build a steamer at Teslin Lake.

All the above from Ferrell, E. (Ed.) Biographies of Alaska-Yukon Pioneers 1850-1950. Juneau, Alaska: The Author, 1994.

GEAR

1899, Nugget July 22, lists him as Captain of the MARY F. GRAFF.

GEER, JOEL P.,

1909, He was Master of the LA FRANCE (Dodson, pg. 176). There is an extensive note in Dodson regarding Geer and his daughter Olive. There were from Oregon.

1903, Master of the QUICK (Register).

GEIGER, W.E.,

1905, Listed by Brown as organizing a trading company for operation on the Kuskakwim River and as buying the QUICKSTEP for that use. (p.25)

1895, Listed as Captain of the PORTUS B. WEARE on August 9, 1895 in an article by R.N. DeArmond, "The Ill Favored Steamboat ARCTIC," Alaska Journal 1 (Autumn, 1971).

GILHAM, JOHN M., (Missouri River)

1910, Died at his home in St. Louis, age 72 (Waterways Journal., November 19, 1910, p. 8).

1908, He was in command of the J.P. LIGHT (Knutson, Moran Fleet, 1997).

1906, Heckman notes him as skipper of the PORTUS B. WEARE, 70 years old and a former Missouri River man.

1899, Listed by McBride as Captain of J.C. BARR.

1898, Noted in Waterways Journal (September 10, p. 3) as in charge of the J.C. BARR.

1897, Licensed at St. Louis (Polk).

1838, Born, July, Missouri. (Federal Census,1910, Alaska).

GODDARD, ALBERT J.,

1958, Died, age 94, April, Auburn, Washington, (Newell, p. 632, includes photo).

1930, He was living at 3965 Evanston Ave., Seattle (Alaska-Yukon Gold Book, p. 88 w/photo).

1900, Iron founder in Seattle (U.S. Census, 1900).

1898, He was chairman of the Sourdough Monument Committee and Historian and First Northern Chief of the Alaska Yukon Pioneers (Alaska-Yukon Gold book, p. 136).

1898, Captain of the A.J. GODDARD on its first round trip between Whitehorse and Dawson

(Explore North Website).

1897, He and wife carried the two vessels over the pass (Berton, p. 168). Arrived Yukon 1898, left Yukon 1901.

1897, Landed in Dyea with the vessels A.J. GODDARD and the J. H. KILBOURNE (Becker, p. 64).

1888, Ferrell (p. 119) notes him as being from Iowa. He founded the Pacific Iron Works in Seattle with his brother. There is a photo on p. 633 of Newell.

GRAY, EDWARD WALTER,

1910, Master of the DAWSON (Register).

GRAY, JAMES TAYLOR (Columbia River)

(Brother of W. P. Gray),

1928, Died.

1915, Master of the ALASKA of the American Yukon Navigation Co. (Fairbanks Daily Times June 29, 1915)

1908, Master of the TANANA (S&D Reflector, March 1978, p. 43); Also noted by Rust in her article.

Worldcat database entry indicates he was a businessman, steamboat designer and pilot.

1902-1912, he was a Yukon River pilot, general agent and boat designer.

Photo collection in Univ. of Oregon.

1900, Captain of the SEATTLE #3.

1852, He was born, Clatsop Plains, Oregon. (Federal Census, 1910,Oregon).

GRAY, WILLIAM P. (F) (Columbia River)

(Brother of James T. Gray),

1900, April 1, Nugget lists him as Captain of the LOTTIE TALBOT.

Noted in Downs as Captain of the ROBERT KERR.

* GREEN, GEORGE ALPHONSE,

1933, Died February, 7 in Seattle.

1926, Newell lists him as a former Yukon River Master (p. 425). Since 1926 he was Manager of Alaska Rivers Navigation Co. on the Kuskokwim River.

1920, Captain of the TANANA (Fairbanks Weekly News-Miner, October 8, 1920)

1914, Master of the RELIANCE (Fairbanks Daily Times, April 22, 1914).

1894 Moved to Seattle then to Yukon where in 1899 he became Master of the RELIANCE (Ferrell,p.124)

1874, Born, September, Canada. (Federal Census, 1910, Alaska)

GREEN, LEANDER,

1904, St. Michael records show him as Master of the MONARCH.

GREER,

1905, McBride lists him as Captain in connection with the ELLA on the Whitehorse - Fairbanks run.

GREER, JOEL P.,

1907, Master of the PAULINE (Register).

1899, Located at the Home Roadhouse at Lake Bennett

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HAINES, TOM,

Listed by McBride as Captain of the CITY OF PARIS.

HALEY, C.G.,

1902, Master of the BONANZA KING (Register).

1900, Knutson, Can We Make It, p. 41, notes him as in command of the CLIFFORD SIFTON on its run through Miles Canyon.

HALL, BENJAMIN,

1869, He was master of the YUKON during Raymond's Expedition. Noted in Compilation of Narratives of Explorations in Alaska, Serial Set 3896, p. 21.

HANSEN, J.E. ,

1901, Reassigned to Northern Commercial River Management. at St. Michael.

1897, Noted in Kitchner as a former river steamer master  (p. 216).

* HARRIS, CHARLES I.,

1901, Listed on pg. 71 of Newell as a survivor of the ISLANDER sinking 1901. He was mentioned as coming outside after commanding a Yukon River steamer during the summer of 1901. He (Harris) was alive and aged 98 when Newell ™s book was published in 1966.

1901, Master of the NORA (Register).

1900, Master of the LIGHTNING (Register).

Native of Nova Scotia.

HAYNES, Thomas S., (Puget Sound)

1915, Steamboat Inspection Service lists him under St. Michaels Masters, Pilots, Steam, Motor.

1913, Left Fort Gibbon to take up work on the GENERAL JACOBS (Fairbanks, Sunday Times, May 25,1913)

1912, Master of the TETLIN ( Alaska Citizen, May 17, 1912)

1911, Master of the J.P. LIGHT (Fairbanks Daily Times, May 19, 1911).

1909, Steamboat Inspection Service lists him under St. Michaels Masters, Pilots, Steam, Motor.

1908, Master of the KOYUKUK (S & D Reflector, March, 1978, p. 43).

1901, Listed in the census as seaman  (Pan for Gold Database).

1871, Born, June, Michigan. (Federal Census, 1900, Washington).

There is a photo of him on p. 49 of Sherwonit.

HEALEY, JOHN J.

1905, In 1905 he organized the Central Alaska Company to trade on the Kuskokwim River with the vessel NUNIVAK.

HEALEY,

1900, Master of the CLIFFORD SIFTON (Register).

HECKMAN, EDWARD, (Missouri River)

1960, Extensive memoirs in Alaska Sportsman, November,1960. (photo included).

1884, Born, Hermann, Missouri.

HILL, GEORGE L., (Puget Sound)

1913, Newell (p. 233) notes the death of G.L. Hill, Puget Sound Master and former Superintendent of White Pass and Yukon marine operations.

1899, Knutson (Koyukuk, 1997) cites him as in command of the CITY OF PARIS.

1898, Nugget notes him as Captain of the CHARLES H. HAMILTON.

1861, He was born, Washington. (Federal Census,1900, Washington).

HOELSCHER, WILLIAM F., (Missouri River)

1946, Retired to Washington, Missouri (Kitchner, p. 117).

1935, He was employed in Alaska for 38 years. See: Heckman, Alaska Sportsman.

1914, Master of the SCHWATKA (Fairbanks, Daily Times, May 20, 1914).

1904, Listed in Hedrick and Savage as the Master of CUDAHY in summer of 1904 (p. 27).

1903, Listed as master seaman  in List of Officers, 1903.

1901, Former Master of the JOHN J. HEALY (St. Michael Records).

1899, Listed in F.C.S. as a Captain for N.A.T. & T. Co. and a resident of St. Michael.

1899, Waterways Journal for November 25, 1899 notes his return to St. Louis, to return to North American Transportation and Trading Co in the spring.

1896, Waterways Journal for December 12, 1896 notes his application for membership in the St. Louis Chapter of the Mississippi and Upper Ohio Pilots Society.

1887, William Heckman notes that Hoelscher received his pilot ™s license in 1887. (Steamboating Sixty-Five Years on Missouri ™s Rivers). Boyhood home was Washington, Missouri (Heckman p. 12).

HOGGAN, JOHN E.F.,

1923-24, Listed at Dawson in Alaska-Yukon Gazetteer.

1902, Brought the OLIVE MAY through Miles Canyon in early June.

1901, Listed as in Whitehorse (Yukon-Alaska Directory, 1901).

He had been a Miles Canyon pilot since 1898. (Knutson, Can We Make It, p. 42).

HOLMES, WILLIAM E.,

1902, Master of the LIGHTNING (Register).

1899, Master of the COLUMBIAN (Register).

HORN, FRANK, (Missouri River)

1899, Curtin (p. 156) notes him as Captain of the WEARE in March, 1899. Waterways Journal for 1898 notes him as being from Pierre, South Dakota.

His nickname was Driftwood  and when Curtin met him in 1899 he was sixty-seven years old.

HOY, THOMAS A., (Mississippi River)

1906, Heckman notes him as being a former raft-boatman on the upper Mississippi  (Photo in the Heckman article, p. 35).

1899, July 22, Nugget listed him as Captain of the PORTUS B. WEARE.

1898, Knutson (1997, p. 85) notes a Thomas Hay as in command of the PILGRIM, arriving Dawson, late summer.

In the early-1890 ™s he was Master of the CYCLONE in the rafting trade.

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IRVING, JOHN,

1930, He arrived in the Yukon 1898. In 1930, he was living at 406 Crown Bldg., (Alaska-Yukon Gold Book, p. 97).

1921, Member of the Vancouver Lodge #5 of the Yukon Order of Pioneers.

1901, Sold Canadian Pacific Navigation Co. to the Canadian Pacific Railway.

1899, Listed in 1899 Bluebook.

1898, Operated the YUKONER on the lower river before selling it to Pat Galvin. He was noted in Curtain (p.32) for his flamboyant behavior.

1896, Captain of the WILLIE IRVING.

1883, Revived navigation on the headwaters of the Fraser River with the formation of the Northern British Columbia Navigation Co. At this time he was with the Canadian Pacific Navigation Co.

He bought the YOSEMITE as one of the first of the Canadian Pacific Navigation Co. fleet (Newell, p. 121).

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JACKMAN, F.J.,

1903, Noted by Graves as Captain of the MARY GRAFF.

1902, Master of the MARY GRAFF (Register).

JOHNSON, JOHN C.,

1930, Died, age 55.

Newell (p. 407) lists him as a former Yukon River Pilot and operator of the Johnson Shipyard at Port Blakely after his time in the Yukon.

1915, Steamboat Inspection Service lists him under Master and Pilots, Steam, Motor, St. Michael.

1875, Born.

JOHNSON, P.H.,

1908, Died, August 23, Whitehorse (Pan for Gold Database).

1902, Master of the CASCA (Register).

1900, Master of the ZELANDIAN (Register).

1899, Master of the JOSEPH CLOSSET (Register).

JOSIE, EDWARD J., (Great Lakes)

1917, Noted by George Larson in 1965, Alaska Sportsman article as Captain of the M.L. WASHBURN.

1901, Resident of St. Michael (Dawson City,Yukon Territory and Alaska Directory and Gazeteer,1901)

1860, Born, February, New York. ( Federal Census,1910, Alaska).

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KENNEDY,

1896, Noted in McBride as being on the ARCTIC.

KERZ, ADAM, (Mississippi River)

1908, Died, La Crosse, Wisconsin.

1908, Listed in McBride as first skipper of JULIA B., St. Michael-Fairbanks run.

Blair, in his work on raft pilots, notes that Kerz was originally from Galena, Illinois. He joined with Captain Winans on the JOHN H. DOUGLAS and SATURN and ...after spending several years in the Yukon on the JULIA B owned and operated by the Yukon Transportation and Trading co., composed principally of Galena residents...  (p. 240).

# KNAACK, WILLIAM C., (Mississippi River)

1900, Enumerated at Rock Island, Illinois in Census of 1900.

1898, September 10 issue of Waterways Journal (p. 4) notes him as in command of ROCK ISLAND #2.

1865, He was born in Germany. (Federal Census, 1900, Illinois).

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LAMAR,

1908, Listed by McBride (p. 101) as Captain of the ALL NATIONS, Fairbanks to Innoka, June 7.

LANCASTER, SAMUEL ELLIOT, (Mississippi River)

1949, Died, May 13, age 81, Seattle; Newell (p. 566).

1932, Retired.

1928, Still working on the Yukon according to Blair (p. 267).

1911, Waterways Journal, September 16, 1911, p. 10, notes him as Master of the LOUISE.

1908, Master of the LOUISE (S & D Reflector, 1978, p. 43).

1898, Mentioned by McBride in connection with the ROCK ISLAND #1 of which he was Master.

Newell notes he was a former Mississippi River pilot who organized the Rock Island Transportation and Mining Co.

Blair (p. 267) notes him as a former raft pilot from LeClaire, Iowa. He was Master of the JO LONG owned by the Jo. Long Transportation Co. of LeClaire, Iowa.

Born, LeClaire, Scott County, Iowa.( Iowa State Census, 1895 ).

* LANGLEY, WALLACE,

1946, Died, age 80, May, Seattle (Newell, p. 537).

1939, NORTHWESTERN (ex GRAHAMORE) sold to W. Langley for operations on the Kuskokwim River (Newell, p. 474).

1935, The river steamer WALLACE LANGLEY built Seattle, shipped aboard the W. M. TUPPER to McGraph for assembly. Built for Alaska Rivers Navigation of N.C.C. for Kuskokwim service (Newell, p. 429).

1925, Bought steamship WILLIAM M. TUPPER for Seattle-Kuskokwim trade (Newell, p. 363).

1922, Noted by McBride in connection with the QUICKSTEP which he took to the Kuskokwim in 1922.

1916, Noted as taking the TANA from Fairbanks to the Kuskokwim River (Fairbanks, Daily Times, May 25, 1916)

1915, Fairbanks Daily Times noted his business partnership in the founding of the Alaska Rivers Navigation Company. The fleet was to consist of the TANA, FLORENCE S., SHUSHANA.

1911, Bought the AL-KI (Newell, p. 184).

1906, C.W. Adams notes Capt. Langley as captain of the WILBUR CRIMMON (p.104).

1905, Newell (p. 112) notes Captain Langley operating both the FLORENCE S. and the TANA (built 1905).

1901, Master of the WILBUR CRIMMON (Register).

1866, Born.

* LARSON, BARNEY,

1899, Curtin (p. 196) notes him as chosen Captain of the YUKONER after serious problems with the original Captain, May 27, 1899. He was formerly a tug captain in Victoria.

LAUGHTEN, W.,

1900, Master of the SYBIL (Register).

LeBALLISTER, A. E.,

1915, Fairbanks Daily Times for June 15 notes his death on the eve of his departure to stand trial for embezzlement from the Pacific Cold Storage Co.

1907, In command of the ROBERT KERR (Knutson, The Moran Fleet, 1997, p. 99).

1906, As Above.

1905, As Above..

1902, Master of the ROCK ISLAND (Register).

1901, Listed in F.C.S. as Captain of the ROCK ISLAND for A.C.C. and resident of St. Michael.

1900, June Nugget lists him as Captain of the ROCK ISLAND.

1898, Master of the ROCK ISLAND (Knutson, Koyukuk, 1997).

1863, Born, California. (Federal Census,1910, Washington).

LEE, JAMES, (Columbia River)

1899, Nugget of June 17 notes him as Captain of the BONANZA KING and a former Columbia River Captain.<