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Skagway Pioneer Biographies


    This page contains a wide variety of biographies and death notices related to people buried at the three cemeteries in Skagway.





HANSEN, John Egbert (1908-1930)

The Dawson News, July 1, 1930:

Two Skagway Boys Drowned in Coast Town

    SKAGWAY, June 30 - (Special to The News) - On Sunday John Hanson, 19, son of Nick Hanson, a White Pass company bridge foreman; Selby Phelps, 17, son of Mark Phelps; and Victor Selmer, 20, went swimming in an ice lake above Skagway. The boys started swimming across the lake, a distance of about 100 yards. Selmer and Phelps reached shore, when they saw that Hanson was in difficulties and returned to assist. Hanson sank before they could reach him. Phelps suddenly grabbed Selmer and both sank, but Selmer got free and made shore almost exhausted. He obtained aid quickly. The bodies of Hanson and Phelps Were recovered within an hour of their drowning. Artificial respiration work was continued for over two hours unsuccessfully.
    Both boys were members of the Eagle lodge. The funerals will be held tomorrow. The parents reside in Skagway.




HERN, Bernadine (1923-1935)

The Whitehorse Star (Whitehorse, Yukon) - Friday, July 12, 1935

Skagway Residents Bereaved
by Loss of Daughter

    Bernadine Hearn [Hern], 12-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Perry Hearn of Skagway passed away at Skagway on Tuesday after a short illness. Mr. Hearn is proprietor of a cigar and confectionery store in Skagway and is an old time resident of that town.
    The sympathy of the community is extended to Mr. and Mrs. Hearn in their great loss.




KENDRICK, Thomas (?-1910)

The Weekly Star (Whitehorse, Yukon Territory) - Friday, February 11, 1910

Accidentally Killed

    Thomas Kendrick an old section man employed at the summit of White Pass met his death last Saturday morning by being run down by the rotary snow plow. Kendrick was attending his usual duties along the track when the rotary came upon him and before he had time to make his escape from between the high snow banks which lined either side of the track the engine struck him carrying his body beneath the trucks and killing him instantly. The Pilot in charge of the rotary did not see Kendrick in time to give the signal to stop.
    Thomas Kendrick or "Flipper" as he was called by his associates, has been employed by the company since the inception of the road. He was eccentric in many ways but at the same time had a host of friends among the employees of the road. The remains were buried at Skagway last Tuesday morning. Father Turnell preached the funeral service and many friends of the deceased gathered to pay their last respects.




MOORE, Fred Darling (1871-1914)

The Weekly Star (Whitehorse, Yukon Territory) - Friday, June 12, 1914

Skagway Man Suicides

    F. D. Moore, Skagway baker, walked four miles up the railroad last Friday morning and fired a bullet into his brain. Business worries are supposed to have prompted the rash act. He left a wife but no children.




PHELPS, Selby (1911-1930)

The Dawson News, July 1, 1930:




SMITH, Ina (1910-1913)

The Weekly Star (Whitehorse, Yukon Territory) - Friday, February 28, 1913

Child Cremated

    The three year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Smith was burned to death at Skagway Wednesday morning at an early hour, when their home was destroyed by fire. Mr. Smith, who is employed at the carshops, had risen early, breakfasted and gone to work at 7 o'clock. Shortiy after that hour Mrs. Smith was awakened bp the fire. She hastily got out their four year-old son, but was unable to reach her little daughter whose charred body was not recovered for nearly an hour. The Smiths are very popular at Skagway and great sorrow is expressed at their terrible affliction.




SMITH, William R. (1879-1935)

The Whitehorse Star (Whitehorse) - Friday, July 12, 1935

    Wm. Smith, proprietor of the Gateway Store at Skagway for many years, passed away at Skagway on Tuesday morning after a lengthy illness. Mr. Smith was well known locally, visiting here every year for his health.