William King Lear

John C. Callbreath John was from New York. He was a merchant at Telegraph Creek. British Columbia. He was also involved in a fish hatchery at McHenry Inlet, near Fort Wrangel as well as operated the river boat, ALASKAN to transport his goods from Fort Wrangel to Telegraph Creek as well as his hatchery. His diaries and letterpress books are a great insight into life in the Stikine Territory and at Fort Wrangel during the 1800’s which I have purchased from University of Washington on microfilm.

William Green Thomas Wm. G. (as he was known) left Missouri for the Oregon Territory with his family in the early 1850’s. DOB 1/19/1851. His family crossed the Blue Mountains near Pendleton, Oregon.    Thomas was deputy Collector of Customs at Fort Wrangel and at Kodiak. He later became U.S. Commissioner at Fort Wrangel. He married Lyda McAvoy, who was related to Rev. S. Hall Young. After Lyda’s death, he married Ida F. Swift. His parents were Thomas Turpin (or Terpin) Thomas and Nancy (Curl) Thomas. They lived at Scio, Oregon at one time. Family members would be interested in knowing more.

R.D. Crittenden Col. R.D. Crittenden was a southern gentleman who came to Alaska after residing in California for a time. During his residence in California, he served in the State Legislature. Crittenden served as the Deputy Collector of Customs at Fort Wrangel for a time. He was sought out for legal advice by the citizens of Fort Wrangel. I found that I am possibly related to Crittenden through Gen. Nathaniel Greene. Crittend died at Wrangell about 1902 and is buried in the Indian Cemetery there. His name is etched in a slab of rock that marks his grave site.

W.E. Parrott DOB 12/1861 in Oregon. Parents: Joseph and Elenor (Fish) Parrott. Sister: Jessie Mae White, Yakima, WA. Parrot farmed an island located at the mouth of the Stikine River. He died at Wrangell in 1928 and is buried in the cemetery there, although his grave is unmarked.

Kyng J. Johansen From Norway, he went to Chile in 1890, and then on to Astoria, Oregon in 1892 and finally arrive at Fort Wrangell.

Bruno Grief Bruno came from Saxony, Germany. He owned the Fort Wrangel Brewery, a prominent fixture on the town’s main street. He was a benevolent gentleman, known for his kindness. He sold out in Fort Wrangel and re-located to Ketchikan. He died at Tacoma, WA in 1924 but is buried at Wrangell. The brewery appears in many old photographs of Fort Wrangel. Grief Street, which runs up the hill beside the Catholic Church was named for him.

Richard Suratt Many of the newsreels seen in movie theaters on Alaska were his work. DOD: 07/22/1950 Age 59 years. Died under mysterious circumstance. Coroner’s jury determined it was an accident. He was U.S. Commisioner since 1934. He was also a photographer, filming various happenings around Alaska for news bureaus: Pathe Film Corp., Lathrop Corp., Paramount. He produced a film on the Stikine River which he showed at Wrangell. He filmed the arrival of the U.S. Army planes, Black Wolf Squadron, in 1920. Spouse: Mildred Sylvester Suratt, daughter of Rufus and Rose Sylvester. Son: Richard, Jr. Sister: Valeska, a movie actress (known by George Burns and Gracie Allen I have discovered!!). Interestingly, Austin "Cap" Lathrop, Lathrop Corporation died about the same time in Fairbanks.

F.D. Cheney - was a trapper but also took great photographs of the area.

O.D. Goetze - lived at Fort Wrangel for a time. He may have come from British Columbia or settled in Seattle, WA. He also was a photographer.

J.E. Worden - lived in Wrangell for many years. He was involved in a fish company venture as well as served as the postmaster there. He photographed the area quite heavily, so there may be hundreds of photographs out there. DOB: 07/04/1861 at Niagra Falls, New York. DOD: 1925 Age 64 years. Spouse: Nina Turner married on 11/28/1895 at Portland. Moved to Fort Wrangell in 1898. Appointed U.S. Postmaster at Wrangell and served until 1917. Children: Mrs. Lynn (Robert) Holmes, Mrs. Liberty (Louis M.) Royal, Homer Worden.

Photographs of Wrangell and the Stikine River   I am very interested in a good, clear photo of the riverboat Louise at the Stikine River/Fort Wrangel circa 1898 by Winter & Pond and of the Fort Wrangel BreweryFort Wrangel Brewery.