R.D. Crittenden: The Best Read man in Fort Wrangel
R. D. Crittenden was a native of South Carolina and belonged to a distinguished family of statesmen and politicians. He was highly educated, and it was noted in the Stickeen River Journal in 1898 that: “Col. Crittenden is the best read man in Fort Wrangell.” Crittenden served in the Confederate Army with the rank of Colonel. He was referred as “the Colonel” or “Col. Crittenden” thereafter. Shortly after the close of the war, he headed west for California where he joined the rest of the gold seekers looking for his fortune. During his stint in California, he served a couple of terms in the state senate. From there, he headed for Alaska. According to his obituary written by Governor Alfred P. Swineford, Crittenden had been one of the stronger candidate for the appointment of Governor of Alaska. Swineford met Crittenden in Washington, D.C. during that time and came to like and respect him. While the Colonel didn’t succeed in his quest for the position of governor, he did receive an appointment to become the deputy collector of the U.S. Customs House first at Fort Tongass (Ketchikan) July 1878, and then at Fort Wrangel.. In 1881, Crittenden and partners Phillip Starr and Barney Johnson filed for a claim at the “garnet quarry” at the mouth of the Stikine River. They, like other claimants, no doubt found mining garnets more work than it was worth. Crittenden did practice law at Wrangell, but his passion was his garden. The 1900 U.S. Census provides that he was a lawyer in Washington, D.C. (considered his home) but in Alaska his occupation was that of “gardener.” Friends and business acquaintances alike were the recipients of the fruits of his labor. In his twilight years he became a bit of recluse. A true "Southern Gentleman," Crittenden died December 1905 at the age of 78. He is buried at the Indian Cemetery in Wrangell. His name and date of his death were etched into a large slab of stone that once marked his gravesite. It was found several years ago standing against a log; possibly the site of his grave.