Biographies - Fairbanks AKGenWeb

Biographies are not just full of information about the person, but typically include valuable information about their relatives and ancestors. Although the biographical information may not always be accurate, they can be used as a springboard for your research.

BUNNELL, Charles Ernest

BUNNELL, Charles Ernest, educator, lawyer, jurist; born Dimock, PA., Jan. 12, 1878, son of Lyman W. and Ruth Naomi (Tingley) Bunnell, descended from William Bunnell who came from England with New Haven Colony in 1638 and settled in West Haven, Conn.: education, Bucknell University (Lewisburg, Pa.) A.B. 1900, A.M. 1902 (hon.) LL.D. 1925; married Mary Ann Kline, Winfield, Pa., July 1901; daughter, Jean. Teacher Bureau of Education Schools, Alaska, 1900-03; public school 1903-07; engaged in law practice 1907-15; U. S. District Judge, Alaska, 1915-22; president, Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines 1922-35, University of Alaska since 1935; Mason, Elk; member, Arctic Brothterhood, Pioneers of Alaska; Democrat. Adress: College, Alaska.

Contributed 2024 Mar 14 by Norma Hass, extracted from Pan-Pacific Who's Who, 1941, page 89.

FITZGERALD, Walter James

FITZGERALD, Walter James, Catholic bishop; born Peola, Garfield Co., Wash., Nov. 17, 1883, son of Patrick Sarsfield and Johanna Frances (Kirk) Fitzgerald: education, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Wash., A.B. 1910, M.A. 1912; Los Gatos Normal School 1906, Immaculate Conception College, Montreal, Can., S.T.D. 1919. Joined Society of Jesus (Jesuits) 1902; ordained priest Roman Catholic Church 1918; professor of classics, English, history, 1912-15, president 1921-27, Gonzaga University; rector, Manresa Hall, Port Townsend, Wash., 1927-28; president Seattle College 1928-29; vice provincial, Rocky Mountain Region 1930-31; provincial of Oregon Province of Society of Jesus 1932-38; appointed Bishop of Timbrias and co-adiutor vicar Apostolic of Alaska by Pope Pius XI Feb. 24, 1939. Address: Fairbanks, Alaska.

Contributed 2024 Mar 14 by Norma Hass, extracted from Pan-Pacific Who's Who, 1941, page 223.

NERLAND, Arthur Leslie

NERLAND, Arthur Leslie, merchant; born Dawson, Yukon Territory, March 11, 1902, son of Andrew and Annie (Paulson) Nerland: education, Seattle (Wash.) public schools, University of Washington B.B.A. 1924; member, Lambda Chi Alpha, Hammer and Coffin Society, Alpha Delta Sigma; married Mildred Juanita Kildall, Vancouver, B.C., Jan. 16, 1926; children, Jerry, Ronnie. Associated with Street Car Advertising Co., and Frigidaire Sales Corp. Seattle, Wash., 1924-30; removed to Fairbanks, Alaska, and engaged in retail furniture, paint, and building materials business since 1930; elected to Fairbanks city council successively for two terms 1934, 1936; elected Mayor of Fairbanks 1938, reelected 1939; Mason (Past Master, Tanana Lodge No. 162 F. & A.M.; Past High Priest, Fairbanks Chapter No. 1 R.A.M.), Shriner, Eastern Star (associate patron Midnight Sun Chapter No. 6); Republican. Address: P. O. Box 610, Fairbanks, Alaska.

Contributed 2024 Mar 14 by Norma Hass, extracted from Pan-Pacific Who's Who, 1941, page 516.

OLCOTT, Ben Wilson

OLCOTT, Ben Wilson, retired banker; born Keithsburg, Ill. Oct. 15, 1872, son of Hiram Wallace and Mary Jane (Wilson) Olcott: education, Keithsburg High School; Business College, Dixon, Ill.; married Lena O. Hutton, Salem, Ore., Dec. 25, 1912; children, Chester Wallace, Gordon West and Richard Hutton (twins). Office worker in Chicago 1891; went to Salem, Ore., 1892, employed with Wm. Brown & Co., hop and wool merchants; worked for pioneer bank of Ladd & Bush; prospected in East Kootenai, B.C., and Colville Indian Reservation, Wash., 1896-97; returned to Keithsburg, Ill. 1898, cashier Citizens State Bank six years; went to Nome, Alaska, 1904 and in winter 1905 "mushed" dog team up Yukon River 1,000 miles to Fairbanks, where was employed by Capt. E. T. Barnette, discoverer and founder of camp and owner of Fairbanks Banking Co., where he served respectively as paying, receiving and gold dust teller; later gold dust buyer on creeks; returned to Salem, Ore., 19089; appointed Secretary of State for Oregon by Governor Oswald West in 1912, serving four years; elected for second four-year term 1915; Governor of Oregon 1919-22; joined Bank of Italy in California, returning to Oregon 1927; dir. Oregon Mutual Savings Bank, Portland, Ore. Republican. Address: 2610 N.W. Overton St., Portland Ore.

Contributed 2024 Mar 14 by Norma Hass, extracted from Pan-Pacific Who's Who, 1941, page 529.

RIVERS, Ralph Julian

RIVERS, Ralph Julian, lawyer; born Seattle, Wash., May 23, 1903, son of Julian Guy and Lenora Zenaide Louisa (LaVoie) Rivers: education, Franklin High School (Seattle), University of Washington L.L.B. 1929; member Phi Alpha Delta and Upsilon Upsilon chapter of Sigma Chi; married Lina Carol Caldwell, Seattle, Wash., Dec. 17, 1928; children, Julian Ralph, Joyce Carol. Engaged in gold mining at Flat, Alaska, 1921-23, admitted to Washington bar 1930, members firm Rivers & Manning, Seattle, 1930-31; practiced law in Fairbanks, Alaska 1931-33; U. S. district Attorney, fourth judicial div., dist. of Alaska since 1933; mgr. Fairbanks Dog Derby and Ice Carnival 1939; member Elks, Pioneers of Alaska. Democrat. Home: 306 Fifth Ave. Office: Federal Bldg., Fairbanks, Alaska.

Contributed 2024 Mar 14 by Norma Hass, extracted from Pan-Pacific Who's Who, 1941, page 590.

RIVERS, Victor Claudius

RIVERS, Victor Claudius, civil engineer and legislator; born Seattle, Wash., 1905, son of Julian Guy and Lenora Zenaide Louisa (LaVoie) Rivers: education, Degree of Civil Engineer, member Sigma Nu, registered civil and architectural engineer; married Rose Edna Johnston of Rochester, New York, at Valdez, Alaska, July 20, 1931; son, Keith Victor, born Fairbanks, Alaska, May 17, 1934. Taken to Alaska in infancy, 1906, where received early education, returning to states for higher education; junior eng'r Alaska Road Commission, U.S. War Dept. 1931; engineering contractor 1932-27; const. engr. National Park Service 1937-38 in charge of constructing for Dept. of Interior $450,000 hotel at Mt. McKinley National Park; elected member Alaska territorial Senate for 4th Judicial Division 1937 to 1942; pres. Alaska Territorial Chamber of Commerce 1937-39; pres. Alaska Bd. of Engineers and Architects Examiners 1939; member, Pioneers of Alaska, Tanana Valley Sportsmen's Assn., Elks Club. Address: Fairbanks, Alaska.

Contributed 2024 Mar 14 by Norma Hass, extracted from Pan-Pacific Who's Who, 1941, page 590.

Smith, George Earnest 1895-1945

News Miner, 30 Oct 1929
The Art Smith mentioned is my uncle.

My father, George Earnest Smith, was born 24 Jun 1895, in Marshall County, Minnesota. He grew up on a farm near Holt with 8 siblings. My mother always said he went to Petersburg, Alaska, in 1916 because they could only divide the family farm so many times and still be able to make a living. According to a 1917 Draft Registration, he worked in Petersburg at the Scow Bay Mill as a saw setter. He then worked for a short time at the Juneau Lumber Company before moving on the Fairbanks somewhere around 1921-1923. He was the sawyer at Independent Lumber in Fairbanks.

He came back to the "lower 48" to marry Doris A., my mother, in Minnesota in 1927 and immediately went back to Fairbanks. Our family lived near 6th and Cowles. Noel Wein and family lived near by, I think, around 8th and Cowles. They were family friends. My older brother, Noel, is named after him.

Other than a chimney fire in 1934 and nearly cutting off his finger while splitting firewood, they seemed to have a fairly happy and satisfying life. My parents had five children, all born in Fairbanks from 1929-1942. Eight grandchildren followed.

My father died of a heart attack 09 Jun 1945 and is buried in the Birch Hill Cemetery.

SPENCER, Chester Thomas

SPENCER, Chester Thomas, lumberman; born Moscow, Hickman Co., Ky., Sept. 30, 1883, son of Thomas Bradford and Elizabeth Ellen (Oaks) Spencer: education, Cairo (Ill.) High School 1901; married Bessie Claire Buzby, Fairbanks, Alaska, Sept. 16, 1911; children, Lois Marian, Elizabeth Louise, Thomas Chester, Harry Grafton, Theodore Marshall, James Everett, Margaret. Enlisted in 7th U.S. Cavalry 1903, left San Francisco for Philippine Islands 1905; transferred to U.S. Signal Corps, Manila, 1906, returned to America via Suez Canal 1908; went to Alaska in U.S. Signal Corps 1908, discharged at Fairbanks 1911; deputy U.S. Marshal at Circle and Ft. Yukon, Alaska, 1912-22, engaged in grocery business at Lomita 1922-23; real estate business in Los Angeles and San Diego, Calif., 1924-27; returned to Alaska 1928; in sawmill business, Fairbanks, 1928-33; deputy marshal, Fairbanks, 1933-38, resigned to organize Miners' Lumber Co., Fairbanks, 1938; awarded certificate of merit (with medal) U.S. Army, signed by President Taft, for saving life of trapper during sub-zero weather at Minto, Alaska, 1909; secretary and member executive committee, Fourth Division Democratic Club; Mason; Pioneer of Alaska. Address: Fairbanks, Alaska.

Contributed 2024 Mar 14 by Norma Hass, extracted from Pan-Pacific Who's Who, 1941, page 656.