Biography - William L. Distin

General Distin was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, February 9, 1843, enlisted at the outbreak of the Civil War and served in many of its major engagements. Later he was in Illinois National Guard and served as aid-de-camp to Governors Hamilton, Olgesby, and Fifer of that state. He also served a term as Grand Commander of the Republic. On August 7, 1897, President McKinley appointed him the first Surveyor-General of Alaska, which office he held until October 18, 1913. In the fall of 1906 he moved the records, papers, and furnishings of the Governor's Office from Sitka to Juneau, thus finally establishing Juneau as the capital. General Distin died at Chicago, November 20, 1914.

Distin Avenue - a short residential street branching of Indian Street in the central part of Juneau. Named for General William Langmead Distin, Surveyor-General of Alaska 1897-1913. The street was first named Farnum Street for Oliver T. Farnum.

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