Biography - John Troy

John Troy was born on a farm near Dungeness, Clallam County, Washington Territory, on October 31, 1868. In 1886 he became a reporter on the Port Townsend Argus and from 1891 until 1897 he was publisher and editor of the Weekly Democrat Leader at Port Angeles, Washington. Attracted north by the Klondike Rush, he landed at Skagway on August 19, 1897, and engaged in newspaper work there. He also served as City Clerk when the municipal government was organized. From 1899 until 1907 he was editor of the Skagway Alaskan, a daily paper. Returning to Seattle in 1907, Troy was associated with the Alaska Club, became editor of the Alaska Yukon Magazine in 1911, and was secretary of the Washington State Democratic Club in 1912. In 1913 Troy came to Juneau as editor of the Daily Alaska Empire, which had been founded the previous year by J.F.A. Strong. In 1914 he bought the paper from Strong, who was then Governor of Alaska. In 1919 Troy was appointed Collector of Customs for Alaska and continued in that office until February 1, 1922. President Roosevelt nominated him as Governor of Alaska on March 23, 1933, and he was inaugurated at Juneau on April 19. Reappointed in 1937, he served until December 5, 1939. He died at Juneau on May 2, 1942.

Mount Troy - on Douglas Island, just west of the headwaters of Cowee Creek and 3.3 miles southwesterly from Juneau. Elevation 2998 feet. Named for John W. Troy, former Juneau newspaper publisher and Governor of Alaska.

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