Histories

Hundreds of colonists relocated by the Federal Government in the early 1930's colonized the eastern Matanuska Valley between Wasilla, Palmer, and the Butte. The colonists came as part of the Matanuska Colony New Deal agricultural experiment sponsored by the federal government. The Federal government offered the opportunity to families from the Northern United States (Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin), as it was believed they would achieve greater success farming in a colder climate. These 203 families are those who were present at the first draw for land tracts on May 23, 1935.

Alexander: Harold, Francis and 4 children - William Gene, Bonnie Lee, Winston and Harold (Robbinsdale, MN)
Anderson: Chris, Grace and 3 children (Shell Lake, WI)
Anderson: Clarence, Clara and 2 children (Draper, WI)
Anderson: Walter, Garnet and 4 children (Kenton, MI)
Archer: Pearle, Dorothy and 4 children (Nelma, WI)
Arndt: Lawrence, Etta and 1 child (Nelma, WI)
Bailey: Ferber, Ruth and 2 children (Lena, WI)
Barry: Earl, Louise and 7 children (Rhinelander, WI)
Bell: Lloyd and Dorothy (Brook Park, MN)
Bennett: William, Ruth and children (Empire, MI)
Benson: Henning and Irene (Barnum, MN)
Bergan: Leonard, Alice and 1 child (Carlton, MN)
Beylund: Oscar and Irene (Rice Lake, WI)
Biller: Robert, Dorothy and 2 children (Fence, WI)
Boice: Harold, Lona and 6 children (Merritt, MI)
Bouwens: William, Lulubelle and 11 children (Rhinelander, WI)
Bradley: John, Sylvia and 2 children (Lake Nebagamon, WI)
Brown: Otis, Grace and 3 children (Enterprise, WI)
Campbell: George, Onabelle and 2 children (Mio, MI)
Campbell: Harry and Theodora (Abrams, WI)
Carson: Arnold, Hortense and 2 children (Milaca, MN)
Carter: Clifford, Dorothy and 2 children (Muskegan, MI)
Casler: William and Elsie (Mesick, MI)
Chaney: Escar, Louise and 3 children (Stephanson, MI)
Christianson: Martin, Leota and 1 child (Ogilvie, MN)
Church: John, Julia and 5 children (Mountain, WI)
Clayton: Walter, Rose and 3 children (Spooner, WI)
Connors: George, Edith and 4 children (South Range, WI)
Cook: Clyde, Jessie and 7 children (Longville, MN)
Cousineau, Charles, Reba and 1 child (Lansing, MI)
Covert: Albert and Catherine (Cable, WI)
Davis: Harold, Edith and 2 children (Lansing, MI)
Dean: Ballard, Marion and 3 children (Fence, WI)
DeLand: Nile, Helen and 5 children (Winter, WI)
Dingman: William, Mildred and 3 children (Frankfurt, MI)
Doughty: Glendon, Hulda and 2 children (Milaca, MN)
Dragseth: Joe, Velma and 2 children (Rice Lake, WI)
Dreghorn: Lawrence, Grace and 5 children (Wolverine, MI)
Durphy: Robert, Gladys and 3 children (Cheboygan, MI)
Eckert: Virgil, Lillian and 2 children (Cloquet, MN)
Ellison: Carl, Ruth and 1 child (Billings Park, WI)
Ellsworth: Lester, Senia and 5 children (Merriweather, MI)
Emberg: George, Evelyn and 3 children
Engebretson: Oscar, Johanna and 3 children (Richfield, MN)
Ennis: Max, Lila and 3 children (Tower, MI)
Erickson: Carl, Inga and 3 children (Rhinelander, WI)
Ferguson: Walter, Mable and 2 children (Iron River, WI)
Fitzpatrick: Theodore, Leona and 5 children (Roscommon, MI)
Foster: Kenneth, Marion nad 2 children (Stephenson, MI)
Fisher: Otto, Frances and 1 child (Kanabec, MN)
Fox: Waldo, Mable and 1 child (Hulbert, MI)
France: Grant, Iva and 5 children (Grand Rapids, MN)
Frank: Darrell, Lois and 2 children (Mio, MI)
Fredericks: Albert, Audrey and 2 children (Sturgeon Lake, MN)
Fredericks: Allen, Lenore and 3 children (Sturgeon lake, MN)
Giblin: Theodore, Jennie and 1 child (Brookston, MN)
Greene: Clarence and Alida (Hancock, MI)
Greise: Raymond, Hazel and 3 children (Starks, WI)
Gulberg: Bernard, Beatrice and 2 children (Medford, WI)
Hack: Arthur, Mabel and 3 children (Ogilvie, MN)
Hammon: Leroy, Gretchen and 2 children (Iron River, WI)
Havemeister: Arnold, Emmy and 1 child (Wallace, MI)
Hemmer: Patrick, Cora and 4 children (Wright, MN)
Henry: Francis, Ella and 1 child (Viroqua, WI)
Hermon: John, Hilda and 6 children (Plymouth, WI)
Herried: Leonard, Ella and 2 children (Trempealeau, WI)
Hess: Frank, Florence and 3 children (Cavour, WI)
Hesse: Claude, Helen and 1 child (St. Louis Park, MN)
Higginbotham: Robert, Clara and 2 children (Stambaugh, MI)
Hoeft: John, Adeline and 1 child (Rogers City, MI)
Hoganson: Harold, Mayme and 3 children (Ewen, MI)
Holler: John and Gertrude (Pine City, MN)
Hopkins: Roy, Ada and 2 children (Arcadia, MI)
Huntley: Walter, Beatrice and 2 children (Sault Ste. Marie, MI)
Huseby: Einer, Inez and 3 children (Pembine, WI)
Hynek: William, Neville and 5 children (Faithorn, MI)
Ising: William, Marie and 2 children (Saginaw, MN)
Jabobson: Adolph, Mable and 2 children (Mohawk, MI)
Jahr: Paul, Emma and 4 children (Pine City, MN)
Jensen: Harry, Viola and 4 children (Tipler, WI)
Jenson: Henry, Edna and 2 children (Littlefork, MN)
Johnson: Arvid, Edith and 2 children (Crystal Falls, MI)
Johnson: Clinton, Doris and 2 children (Winter, WI)
Johnson: Harold, Fannie and 1 child (Houghton, MI)
Johnson: Johan, Irene and 1 child (Anatol, MN)
Johnson: Victor and Klaria (Harshaw, WI)
Johnston: James and Lillian (Shell Lake, WI)
Jones: Vernon, Eleanor and 2 children (Onamia, MN)
Juvette: Eugene and Mary (Winter, WI)
Kalliosaari: John, Letta and 1 child (Copemish, MI)
Kenser: Grant and Gertrude (Swatara, MN)
Kertulla: Oscar, Elvi and 2 children (Deer River, MN)
Kindgren: Oscar, Saima and 1 child (Duluth, MN)
Kirsch: John, Rose and 3 children (Solway, MN)
Klienpier: Kenneth, Grace and 3 children (Anatol, MN)
Koenen: Henry, Bernice and 2 children (South Range, WI)
Kurtz: Cecil, Mary and 2 children (Suring, WI)
Laako: Henry, Ruth and 1 child (Mohawk, MI)
LaFlam: Claire, Emma and 3 children (Shell Lake, WI)
Lake: John, Magdalene and 3 children (Superior, WI)
LaRose: Henry, Clystia and 4 children (Phillips, WI)
Larsh: Emil, Gertrude and 2 children (Iron Mountain, MI)
Larson: Fred, Laura and 4 children (Ranier, MN)
La Valley: Edward, Florence and 4 children (Houghton, MI)
Leander: Rudolph, Inez and 1 child (Onamia, MN)
Lee: Francis, Eugenie and 3 children (Forest Lake, MN)
Lemmon: George and Josephina (Littlefork, MN)
Lemmon: Gilford and Catherine (Littlefork, MN)
Lentz: Joseph, Zuleika and 6 children (Merrill, WI)
Lentz: William, Viola and 1 child (Merrill, WI)
Lepak: Thomas, Irene and 1 child (Duluth, MN)
Lipke: Henry, Mary and 2 children (Harrietta, MI)
Loyer: Joseph, Naomi and 4 children (Harrisville, MI)
Lund: John, Margaret and 1 child (Saginaw, MN)
MacNevin: Leon, Loraine and 5 children (Atlanta, MI)
McCormick: Martin, Margaret and 3 children (East Tawas, MI)
McKechnie: Loren, Edna and 5 children (Cloquet, MN)
McKendry: Howard, Edith and 1 child (Winter, WI)
Manginen: Walter, Vivian and 1 child (Champion, MI)
Martin: Clyde and Arbutus (Mackinaw City, MI)
Mattson: Runar and Eleanor (Ashland, WI)
Meehan: John, Viola and 5 children (Cloquet, MN)
Meier: Carl, Edith and 5 children (Duluth, MN)
Miller: Neil, Margaret and 3 children (Blair, WI)
Monroe: Lester, Mary and 3 children (Hiles, WI)
Moses: Arthur, Blanche and 1 child (Bigfork, MN)
Moss: Edward, Myrtle and 1 child (Pine City, MN)
Nelson: Arthur, Isabel and 2 children (Shell Lake, WI)
Nelson: Paul, Margaret and 1 child (Riverview, WI)
Newville: Irving, Lila and 1 child (Boyne City, MI)
Nichols: Harry, Virgil and 1 child (Georgetown, WI)
Novak: George, Catherine and 1 child (Ashland, WI)
Nutilla: Eino, Betty and 2 children (Ironwood, MI)
Olmstead: Vernon, Pearl and 3 children (Remer, MN)
Olson: Hilmer, Gwendolyn and 2 children (Duluth, MN)
Olson: Walter, Minnie and 1 child (Duluth, MN)
Onkka: David, Saina and 6 children (Bruce Crossing, MI)
Pakonen: Russell and Madelon (Long River, MI)
Parks: Clarence, Beulah and 3 children (Merriweather, MI)
Parlette: Paul and Violet (Rapid River, MI)
Patton: Claire, Margaret and 1 child (Long Siding, MN)
Peterson: Otto, Meryle and 5 children (Wrenshall, MN)
Pfeiff: John, Clara and 6 children (Stephenson, MI)
Piaskowski: Frank, Frances and 5 children (Ironwood, MI)
Pippel: Walter, Melva and 4 children (Robbinsdale, MN)
Poore: Chaney, Florence and 1 child (Littlefork, MN)
Porter: John and Alice (Champion, MI)
Porterfield: Ernest and Almeda (Harrieta, MI)
Powell: Ores, Lorenzie and 2 children (Duluth, MN)
Puhl: Joseph, Blanche and 2 children (Ashland, WI)
Quarnstrom: Clarence, Sadie and 1 child (Daggett, MI)
Rasche: August, Anna and 1 child (Wentworth, WI)
Rebarchek: Raymond, Edna and 1 child (Graceton, MN)
Reitan: Bernard, Alice and 2 children (Superior, WI)
Retallic: Arthur, Alice and 1 child (Amasa, MI)
Ring: Frank, Lucille and 6 children (Beecher, WI)
Rorrison: Lawrence, Vera and 2 children (St. Louis Park, MN)
Rossiter: Henry, Mary and 4 children (Cloquet, MN)
Rotz: Fred, Emma and 2 children (Plymouth, MI)
Roughan: Henry, Minnie and 5 children (Monico, WI)
Ruddell: Charles, Ada and 6 children (Duluth, MN)
Runyan: Scottie, Irene and 2 children (Winter, WI)
Saaralla: Matt, Olga and 1 child (Swan River, MN)
Sandvik: Ingolf, Agnes and 6 children (Moose Lake, MN)
Scheibl: Gustave, Alethea and 3 children (Sheboygan, WI)
Schultz: William, Martha and 1 child (Tomahawk, WI)
Schutt: Claus, Hattie and 3 children (Lucas, MI)
Sexton: Allan, Minnie and 5 children (Pelican lake, WI)
Sieber: Joseph, Albertine and 5 children (Grasston, MN)
Sjodin: Clarence, Alice and 2 children (Onamia, MN)
Smith: Lauren, Hollis and 5 children (Bennett, MN)
Smith: Martin, Margaret and 7 children (Ewen, MI)
Smith: William, Alice and 5 children (Bennett, WI)
Snyder: Thomas, Freda and 4 children (Manistee, MI)
Sorenson: Clarence, Vivian and 1 child (Rice Lake, WI)
Soyk: Martin, Genette and 1 child (Minocqua, WI)
Spencer: Milan, Margaret and 1 child (Mesick, MI)
Spencer: Nelson, Olive and 3 children (Chauncey, MI)
Splittgerber: Herman, Violet and 2 children (Hinckley, MN)
Stahler: John, Elizabeth and 6 children (Chaney, OK)
Stebbins: Dewayne and Evelyn (Mesick, MI)
Stephan: Vincent, Betty and 1 child (Grasston, MN)
Strang: Eldred, Helen and 1 child (Strang, MN)
Sturdy: Norris, Leona and 1 child (Crystal Falls, MI)
Sullivan: Carl Francis, Elizabeth and 1 child (Cheboygan, MI)
Swanda: Frank, Wilhelmina and 2 children (Pine City, MN)
Taylor: Neil, Violet and 1 child (Florence, WI)
Ubert: Lawrence, Alice and 2 children (Kingsdale, MN)
Usher: Robert, Helen and 3 children (Copemish, MI)
Van Wormer: Howard, Bernice and 1 child (South Boardman, MI)
Vasanoja: Laurence, Helen and 5 children (Cloquet, MN)
Venne: George, Irene and 3 children (Bear Lake, MI)
Vickaryous: Anthony, Alys and 4 children (Bandette, MN)
Walport: Paul, Edith and 1 child (Stone Lake, WI)
Way: Sherman, Esther and 1 child (Lyon Manor, MI)
Weiler: Nicholas, Elsa and 4 children (Medford, WI)
Wilding: John, Viola and 4 children (Iron Mountain, MI)
Wilkes: Ray, Ruth and 5 children (Wahkon, MN)
Wilson: Amedee, Leah and 4 children (Cooks, MI)
Wirtanen: Eino and Fannie (Iron River, MI)
Worden: Frank, Margaret and 5 children (Three Lakes, WI)
Yohn: Victor, Manila Bay and 3 children (Tomahawk, WI)
Zook: Harold, Clara and 3 children (Central Lake, MI)

Postmasters

BIG LAKE
Elbert H. Pitts – appointed 8/1/1950, 11/17/1950

BROAD PASS
Mrs. Mae Helen Kotila – appointed 8/16/1951, 10/8/1951
Mrs. Helen L. Wolford – appointed 1/2/1952, 2/20/1952
Mrs. Reitha L. Senter – appointed 9/5/1953

CASWELL
Charles A. Berg – appointed 2/20/1929

CHICKALOON
Charles Peters – appointed 1/16/1918
Sumner S. Smith – appointed 3/31/1921
Russell R. Herman – appointed 3/2/1922
Rossville S. Hickey – appointed 7/25/1931

CURRY
Arthur B. Cummings – appointed 3/17/1926
Malcolm J. MacDonald – appointed 8/26/1936
Mrs. Ruth Ray Beran – appointed 4/1/1944
Mrs. Anna Marie Swift – appointed 8/7/1944
Mrs. Anne E. Christen – appointed 6/21/1945
Hazel S. Guider – appointed 5/3/1946
Mrs. Clara H. Larsen – appointed 1/10/1947, 4/28/1947
Mrs. Hazel F. McDonald – appointed 1/1/1949, 2/10/1949

ESKA
Charles A. Fowlkes – appointed 9/5/1917
F. J. Hart – appointed 4/30/1919
Frank Kelley – appointed 8/14/1920
Herbert Tomlinson – appointed 8/19/1943
Mrs. Lillian Heitman – appointed 1/8/1945
Mrs. Ella Crosby – appointed 7/8/1946
Rivera Hiber – appointed 4/7/1947

EUREKA
Julius Rahmstorf – appointed 3/22/1909
James Coughlin – appointed 6/4/1913

FORT LISCUM (DAYVILLE)
Alvin R. Palmer – appointed 10/22/1908

JONESVILLE
Robert Digges – appointed 11/19/1921
Evan Jones – appointed 5/23/1922
Jas Hylan – appointed Nov 1923
Charles S. Spaulding – appointed 2/14/1925, 5/28/1928
Martin Larson – appointed 9/30/1927
Harry L. Fiedler – appointed 8/9/1943

KNIK
George W. Palmer – appointed 10/29/1904
Newton W. Pilger – appointed 2/2/1915
Sidney Bettman – appointed 7/19/1915
Deedie Blodgett – appointed 8/8/1917

MATANUSKA
Georgia L. Kinsinger – appointed 11/18/1914
Mattie Leckvold – appointed 2/4/1916
Sue W. Williams – appointed 9/23/1916
Harold E. Peckenpaugh – appointed 9/8/1917
Oliver O. Krogh – appointed 12/17/1920
Kerwin M. Frank – appointed 3/28/1939
Virginia Frank – appointed 11/27/1940

MCKINLEY (DENALI, VALDEZ CREEK)
Robert W. Ferguson – appointed 6/8/1908
Leburn S. Wickersham – appointed 4/8/1915
(Changed to Denali 4 August 1922)
Leburn S. Wickersham – appointed 8/4/1922

NIZINA
Stephen H. Palmer – appointed 8/21/1923

PALMER (WARTON)
Georen O. White – appointed 6/6/1917
(Changed to Warton)
James W. Fenton – appointed 7/13/1931
(Changed Back to Palmer - 1 July 1935)
James W. Fenton – appointed 7/1/1935
Mrs. May Kennedy – appointed 1/17/1936, 4/24/1940
Harry B. Deland – appointed 2/17/1941, 10/1/1941
Mrs. Beatrice A. Huntley – appointed 3/1/1944, 12/19/1944
Mrs. Beatrice A. (Huntley) John – appointed 5/18/1957
Mrs. Geneviere M. Moffitt – appointed 3/6/1971

PETERSVILLE
Merle H. Guise – appointed 4/15/1936
Mrs. Nellie Johanson – appointed 2/19/1937

SKWENTNA
Mrs. Belle Shellabarger – appointed 7/28/1937
Mrs. Carlene M. Delia – appointed 9/30/1968

SUSITNA
Frank Churchill – appointed 12/26/1906
Horace W. Nagley – appointed 2/11/1908
Rowland R. Healy – appointed 7/2/1924
Virgil M. Lynam – appointed 4/15/1937
William E. Austin – appointed 9/28/1938

SUTTON
Michael J. O'Neill – appointed 3/1/1948, 9/9/1948
Mrs. Grace F. Boulter – appointed 3/31/1950, 4/28/1950
Mrs. Rivera Hiber – appointed 12/30/1966

TALKEETNA
Robt McIntosh – appointed 12/5/1916
Chas. A. Anderson – appointed 6/29/1917
Thomas P. Weatherell – appointed 2/7/1947, 8/23/1918
Horace W. Nagley – appointed 3/15/1927
Horace W. Nagley, Jr. – appointed 7/1/1946
Donald G. Barrett – appointed 2/7/1947, 5/26/1947
Mark E. Hamblin – appointed 7/27/1957, 12/14/1957
Emery Wilson Kunkle – appointed 11/1/1962, 9/8/1964

VAULT
Percy H. Palmer – appointed 1/21/1908

WASILLA
Howard W. Wilmoth – appointed 7/2/1917, 6/30/1923, 5/21/1942
Frank B. Cannon – appointed 3/26/1923
Mrs. May Clara Carter (Clara May) – appointed 10/27/1944

WILLOW
Mrs. Zoa H. Hazel Nicholls – appointed 2/1/1948, 1/4/1950

Source: Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971, National Archives Matanuska-Susitna Borough Place Names

Colonists

Postmasters