Biographies

JAMES PERRY DELANEY

James Perry Delaney was born 15 Apr 1948. He enlisted into the U. S. Army from Willow, Matanuska Susitan Borough. He served as Light Weapons Infantry in 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, C Company. Sgt. Delaney died 19 Dec 1968 of small arms fire in Binh Long Province, South Vietnam. He was buried in Kashwitna Cemetery, Willow, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. James is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington DC. His name is inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 36w, Line 44.

JAMES T. HEDLEY

James T. Hedley enlisted into the U. S. Army from Buffalo Soapstone, Matanuska Susitna Borough. As a Private, James was killed September 2, 1953, in a non-hostile air crash in Germany while serving in the 526th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 86th Fighter Bomber Group at the time stationed at Neubiberg Air Base in Germany. He is remembered at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington. This is a National Parks Service and American Battle Monuments Commission location.

PATRICK ALBERT "PADDY" MARION

Patrick (1874-1955) was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to Peter and Mary (Graham) Marion natives for Ireland both of whom immigrated to America in 1973 with Peter working in the coal mines in the Pittsburgh area. They were married in Ireland in 1872. In 1900, Mary indicated she had nine children born to her and six were living; Thomas (1873), Patrick (1874), Michael (1879), Marlin (1880), Mary (1881), and James 1883).

From 7 September 1898 until 6 September 1901, Paddy served in the U.S. Navy as a Water Tender during the Spanish American War.

It is difficult to follow Paddy after his discharge, but a Patrick Marion shows up in 1905 and 1909 in Seattle working as a marine fireman. This would have been consistent with his Navy skills. Paddy registered for World War I in Anchorage, Alaska in 1918, listing his employment as a shop man for the AEC (Alaska Railroad). After a brief stint in the Territorial Jail in Anchorage in 1920 for making moonshine [he was the jail cook], Paddy was working as a prospector and gold miner in the Willow Creek Mining District, where he developed the Marion-Twin Mine and operated the Lonesome Mine (aka the Gold Mint Mine). Legend has it that the Marion-Twin was named to include his twin sister [His sister Ida died as an infant]. By 1927 the Marion-Twin Mine was in full production, with a two-story log headquarters in Wasilla (Lot 9, Block 1, the southeast corner of Herning and Main Streets). When the building was completed, they had a town-wide house-warming party and dance.

Paddy also had a small log home on the west side of Main Street (Lot 3, Block7), across from the Community Hall (now the museum). This cabin is presently in the Wasilla Historic Park.

The Marion-Twin Mine was noted as one of the major gold producers until it shut down with the other mines during World War II. In 1946 the Marion-Twin Mine headquarters building was sold to the Chatwood family for a general merchandise store, which then burned down the next year.

Paddy retired to Seattle, Washington where he passed away on 9 January 1955 and is laid to rest in the Willamette National Cemetery near Portland, Oregon.

CHRIST STERN

Christ was born in Norway on 26 January 1869 to John and Ele Johnson Stern. He immigrated to the United States in 1886.

Christ enlisted in the U. S. Army on 18 June 1898 as a Private in the 3rd U. S. Volunteer Infantry, Company D with service in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He was discharged with an Excellent record at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on 26 December 1898.

He cannot be found in the 1900 or 1910 Census reports and it is suspected he was in Alaska then out of census takers reach as we find him living in Kenai in 1920 where he homesteaded (318 acres in Sections 2, 11, 12 of Township 17, Range 1) in the area on the south shore of Wasilla Lake that included the south peninsula and the outlet to Cottonwood Creek.

His diversified farm produce included strawberries and potatoes, supplemented with income from working for the Alaska Road Commission.

Chris passed away on 14 November 1927 in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. In his will, he left his homestead to the village of Wasilla. After several years using the site for town events, Girl Scouts and picnicking, the Village sold the property to William Edlund for $1,000 in 1930. This money was the seed money to begin construction of the Community Hall. The portion of his original homestead property north of the Palmer Road evolved into the Green Acres Resort. The larger remaining area was gradually subdivided and sold in separate parcels.

Chris is buried in the Tacoma Cemetery.

VICTOR JOSE ZAPATA

His name is sometimes seen as Victor Joseph Zapata. He was born 4 November 1933, the son of Victor and Geraldine Likens Zapata. A Texas native, Victor enlisted into the U. S. Army from Palmer, Alaska. As a Private First Class, on October 20, 1952. Victor was killed in action by hostile forces in North Korea while serving as a Light Weapons Infantryman, in the 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.