1,150 Buried at Fairbanks Cemetery
EDITOR’S NOTE: If everybody in this world were as
cooperative as Pioneer Edby Davis of Fairbanks, this country
would be a much grander place
in which to live.
The following was compiled by Mr. Davis at the request of a Girl Scout
leader who wanted to teach her girls some authentic history
about the cemetery
that they helped tidy up each spring.
Here is Mr. Davis’s recollections:
The Fairbanks Cemetery lies between
Third and Seventh Avenues and Clay
Street. As
I arrived here in 1906, at the age of 12, it brings in lots of
memories of the
1,150 sleeping there.
A few days ago I was at the main gate with pad and pencil
thinking how to start. Before realizing
it, tears ran down my cheeks, as untold numbers
I knew. But one must go on.
It’s all divided into plots.
The General plot, Veterans, Oddfellows, Catholic, Eagles, Pioneers,
Moose, Masons. All 3.5 acres.
The Alaska Brotherhood, which ceased to function
and the balance of space with permission, was used by the Pioneers. All markers are supplied
by the
relatives. The most prominent are the
Veterans, six of the Civil War, nine Spanish American. The marble slab may be obtained, free by
applying for it at Washington, D. C.
Three of my buddies are resting there.
The most impressive is the Catholic Cross. Close by are three Vachon children burned at
Tolovana Alaska
in 1909. One girl came out alive and
was
recently a sister at St. Joseph’s
Hospital. Three Catholic sisters face
the cross, the first on to pass on is Sister Monaldi in 1915.
Six priests- the recent one Father
Boileau. In the distance is Mary Pedro;
her husband discovered gold that started the Fairbanks Stampede.
Her husband, Felix Pedro, is buried in San Francisco, California.
As one walks along there is Pat O’Conner, Albert Miller,
Charles McDermitt and Jirden Andrews, all law enforcement officers. Two died of
gunshot wounds. Four buried there with no markers, whose
death was capital punishment.
Dr. De La Vergne and Dr. La Blauc both medical doctors. Also Rev. Tompkins clergyman of the Christian
Science Church. Near the south fence
is
a murdered man, by which “Dead Man’s Slough”
is named.
Some years ago Surveyor John Quemboe made a blueprint of the
general plot. Two years ago our city
government placed a copper marker at
each grave. But there are lots of unmarked graves, out of
the general plot.
The first one buried here, 1903, he lived in a hotel at
First and Cushman, a suicide. His grave
unmarked. One lone grave, W. F.
Thompson, at one
time founder, editor and owner of the News-Miner. There is George L. Bellows who started a
newpaper at Chena, Alaska.
Morton E. Stevens, a lawyer,
one of the first of our Board of Regents of
our now University
of Alaska. Also John A. McIntosh, one of the first
Regents; his wife is buried with him.
Three cases of lady suicide, because they were accused of sporting. There are lots of cases of man, wife,
children. One can see some have loved
ones
as their graves are “kept up”.
When we lost our father, 1935, there were four types of
funerals, $90-$200-$240-and $500-this being a metal casket. These prices included everything.
In talking to an undertaker in Seattle, Washington,
he stated “your prices are cheaper than ours.
It must be little overhead.” How
true it was! An improved
wharehouse with
no facilities and lots of complalints.
There was always a hearse drawn by horses with black netting. In 1918 it was motorized.
In 1937 some of the plots were “filled up” and the Birch
Hill Cemetery started
afterward. The Northern Lights cemetery,
on the Yankovich Road
and both
are used now. The only ones
buried in the first cemetery were those who desired burial by a loved one.
My father is buried in the Pioneer Plot. We now have a 13 feet by 13 feet of space in the Birch Hill cemetery, where my brother is sleeping.
Transcribed by Joan Skilbred for the
Copyright 2008 © Fairbanks Genealogical Society