Early Alaskan Schools
and Schoolmasters
Highly treasured in the archives of the Iditarod Pioneer is a
little volume published in 1886 dealing with education in the terri
tory of Alaska. Consisting primarily of matters relating to
native education, the Rev. Sheldon Jackson’s first report to the
Department of the Interior also contains much that is of absorbing
interest to residents of the territory, especially in view of the
enormous strides that Alaska has made in the past thirty years.
It is hard to realize that in the year 1880 there were only 430
white people in the whole of Alaska, yet such was the case. The
'S ukon valley in 1880 could account for only 18 whites, the Kusko
kwim had 3, the Aleutian islands and Alaska peninsula 83—princi
pally squaw men engag d in walrus hunting,—Kodiak island
accounted for 37, and the balance lived in Southeastern Alaska.
Between 1880 and 1886 a great change took place. The Treadwell
mine had been discovered and opened up, and miners and pros
pectors began filtering into the country from all parts of the earth.
Before 1883 hardy pioneers had crossed the Chilkoot and dropped
down the ^ ukon to the Forty-mile, little realizing that they were
the forerunners of nearly 200,000 men women and children who
were to enter the North in the years which followed Carmack’s
discovery in the Klondike. But so it turned out and the estimated
white population in Alaska in the year 1886 was over 2,000.
It is greatly to the credit of the Russians that they took such
a deep interest in education, and to the Russian governor.
Gregory Shelikoff, belongs the high honor of establishing the first
school in the territory—on Kodiak island, in the year 1784. Othei
schools followed quickly. On the establishment of a Russian post
at Sitka, one of the first acts of the government was to open a
school. That was in 1805.
That the education given to the natives was thorough and ser
viceable was proved time and again. The Russian governors
reposed great confidence in the educated natives, which seems to
have been justified. One of the best physicians in the territory
was an Aleut. Their best traders and accountants were natives
trained in the Russian schools in Alaska, or those who had beei.
educated in Russian colleges in Europe.
One shining example was Etolin. Etolin was a half breed, 01
Creole. He was a man of exceptional ability. Although not ?
member of the Greek church, but a Lutheran, Fltolin rose rapidly
in the service of the government. In 1833 he was commissioned
to take charge of the Sitka school, which under his fostering care
nourished exceedingly. But Etolin was soon transferred to a
higher post. In due course he became chief director of the Rus
sian Fur company, and eventually governor of Russian America.
When he became governor Etolin erected a Protestant church at
Sitka—the first Protestant church in Alaska. At his own expense
he installed a small pipe-organ, which is believed to be still in use.
After Etolin passed away the schools declined somewhat, but
in 1859 they were reorganized once more and their scope enlarged
by the addition of navigation, astronomy and theology, and native
lads were prepared for the Russian navy and the priesthood.
flight years later came the transfer of the territory to the
United States. The Russian teachers were withdrawn and the
schools discontinued.
The first attempt to establish a school under United States
control was made in December, 1867, one month after the Russian
retirement, when 49 persons (two of whom made their X mark), pe
titioned the common council of Sitka for leave to establish a school.
Permission being granted a meeting was held, and, in March, 1868.
Aaron Levy, Patrick Burns and C. B. Montague were elected as
trustees of the first American school in Alaska.
At an early meeting of the trustees, Miss Mercer was appoint
ed first teacher of the school, at a salary of §75 per month, $50 of
which came from the Navy fund.
Difficulties next arose about the purchase of a schoolhouse.
The Russian American company was leaving the territory and
wished to dispose of their log building. It was suitable for school
purposes, but the community was without funds wherewith to pur
chase it. At this juncture the Freemasons, who were about to
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Finely Furnished Rooms
First Class Cafe. Liquors and Cigars
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N. GLANTZ AND MRS. SWANSON
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Just received a large shipment of
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And High-Grade Watches all to be sold at GUARANTEED
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J. L. SALE, Leading Jeweler of the Norili
Slippern’s Mill..
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Patrons will find that their Clothes washed by the new method A'ill look
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organize at Sitka the first Alaskan lodge, came to the rescue with
an offer of $150 toward the purchase price, in exchange for the use
of two rooms in the rear, when required for lodge meetings. Thus
was established the first American school in the North.
In 1870 the subsidy paid from Navy funds was withdrawn and
the school teachers salary reduced to $:25 per month. A year or
two later the school was discontinued, and education in Alaska fell
upon evil days.
About 1880 Rev. Sheldon Jackson wai appointed to inaugurate
a government school system in Alaska. Ho arrived at Sitka only
to meet with the bitterest persecution from Governor Kinkead and
Judge McAllister. He was arrested and jailed on a trumped-up
charge, which could not be sustained. But eventually he over
came all opposition and the Sitka school was re established.
Great difficulties had to be surmounted in the outlying pro
vinces. Enormous distances had to be covered, and there were no
regular means of intercommunication. So transportation depend
ed upon small trading schooners, with an occasional U.S. warship.
The establishment of the school at Kodiak was only accom
plished after severe hardships, including shipwreck. When it be
came known that a teacher was required for Kodiak, Salomon
Ripinsky, a Russian Hebrew of superior attainments, volunteered
his services. But trouble was to get to Kodiak from Sitka, a dis
tance of 633 miles across the Gulf of Alaska. There were no
vessels sailing at the time, but so anxious was Mr. Ripinsky to go
that he was willing to take the risks of travel in a small sailing
vessel of only ten tons. Accordingly he set sail with a school out
tit, the captain of the boat being his only companion. Three days
out the tiny schooner sprang a leak in a storm. She was headed
for land and schoolmaster and skipper worked unceasingly at the
pumps until the boat was beached near Lisianski. Repairing the
vessel as best they could she was again launched, and after seven
teen days battling with the fiercest storms reached Ivillisnoo.
There Ripinsky unloaded his supplies, and hiring some Indian
canoes returned to Sitka. A day or so after his return the
steamer Honita reached Sitka en route to Unalaska, and, with the
consent of Mr. Ripinsky, his destination was changed to that
place, where, within a few days after his arrival, the doughty
scholar opened school with 45 pupils.
Colonel Salomon Ripinsky now resides at Haines. Last Feb
ruary he won a case in the United States Appellate court which
confiims his title to seveial acres of land in Haims townsite,
which had been claimed by lot jumpers.
_ A. M. E.
Janks and Umphrey Open Tonsorlal Parlor
About the first ef the week, the new
barber shop and bath rooms in the
•new Pioneer building will be opened
by Jenks and Umphrey, two of the best
known barbers in the North.
They have the western portion of the
first floor of the fine frame building
which now occupies the site- of the old
Pioneer log building, where they are
putting in four barber chairs and three
enameled bathtubs, and their place
will be among the niftiest in town.
The Pioneer for Job Printing.
The Pioneer saloon quarters in the
new Pioneer building on First street
are being made ready for the big open
ing that will come off about Wednes
day of next week. Ramps Peterson,
who opened the first saloon in Iditarod,
is dolling the place up like a June
bride and it will indeed be an attrac
tive resort when completed.
n ^ - ?’1, vls't Flat creek call at
Carroll s Globe Bakery and Coffee
House for a lunch.
Save the pieces! broken lenses re
placed at Simpsorrs.
Anderson & Barret! to
Look After Passengers
—
In connection with the independent
freight and passenger traffic to be
handled by Bert Day this summer be
tween Dikeman and this city, Oliver
Anderson and Johnny Barrett will have
an office here for the purpose of issuing
transportation between Iditarod and
Dikeman, and will also conduct a com
mission business.
It is Mr. Day’s plan to put in most
of his time at Dikeman where he wi 1
have charge of the Samson Transpor
tation Co. and where he will handle
most of the traffic of the mosquito fleet
both freight and passenger. At thistnd
of the line, Anderson & Barrett will
look aft er passengers, and may also have
charge of the receipt of freight.
The main boats of the mosquito fleet
have entered into an arrangement with
Mr. Day whereby he will superintend
most of the transhipping that takes
place at Dikeman.
Give the Chief a Fine Gold Siar
There was quite a little joy party
last Sunday night when a bunch of
friends of Chief of Police O’Connor
called hitn into Magistrate Hunt’s
office and surprised him with a beautiful
gold star, made especially by the Sale
Jewelry Co., for the occasion.
This emblem of authority has nug
gets scattered all over it and caught
the chief right where he lives. Follow
ing the presentation speech by Capt.
Petersen, the bunch adjourned to a
nearby watering tank and closed the
deal in a manner worthy of the oc
casion. _
Gene Bouchene and partner are pre
paring to open a messhouse on One
above Otter, where they will be pre
pared to feed the men on the Ives and
Price Ground at the mouth of Glen.
Frank Bartliel, who used to run the
moving picture machine at the Califor
nia saloon in Fairbanks, is now located
at Decatur, Ind. He has taken unto
himself a wife.
Dupree Lance, a mining engineer
from London, arrived at Fairbanks re
cently to inspect the Fairbanks creek
properties tied up by options by Lem
ons and Powell.
New Golrtstream Streak
Is Causing Litigation
Suit has been filed in the district
court at Fairbanks by Charles L.
Thompson and O. M. Jackson against
Walter King, the plaintiffs asking for
the restitution of certain portions of
the Homestake Number One associa
tion on Coldstream, and for $50,000
damages for golddust said to have been
fraudulently extracted from the
ground in question.
The plaintiffs allege that since
March 12, 1910, the plaintiffs and the
defendants and Erie O verst ad t andJ.T.
Adams have been, and that Charles L.
Thompson, O. M. Jackson, Walter
King, Eric Overstadt and J. T. Adams
now are owners ot the 120-acre claim
known as the Homestake Number One
association, situated on the left limit of
Goldstream, opposite 7, 8 and 9.
The complaint charges that between
March 12, 1910, and July 29, C. Reed
fraudulently and secretly entered with
in the limits of the said claim and
extracted gold dust therefrom to the
injury of the plaintiffs to the extent of
$50,000. _
Wil! Bottle it Here on the Spot
Among the other advantages coming
with that first boat besides green
onions is said to be a bottling plant
which is being brought down by Jack
Keenan, formerly connected with the
bottling plant at Fairbanks.
This plant will be able to fix up those
funny drinks that look like circus
lemon ide and taste like anything from
strawberry to mixed paint. It will also
charge the sizzy siphon without which
there is no true fizz.
Keenan will locate his plant in this
city and will send out charged water to
ail the drink emporiums here and on
the creeks besides making blueberry
wine which is good for a chaser.
Davy Cochrane who built the counter
sunk cabin on Willow Point opposite
the city was compelled to move out
early after the breakup as he was the
first visited by the water. He moved
his tent to the top of his cabin but the
water searched him out there and he
has been compelled to move a second
time. _
Fine weather for a steam bath.
Elite Baths, Caribou street.
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