Joseph "Joe" Juneau 1833 - 1899
Joseph Juneau was born on May 28, 1833 in Repentigny, Quebec. He was the second and most adventurous son of Francois and Marguerite Juneau. His early inspiration was his cousin, Laurent-Solomon Juneau, who followed a most adventurous life before founding the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Joe, whose main schooling was in the woods and streams, was on his way to California in 1849 at the tender age of sixteen. Joe was successful enough to buy property near Oakland, California and raise horses, but he could not resist the urge for adventure.
His trail is difficult to follow, but in the next twenty-five years, Joe Juneau was also in Oregon and at the Fraser River, at times with his country man, Alexandre "Buck" Choquette. In the 1870's Joe joined the rush to the Cassiar in British Columbia. The Alaskan city of Wrangell was the entry point for the Cassiar and Joe was there when George Pilz hired him. Joe first worked near Pilz's Silver Bay prospect before beginning to follow up rich gold specimens brought in by scouts, including Kawaee. When Joe Juneau and Richard Harris dropped into the Silver Bay Basin in October 1880, it was the richest gold showing that Joe had seen in thirty years.
Joe was more an easy-come easy-go miner. He was popular in the district and won out in the naming of the city of Juneau. The other choices were Harrisburgh and Rockwell but the evening before the vote, it's rumored Joe bought everyone drinks at a local establishment.
His choice of feminine partners was Susie. Susie liked Joe too but her family separated Susie from the older alcoholic miner. Susie and Joe's daughter, Mary Andrews Marks, lived to the age of 102. Mary became the matriarch of an Alaskan family that can be traced to the 1650's in Quebec and much fathewr in Alaska and France.
Joe made one last rich strike in 1895 near Circle, Alaska, but died of pneumonia in the Klondike in 1899. Miners and friends brought his body back for burial in his named city in 1903. His final resting place is side by side to his partner
His trail is difficult to follow, but in the next twenty-five years, Joe Juneau was also in Oregon and at the Fraser River, at times with his country man, Alexandre "Buck" Choquette. In the 1870's Joe joined the rush to the Cassiar in British Columbia. The Alaskan city of Wrangell was the entry point for the Cassiar and Joe was there when George Pilz hired him. Joe first worked near Pilz's Silver Bay prospect before beginning to follow up rich gold specimens brought in by scouts, including Kawaee. When Joe Juneau and Richard Harris dropped into the Silver Bay Basin in October 1880, it was the richest gold showing that Joe had seen in thirty years.
Joe was more an easy-come easy-go miner. He was popular in the district and won out in the naming of the city of Juneau. The other choices were Harrisburgh and Rockwell but the evening before the vote, it's rumored Joe bought everyone drinks at a local establishment.
His choice of feminine partners was Susie. Susie liked Joe too but her family separated Susie from the older alcoholic miner. Susie and Joe's daughter, Mary Andrews Marks, lived to the age of 102. Mary became the matriarch of an Alaskan family that can be traced to the 1650's in Quebec and much fathewr in Alaska and France.
Joe made one last rich strike in 1895 near Circle, Alaska, but died of pneumonia in the Klondike in 1899. Miners and friends brought his body back for burial in his named city in 1903. His final resting place is side by side to his partner