Happy Birthday to Willie Feero born on this day, August 31, 1883 in Maine. The family came to Skagway from Auburn, Maine via Tacoma arriving on October 19, 1897. His father, John Eleanor or “Sandy” Feero worked as a packer until he froze to death in December of 1898 on the Chilkoot Trail.
Willie and his mother, twin sisters, and brother stayed in Skagway. Willie worked and lived in Douglas and Skagway until his death in 1950. During that time he married, had a family and worked as a White Pass engineer/fireman and a carpenter.
There are descendants in Skagway today who I am sure would have better stories than mine. Here is a picture of his son John taken in front of their house in Douglas about 1935.
1900 census;1915 directory; WWI registration; Skagway death record; Pennington.
Nice to see this mention and this site. One of Willie’s twin sisters, Edith, was my great grandmother. Would love to learn more about this interesting period of my family’s history.
My “grand uncle” John, great grandfather Willie and great great grandfather Sandy are all mentioned in this passage. #proudalaskan.