Dempsey, Melvin

1898-1899

Power of attorney from Amos H. Woodruff, 12/21/1897, p. 300, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Arrived in Alaska, Feb. 1898, C1900; Located lot 3, block 8 in Valdez Townsite 2/26/1898, recorded 5/17/1898,V-Lot, Index, p. 58; Arrived in Valdez on Alliance, Feb. 26, 1898; Dempsey Diary CS1; Appointed to committee to draft laws and limits of VMDR, March 19, 1898. VMDR, Bk. 1; Organized Christian Endeavor Society, 4/24/1898; Gave report of Committee on Draft laws for Valdez Mining district, July 30, 1898. VMDR; Elected town Trustee, Oct. 4, 1898; elected Marshall and Justice, Nov. 25, 1898, Diary. M. Dempsey, 1898. CS1; Citizen’s Meeting on Valdez township, May 9, 1898. Minutes. CS1; Elected to Trustee for Valdez township, Oct. 10, 1898. Minutes. CS1; Present at Oct. 10, 19, 29, Nov. 9, 11, 1898 meetings. Minutes. CS1; Contributed “continuous labor & supplies” to building relief station on Valdez Glacier, Sept. 1898. Valdez, 1898. CS1; “started Christian Endeavor tent on beach, relief station plans, church, and log reading room” in Valdez, 1898, CS1; Conduct Christian Endeavor meetings in Valdez winter of 1898-1899. A. Powell, Trailing. p. 97; At January 16, 1899 Valdez Mining District Meeting.VMDR; Sworn testimony concerning rescue attempt on Valdez Glacier, Feb. 27, 1899. Trustees appoint him, Dempsey & Smith to take care of bodies and estates. Jury Finding. CS1; Also in Brown in Abercrombie 1900, p. 38; Arrived in Valdez fall of 1899 with Hazelet and Meals reporting on richness of the Chistochina.TVN 1:1. 3/06/01; Powell visits claim on Chistochina, Powell, in Abercrombie, 1900, pp. 133-134; Signs as attorney for Hemmings and Woodruff (locators), Chisna River, July 15, 1899, ML, Bk.3 (Bks.J&F), p. 155; Copy of power-of-attorney agreement with Hemmings and Woodruff in Chisna MDR, Bk. 1; Locators: Dempsey, Hazelet, Meals, “Discovery Claim,” Slate Creek, Dis. 5/2/1899, Located, 7/8/99, Recorded in Sitka, 10/20/99, SMDR, Bk. I, p. 778; copy in Chisna MDR, 1900, p. 14; Dempsey files claim No. 1 above discovery by power of attorney for locators (?) Charlotte Roberts and Carrie Hemmings, p. 19, Chisna MD Records, 1900; Received power of attorney from Abercrombie, 11/1/1899; S. Grogg, 10/21/1899, fred Cameron, 10/18/1899, H.D. Brown, J.G. Snyder, no date, C.B. Smith, no date, p. 251, Chisna MD.Records, 1900;

1898-1900

Prospecting Agreement between Coles and Dempsey; For $20 in cash and $37 in provisions, Coles agreed to work for Dempsey in Chisna River area and to share 50/50 with Dempsey on any claim he makes, 1/24/1900, p. 272, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Went down the Port to meet the Excelsior & Hazelet, Hazelet Diary, Feb. 17, 1900; Started for interior by glacier route, March 27, 1900 arrived in Chisna, April 19. From Diary M. Dempsey, 1900. Crary Scrapbook, Vol. 1.# 199; Name appears as officer or committee person in minutes of the Miner’s Meeting 4/20/1900 at Moose Camp: J. Burke (Chair), Kraemer (secretary), M. Dempsey (Recorder), B.E. Skinner, F. Date, R.T. Heron, W.J. Aniker, Jas. B. Newcomb, A.D.. McDowell, T. M. Dautton, W.H. Crary; approved size and by-laws of district, passed Resolution: against the “lavish and indiscriminate use of Powers-of-Attorney, but that those representing partners in the Territory of Alaska and locating claims for them shall not be considered guilty of such use.” (Directed against Hazelet party), resolution to be “posted in conspicuous places;” appointed committee of 5 (names not given) to settle minor disputes until the next meeting, 4/21/1900, p. 11-13, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Both W.H. Crary and M. Dempsey were nominated for the Recorder’s position of the Chisna Mining District, Crary withdrew in Dempsey’s favor, Dempsey unanimously acclaimed the recorder, p. 21 Chisna MD Records; Elected recorder of Chisna district. Met Dempsey at Chisna, April 19, 1900. From Diary M. Dempsey, 1900. Crary Scrapbook, Vol. 1.# 199; Hazelet says quarreled with his partner at Chisna, Hazelet Diary, July 4, 1900; Left for States on Bertha, Oct. 2, 1900. From Diary M. Dempsey, 1900. Crary Scrapbook, Vol. 1.# 199; Along Copper River Trail between 6/28/1900-10/1/1900, C1900; Agreement: Dempsey pays Coles $20 in cash and $37 in provisions. Coles agrees to “go to the Chisna River alaska and to arrive there on or before april 30, 1900 and to work during the season of 1900 for said M. Dempsey in preference to any one else at the ruling prices of the camp. I further agree that all mines, mining interests of whatever character that may be located or developed by me shall be equally divided between us. That is said M. Dempsey shall have an undivided 1/2 interest of any and all mining claims that I may locate during said season.” 1/20/1900, Valdez MDR, p. 81; Witness with Dempsey to Jacobson’s claim on Miller Gulch tributary, Chisna Mining District, Valdez, MDR, 1900, p. 51; Witness with Manker to Jacobson’s “Jacobson Calim,” Slate Creek, Chisna Mining District, Witness with Dempsey to Jacobson’s claim on Miller Gulch tributary, Chisna Mining District, Valdez, MDR, 1900, p. 53; Location Notice: “Snow Line Placer,” Chisna Mining district on Miller gulch, discovered &located 7/4/1900, filed 9/6/1900, Valdez, MDR, 1900, p. 53; Location Notice: “The Discovery” on Slate Creek, discovered and located 6/20/1900, by: D.B. Lavell, C.H. Kramer, Jack Beck, Robt. Coles, B. McDowall, Sam Taylor, Jim Manker, J.B. Newcomb, J. Jacobson, J. Miller, filed 9/6/1900, Valdez, MDR, 1900, p. 54; Location Notice; Discovered and located the “Fork Claim,” on 7/7/1900 in the Big Four Gulch, Chesna Mining District, with J.A. Jacobson, filed 9/6/1900, Valdez, MDR, 1900, p. 55; Location Notice, “Coles Placer, “ discovered and located 6/20/1900, riled 9/9/1900, Witness with Skinner to Coles’ “Coles Placer,” Slate Creek, Valdez, MDR, 1900, p. 68; Location Notice for unnamed claim in “Bed Rock Gulch tirbutary to the middle fork of the Chistochina River and about 10 miles in a northeasterly direction from Dempsey Post Office,” disocovered 5/20/1900, located 5/25/1900 by J. Jacobson, J. Beck, A.S. McDowall, R.H. Coles, and Sam Taylor, Witness with Skinner to Coles’ “Coles Placer,” Slate Creek, Valdez, MDR, 1900, p. 68-69; Witness to Jacobson claims, Valdez, MDR, 1900, p. 70,71; Witness to Nokes “Emma” placer mine in Chisna District, Valdez, MDR, 1900, p. 79; Location notice for claim on the east side of Slate Creek, on Siquoyah Gulch, 7/20/1900, p. 6, Location notice with H.F. Clark, witness J.S. M. Nelson for 40 acre placer claim on Miller Gulch, p. 5, Chisna MD Records, 1900; Location notice, “Dempsey Claim,” on Red Rock Creek (Gulch), 5/28/1900, p. 109, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Sells by power of attorney on behalf G.W. Hemmings mining claims for $1 to La Node Mining company, 7/23/1900, pp. 128-129, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Water right of way from Chisna River to Flag Claim No. 2 above Discovery, for La Node Mining co. p. 183, 7/29/1900, Dempsey, pres. Chisna MD.Records, 1900; claims 1000 miners inches of water running into chisna Stream “to be converyed by flume and ditch to the Glag No. 2 above Discovery placer claim.” for La Node Mining Co. p. 185, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Location notice by Dempsey, J. Miller, H. Miller, and C. Mayman for “Chistochina Placer Claim,” 8/4/1900, p. 216, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Location notice for “Bonita” by power of attorney for J.G. Snyder, F.J. Cameron, H.D. Brown, C. Ammon, C.B. Smith, A.R. Abercrombie; M. Dempsey and Park Griswold, locators, 8/4/1900, p. 217,Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Proof of Labor of $200 on east side claim No. 3 above Discovery on Chisna, by Dempsey, Snyder, and Fish, p. 238, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Proof of Labor of $200 on flag Claim #2 above Discovery on Chisna by La Node co, and Dempsey, p. 239, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Proof of Labor of $200 on Discovery on Chisna performed by Dempsey, Hazelet and Meals, p. 238, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Proof of Labor of $200 on Claim No. 1 above Discovery on Chisna performed by Dempsey, p. 241, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Location Notice for “Dinner Placer Claim,” on Lime Creek (Gulch), 5/31/1900, p. 245, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Location Notice, “Odd Number,” on Slate Creek Divide, 7/12/1900, p. 247, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Mining Deed, Dempsey sells by power of attorney for C.A. Hemmings claim #1 above Discovery to Griswold, anacker, Wm M. Robeson, Winans, and Skinner, for $1, p. 260, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Power of attorney from Charlotte M. Roberts (Cook County, IL), 1/4/1900, p. 298, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Power of attorney from George W. Hemmings and Mrs. Geo. W. Hemmings, of Anapohoe Co. Colorado (Denver area), p. 299, Chisna MD.Records, 1900; Received power of attorney from James Fish, 2/21/1900; Carrie Amon, no date, p. 254, Chisna MD.Records, 1900;

1901

Agreement; The “East Side Claim,” No. 13 above Discovery “James Fish the purchaser of the right titile and interst of John G. Snyder and Melvin Dempsey attorney for Sylvester Grogg that the lower half of said claim should be assigned to Sylvester Grogg and the upper half to James Fish,” 2/5/1901, VMDR, 1900, p. 264; Hazelet meets in Seattle and purchased his interest in the Discovery Claim for $100 down & balance of $400, Hazelet critical of Dempsey, Hazelet Diary, Feb. 5, 1901.The Christian Endeavor Society in Religious Organizations. The Valdez News, 1:1. 3/06/01. p.3; Party in his honor (Leaves for interior); The Valdez News, 1:4. 3/30/01; Outfitted prospectors, cf. Schone.The Valdez News, 1:7. 4/20/01, p. 1;Appointed miner’s recorder. The Valdez News. 1:10. 5/11/01. p. 1; Mining on Cole. Runs for Recorder position but loses to Hildreth 19; Bradbury 14. The Valdez News: 1:16. 6/22/01; Donates to Chamber’s Glacier Creek diversion fund, The Valdez News, 1:16. 6/25/01; Cole-Dempsey claim, next to Manker at mouth of Miller Gulch; very rich, being worked by Chisholm who had labor problems; Dempsey bought Chisholm out, The Valdez News, 1:21. 7/27/01; 2nd Cole-Dempsey Claim being worked by Reynolds and Perro. Small, rich claim employing 6 men, taking out $40-60 each.The Valdez News, 1:21. 7/27/01; Arrives in Valdez from interior, The Valdez News. 1:30. 9/28/01, p. 4; purchases lot from Coons and Thurston, The Valdez News. 1:31. 10/5/01, p. 1; Joins Fire Department, The Valdez News, 1:33. 10/19/01, p. 1; Indenture Notice, Mining Locations, Bk. A. p. 8; Location Notice, Myrtle Placer Claim, located on Moose Gulch, a tributary of the Excelsior from east side, Located May 24, 1901, Mining Locations and Water Rights, Valdez Recording District, Bk. B, p. 83; Location Notice for “Climax Placer Claim,” located on Fairview Creek about 1/2 miles below Gokona trail. No. 1 above Discovery claim. Located June 10, 1901, witness, G.H. Gutherie, recorded Aug. 9, 1901, Mining Locations and Water Rights, Valdez Recording District, Bk. B, p. 89; Witness to A.M. Powell’s “Powell Lode Ledge,” on west side of his property, Chisna R.D. Bk.2, p. 21; Dempsey mortgages to Wm. Chisholm for $1100 gold coin “the lot and building sutuated on the northwesterly corner of Keystone and Hobart more particularly described as the old Keystone property and numbered Lot 7 Block y of the town of Valdez together with the tenements, etc. belonging there. Book A of Mortgages, pp. 54, redeemed 10/29/1902, p. 54; Dempsey, James Fish and O.J. Hosford (Trustees of the Endeavor Congregational Church of Valdez) are indebted to the Congregational Church Building Society for $400 “to erect or possess a Parsonage and to complete the payment thereof.” Dempsey, Fish and Hosford promises to repay $20 on January, April, July and Oct. each year until debt is repaid; mortgage Lot 6 in Block 8 (corner of Glacier Ave. and Hobart St.), 3/12/1902, Book of Mortgages, pp. 96-98 (one of the most detailed and strict mortgage agreements);

1902

Location Notice, “Cherokee” Lode Claim, signed by seal of Webster Brown, witnessed by Melvin Dempsey, located on Powell Gulch, Mining Locations and Water Rights, F, p. 168; Check Deeds Index, Vol. 1. Note: Webster Brown, J.W. Bartlett, Mrs. Sarah E. Bartlett, Christian Tjosevig, P.W. Camphill,, A.J. Meals, and J.G. Egan grant Dempsey Power of Attorney to stake, record, etc. claims in Alaska, Deeds, Bk. D, p. 501-2; Indenture made March 12, 1902 between Dempsey, James Fish, and O.J. Hosford (Trustees for the Endeavor Congregational Church and the Congregational Church Building Society (New York), indebtedness of $400 for construction of the parsonage, terms of repayment, Book A of Mortgages, pp. 96-98 (no note saying this was paid); second indenture to Congregational Church Building Society, pp. 101-103 (no note saying this was paid); Mortgages 1/2 lot 7, block 7 and all of lot 9 in Block 6 for $594.00 to William Chisholm of Seattle, Oct. 28, 1902, to be repaid in 6 months (April 28, 1903) with 10%interest per annum, Bk. A Mortgages, p. 154 (no note saying this was paid); Issues conservative prospectus on The La Node Mining Company of which he is president, 1:48, TVN, 1/25/02, p. 4; puts shelves in Endeavor Hall reading room, 1:49, TVN, 2/1/02, p. 3; Leaving for Slate Creek via glacier, TVN, 2:2, 3/22/02, p. 4; Contributes to Glacier Creek bridge fund, TVN, 2:3, 3/29/02, p.1; Building a cabin on Elizabeth Creek, TVN, 2:13, 6/7/02, p. 4; dedication party for his mansion at mouth of Chisna River, near his Daisy claim, TVN, 2:15, 6/21/02, p. 3; Chamber appoints to a committee to look into settling payment dispute with Randolph Bros. 2:30, 10/4/02, p. 1; Dempsey mortgages 1/4 interest in the Coles claim at Chisna (Bk. 1, p.99) to John Miller for $236 at 12 % per annum on 10/13/1902, no record of repayment, Book A of Mortgages, p. 150; Chamber appoints Dempsey, Hildreth & Lynch to look at organizing a society for the prevention of cruelty of animals, TVN, 2:40, 12/13/02, p. 1; First meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announced for Dec. 22, 1902, TVN, 2:41, 12/20/02, p.1;