Dempsey, Melvin

1898-1899

Arrived in Alaska, Feb. 1898, C1900; 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, Bk. 1;

1898-1900

Started for interior by glacier route, March 27, 1900 arrived in Chisna, April 19. From Diary M. Dempsey, 1900. CS1.# 199; Elected recorder of Chisna district. Met Dempsey at Chisna, April 19, 1900. From Diary M. Dempsey, 1900. CS1.# 199; Along Copper River Trail between 6/28/1900-10/1/1900, C1900; Dempsey elected recorder. Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, pp. 11-12, First proposed that the district be called Cherokee Mining District, lost 14-21, then named Chisna Mining District, p.13: articles amended to prohibit the use of power-of-attorney for out-of-district people, p. 13; Mining Location, Dempsey Lode Vein, located on the east side of Slate Creek, on Siquoyah Gulch, July 20th, 1900. Recorded Aug. 22, 1900. Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 6; Mining Location, “Gypsy Placer Claim,” located July 19th, 1900, Recorded Aug. 22, 1900. Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 8; Mining Location Notice with M. Dempsey, G. Hazelet, A.J. Meals, “Discovery,” located on the Chisna River about two miles from where it empties into the Chistochena. Discovered May 2, 1899, Located July 8, 1899, Recorded June ? 1900. Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 14; Power of attorney to record mining locations for G.W. Hemmings, A. Woodruff (locators), p. 15 and a number of other claims that were probably involved in the lawsuit with Hazelet; Notice of Location, “Dempsey Claim,” located on Bedrock Creek Gulch, Discovered May 20th, 1900, Located May 28th, 1900, Recorded June 25th, 1900.Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 109; Notice of Water Rights for Discovery Placer Claim, La Node Mining Co., M. Dempsey President and locator, July 27th, 1900, Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 185; Mining Location for Bonita Placer Claim located “on a flat or bench between Chesna and Chistochena,” Locators: Dempsey and Park Griswold, Dempsey signs by Power of attorney for J.G. Snyder, F.J. Cameron, H.D. Brown, C. Amon, CB Smith, A.R. Abercrombie, Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 217; Location Notice, “Chistochena Placer Claim,” located on the west bank of Chistochena River about half mile below the mouth of the Chesna River. Locators: M. Dempsey, J. Miller, H. Miller, C. Mayman, Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 216; see also, pp. 226, 260; Location Notice for Denver Placer Claim, on Lime Creek, a tributary of the Middle Fork from the West and joins the Lime Placer Claim on the west, located May 31st, 1900, witness H. Miller, Recorded July 22, 1900, Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 245. Listing of Power of attorney to Dempsey for Abercrombie Nov. 1, 1899; S. Grogg, Oct. 21st, 1899, James Fish, Feb. 21sth 1900, Carrie Amon, Fred Cameron, Oct. 28, 1899, H.D. Brown, J.G. Snyder, C.B. Smith. Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 254; Agreement for prospecting, Dempsey pays R.H. Coles $20 plus $37 in provisions for Coles to go to the Chisna River and work for Dempsey, Dempsey to receive 50% of any mining claims, January 24th, 1900.Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 272; Power of Attorney from Charlotte M. Roberts to Dempsey, January 4th, 1898 in County of Cook, Illinois. Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 298; Power of attorney for George W. Hemmings and Mrs. George W. Hemmings to Dempsey, January 13th, 1898. Arapohoe County, Colorado, Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 299; Power of attorney for Amos H. Woodruff to Dempsey, Cook County, Illinois, December 21, 1897. Chisna R.D. Bk.1, vol. 1, p. 299; Mining Lease, M. Dempsey, Nellie E. Fish, James Fish lease their 1/2 interest in “Cole’s Placer Mining Claim,” to W.W. Beck, witness; N.C. Murman, Sept. 25th, 1900, recorded Oct. 2, 1900; lease annulled Oct. 17th 1900, Location Notice, Earl Placer Claim, located on Chisna River, No. 8 below Discovery claim, Sept. 21, 1899, Witness: S.W. Jones, H (?).L. Moore, Recorded Dec. 10th 1900. Chisna (Chistochina) R.D. Bk. 2, p. 208; Dempsey sells his 1/2 interest in the “Cole’s Placer Mining Claim,” to N.E. Fish and James Fish, recorded Oct. 2, 1900, Location Notice, Earl Placer Claim, located on Chisna River, No. 8 below Discovery claim, Sept. 21, 1899, Witness: S.W. Jones, H (?).L. Moore, Recorded Dec. 10th 1900. Chisna (Chistochina) R.D. Bk. 2, p.209; Went down the Port to meet the Excelsior & Hazelet, Hazelet Diary, Feb. 17, 1900; 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. CS1.# 199;

1901

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 e 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;