Rugged Yukon Pioneers

The Mason Family Home, Tangier, NS

 Capt Peter Mason (1836) and Lydia Arbuckle (1840) were married in 1862 at Tangier, NS and went about creating a home and a family of 11 children.

Two of those children weren't like the rest!  They became pioneers of the Yukon!

The brothers were Cleveland 'Reuben' (1865) and Willoughby 'Bill' (1871).  Reuben had settled in Fort Yukon in the late 1890s and was a part of the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898.  Bill followed suit in the early 1900s.  Together they clawed out a rugged lifestyle along the Porcupine River.

Reuben by his Porcupine River cabin with his catch

The first two articles for Rueben, from the Fairbanks Miner, 17 Jun 1938 & 23 Jun 1937 (pg4) highlights his lifestyle and the third reports the decline of his health, 22 Apr 1947

Unfortunately he did not recover and he died 2 Oct 1954 in Seattle.  He was buried with his brother at the Hudson Bay Cemetery in Alaska.  

Obit from the Fairbanks News Miner, 7 Oct 1954

courtesy of Mitzi Reynolds

 

Rube Mason at Shuman House abt 1937

When you look at the picture of the brothers in the link below, you can certainly see the family resemblance; however, Bill was reported to have been 6ft tall and broad shoulders. Fort Yukon Bunch  

In Bill & Beatrice's wedding picture of 1926 below, Rube appears taller than Bill  but note the hill Rube is on (left of bride).

Willoughby Mason & Beatrice Birmingham Wedding Pic

Willoughby's Passport Picture

Willoughby abt 1891

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 13 Dec 1935

courtesy of Mitzi Reynolds

 Beatrice Birmingham, late teens - she went on to create the "Alaska Friends" in Seattle for Alaskan visitors and it has since been turned into a care home.

u/k Seattle Newspaper

A couple of pioneering men who risked their lives in the wilderness and led extraordinary lives! 

I would like to thank Mitzi Reynolds from Fort Yukon for sharing her wonderful collection of articles and pictures!