In May 1891, Joe Quigley embarked on a journey north to try his luck prospecting for gold in Alaska. Although he had been wandering across America since leaving home at 15, this would be the biggest adventure, and the biggest risk, Quigley had ever taken. A project that began as genealogical research into a family’s history, this biography traces the life of a fascinating character before, during and after the great Klondike gold rush. Deeply researched, including quotes from Quigley and numerous photographs, this book is more than another tale of the Klondike Gold Rush. It is an intimate look at the inspiring life of a pioneer prospector, who witnessed the exploration and development of one of America’s most harsh, beautiful and captivating landscapes.

Cheryl Fair is a freelance photographer, filmmaker, and writer. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Cheryl Fair
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 204
Bibliographic Info: 29 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2020
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7927-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3874-4
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Introduction: Searching for Joe Quigley 1
1. The Chilkoot Pass and Fortymile River 5
2. “Just a small family” 16
3. “A roving disposition” 22
4. The Last Frontier 31
5. Rocking on the Bars 35
6. Eldorado 43
7. Fairbanks 50
8. Kantishna 55
9. Joe and Fannie 62
10. Hard Rock 67
11. “An accurate observer of nature” 73
12. Community 80
13. The Great Mountain 86
14. Struggle 95
15. Postwar Resurgence 99
16. Expansion 109
17. Celebrity 118
18. Flight 124
19. Back Home 129
20. Cave In 138
21. Cashing Out 144
22. Still Rovin’ 155
23. Seattle 162
Chapter Notes 169
Bibliography 185
Index 189

• “Meticulous research… Fair has done an admirable job in making Joe’s remarkable story, and the history of the Klondike rush, accessible to the average reader.”—Baltimore Post-Examiner

• “An enjoyable read with many revelatory images of life around Kantishna…. a worthy book for the library of those interested in the Alaska-Yukon gold rush era.”—Alaska History

• “Deeply researched…intimate and informative…meticulously detailed…recommended”—Midwest Book Review