Homesteads on Fort Richardson, Alaska - The USARAK Home Page ...

John Hoglund filed his homestead application in 1923 and received a patent in1930. Little is known about Mr. Hoglund other than that he was a bachelor and hada 12’ x 12’ log cabin on the 160-acre property. He died of pneumonia not long afterthe government acquired the land. Hoglund sold his homestead to the governmentfor $2,700 in 1941.James R. and Anna S. CampbellJames and Anna Campbell bought their land from James H. Wilson in 1926. Theyhad a business, the Panhandle Café, in town. It is not known whether they lived onthe homestead or maintained a residence in town. Since they purchased the land,they were not required to reside there. There was a log cabin on the property thatwas in very poor condition by 1941. The previous owner, James Wilson, may havebuilt the cabin. There was also a well and about 80 acres of tillable land. James andAnna sold the homestead to the government for $5,000 in 1941.7.2.3 1930 – 1939The 1930s were a decade of increased homesteading activity in the Fort Richardsonarea. Over this ten-year period, approximately 30 people filed for homesteadentry. Only about six of the entries went to patent, however. Most people filed from1937 to 1939 and did not have enough time to fulfill the homestead requirements.More of the homesteaders in the 1930s were married and had families. Still, manywere bachelors.Gus HunterGus Hunter filed his homestead entry in November of 1931. He received patent in1941, and sold the land to the U.S. government the same year for $3,500. GusHunter (nickname “Shorty”) was a single man from Illinois. Though he officiallyfiled for entry in 1931, he probably had been in the area for some time. He kepthorses and chickens on his homestead. Hunter would frequently take people upShip Creek Canyon to hunt for mountain sheep. They would pack the meat out onhorseback. 79 Hunter constructed several buildings on the land including a log cabin,large barn, and shed.Clarence L. and Katherine DonaldClarence L. Donald was born in Michigan in 1897. He served in World War I as aninfantry sergeant and moved to Alaska in 1930. In 1933, he filed his homesteadapplication and records state he received patent on January 2, 1943. Clarence Donaldwas married to Katherine Donald, but little information about the couple could belocated. Donald was a fisherman, logger and farmer – and may have also had cattleon his homestead. He left Alaska soon after the government purchased his propertyin 1943 and returned to Michigan where he died in 1963. 80Thomas C. and Lois PriceThomas and Lois Price acquired the former homestead property of Victor Carlsonin 1935. Thomas was born in Grizzly Gulch, Montana, on April 14, 1874. He stud-79John Bagoy, personal interview, 23 June 2000.80Obituary, Anchorage Daily Times, 18 July 1963. p. 2.30<strong>Homesteads</strong> on Fort RichardsonAlaska