The life and times of John W. Clark of Nushagak, Alaska, 1846-1896
Branson JB. 2012. The life and times of John W. Clark of Nushagak, Alaska, 1846-1896. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
John W. Clark (1846-1896) was one of the first Euroamerican residents of Alaska, arriving at St. Michael with the Western Union Telegraph Company Russo-American Expedition to build a worldwide telegraph line in 1866. He was a distinguished trader on the Yukon, Kuskokwim and Nushagak Rivers between 1868 and 1896. Clark lived at Nushagak nearly twenty years and was a founder of the work-renowned Bristol Bay commercial salmon fishing industry. He was an entrepreneurial fur trader and merchant and likely the first English speaking resident of the Bristol Bay region. Clark was a close friend of the Native people of western Alaska and traveled widely about the region by dog sled and baidarka. He married and established a large extended family in western Alaska. Despite having Lake Clark, Lake Clark Pass and Clarks Point named after him, very little is known about Clark’s early life. For the first time, some of Clark’s enigmatic life is revealed in this biography of a pioneer of nineteenth century western Alaska.
- Type
- Book
- Authors
- Branson, John
- Date of Issue
- 2012
- Publisher
- National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
- Units
- HIST , LACL
- Keywords
- Alaska, Cultural Resources, ehistory, Fishing Industry, Fur Trade, History, John W. Clark, nushagak, Russo American Expedition, Salmon Industry, Western Union Telegraph Company, Yukon River