Good Morning List,
Many of us like the cable show Gold Rush. We can imagine what it would be like to find
gold.
We have an ancestor Finis Ewing Cagle, who was born 6 Oct 1857 in Sarcoxie Jasper County,
Missouri.
He died on 31 Jan 1950 in Seattle King County, Washington. His wife was Virginia Ann
Godwin. who was
born 26 Feb 1856 in Jasper County, Missouri. She passed away on 14 May 1939 in Seattle
King County, Washington.
Finis & Virginia, were married 27 Jul 1882 in McDonald County, Missouri.
They had two sons Charles C. Cagle, who was born Feb 1885 in Jasper County, Missouri. He
died on 20 Dec 1960
in Mountlake Terrace Snohomish County, Washington. His brother was Lawrence F. Cagle, who
was born 17 Jun 1894
in Ketchikan, Alaska. ( A very beautiful place my wife & I visited ) He died on 15 Sep
1970 in Clackamas County, Oregon.
Our good man Finis Cagle, decided to move his family to Alaska, settling in Ketchikan.
The gold rush started in Northern Canada along the Yukon River, when it petered out there
it begain in Alaska,and lasted
between 1896–99 (stampede: 1897–98)
Our Finis Cagle, was a Tin Smith a trade very much needed during these times especially in
Alaska.
All of those miners needed tin pans to search the creeks and rivers for gold.
Not to mention cups, plates, eating utensils etc.
So he was evidently a very ambitious man even though he may have not found much gold.
It is estimated that 100,000 men & women searched for gold first in Canada, and then
Alaska. Out of all those people
it is said only about 4000 found gold.
According to the 1900 Census of Alaska Finis E. Cagle, relocated to Alaska in July 1892
from Reeds Station, Missouri.
So he was there before the gold rush started.His parents are Edwin Cagle 1815-1864. And
Mary Fletcher Orr 1823-1884.
Best Regards,
Earl David Cagle Sr.