My Great Grandparents FRANK R BROWN & MARY ETTA KENNEDY: An Archive of Photos from the Apollo Mine, Unga Island Alaska PART ONE

 My maternal grandmother RUBY BOLTON BROWN, was born 17 July 1892 in Alameda, California, but was raised at the Apollo Mine on Unga Island,(Shumagin/Aleutian Islands), Alaska from 1892 until 1904. Her sister GLADYS BROWN was born 18 July 1889 at Unalaska (Aleutian Islands), Alaska, and GENEVIEVE BROWN was born March 1894 in the Superintendant's house at the Apollo Mine on Unga Island. 

FRANK RICARD (RICKARD) BROWN, their father, was hired by the Alaska Commercial Company to prospect, build & act as foreman at the Apollo Mine. He arrived at the mine in 1887, and his wife MARY ETTA (KENNEDY) BROWN  & daughter EMMA, who had been living in Bodie, California, joined him in the spring of 1888.  He later became Superintendent of the Apollo & Sitka Mine, until its closure in 1904; in 1914 he formed a business to work the tailings, which failed when he was unable to obtain workers because of WWI.  FRANK continued to go up to Unga Island every summer until his death in 1939.

Here are some of the photos in my family archive. Most of the originals are in my possession. 

Earliest photo in my possession: FRANK R BROWN and his dog "Kitty" 1888 Apollo Mine, Unga Island, Alaska ("Kitty" is mentioned in his diary) 

The opening of the Apollo Mine 1891 Unga Island, Alaska. This photo is not in my collection, and I don't know the source or who owns it; I came across it while researching the Apollo Mine. My great grandmother MARY ETTA (KENNEDY) BROWN is the 3rd seated woman from left, in tan coat and black hat; my great grandfather FRANK R BROWN is the 3rd man from left, standing, tan coat, black hat and black mustache. Unfortunately I have not been able to identify the others in this photos. 

GLADYS BROWN (top left, standing); RUBY BROWN (sitting left), GENEVIEVE BROWN (sitting left of RUBY. Photo taken at the Apollo Mine, Unga Island Alaska Spring of 1895. Source unknown, photocopy of original. I have not been able to identify the other five girls in the photograph. 

FRANK R BROWN & MARY ETTA KENNEDY and their daughters, taken at the Apollo Mine probably Summer, 1895. Sadly, EMMA took her own life Nov 7, 1895. See my previous blogpost for story.

The AC Company purchased a Baldwin 0-6-0 Steam locomotive in 1897 to move ore from the Apollo & Sitka Mine to Delaroff harbor and the village of Unga, a distance of about two miles.  From there,  it would be loaded on ships. I only had a photocopy of this image, but with photo enhancement tools now available, I was finally able to see the faces clearly.  My great grandmother MARY ETTA (KENNEDY) BROWN is the woman in the white blouse, and the child in front of her is my grandmother RUBY BOLTON BROWN. My great grandfather FRANK R BROWN is the man at far left. The woman on the far right may be Mrs KATHERINE (Root) FLETCHER. 

My grandmother RUBY BOLTON BROWN with CHARLIE (Charles Arnold) FLETCHER, and "MATTIE" (surname unknown) on a beach, Unga Island, Alaska, about 1899. When FRANK & family moved into the Mine Superintendent's house, it was so large that the FLETCHER family, moved in also. CHARLES FLETCHER worked for the AC Company.  Mrs KATHERINE (Root) FLETCHER served as school teacher for the children who lived at the mine. The FLETCHERs were from Oakland, Alameda, California. MATTIE was not their daughter, she is not listed in any census record with them in California or Alaska. So her surname remains a mystery.

 

Unga Island Fourth of July Celebration, circa 1900. My great grandmother MARY ETTA (KENNEDY) BROWN is seated, near top of photo, dead center, in the round hat & tan coat. I believe two of her daughters are standing behind her, but can't see the faces clearly. The woman at far left, top row, standing & holding the coffeepot may be Mrs KATHERINE (Root) FLETCHER. CHARLES ARNOLD FLETCHER, her son, is likely one of the boys in foreground.  All others are unidentified.

CONTINUED IN PART TWO

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2024