Documents and Records

1903 - 1905 Affidavits about John Hermann Pappe's death in Alaska

The following affidavits describe the death of John Hermann Pappe (1852-1903), brother of Richard and Albert Pappe's, who worked as a baker and occasional miner. After gold was discovered in Alaska in 1897, John went there and filed a claim with a partner named George Krasting. He was also co-owner of a steam boat with another partner, Daniel Headman. In 1903 John Pappe froze to death while hiking to his camp with Headman. His gold claim was subsequently re-filed under Krasing's name. When Johns estate was finally settled, virtually all of his assets had been consumed by the lawyer in Alaska.

The following is a transcription of the signed affidavits that describe the death of John H Pappe and settlement of his estate.

(See also clipping.)

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
DISTRICT OF ALASKA

I, Daniel Headman, being first duly sworn, on oath, depose and state: That I am acquainted with John Pappe, that I was present at the time of his death.

The circumstances of his death are:

That the said John Pappe and myself started March 5th, 1903 from a small steam boat in which said Pappe is interested, where it is in winter quarters on Baker River, about two miles above Dekyme our destination being our camp, at the mouth of Glacier, a distance of about thirty five miles by the Baker trail which we had taken, there were no houses or camps between the two points. The snow was very deep and we were pulling a sled for about fifteen miles of the distance. At about seven o'clock in the evening we left the sled and started on traveling until about three o'clock in the morning when he Pappe became so exhausted he died. He traveled the last half mile on his hands and knees.

I remained with him until he died, I then continued on my way to the camp which was still about five miles distance and arrived there at about half past five o'clock in the morning. It was between twenty and twenty five degrees below zero during the time we were out and at the time of his death.

Daniel Headman.

Subscribed an sworn to before me this 27th day of March 1903.

J. Lindley Green
Notary Public for the District of Alaska.

 

_____________________________

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
DISTRICT OF ALASKA

We M.S. Gill and George Krasting, being first duly sworn, on oath, depose and state, each for himself and not one for the other, that we were well acquainted with John Pappe the party referred to in the foregoing affidavit.

That George Krasting one of the affiants went after the body of the said John Pappe and brought the body to Rampart arriving in Rampart with the body of the said John Pappe March 24th. 1903 and buried the said John Pappe in the burying ground at Rampart on the 27th day of March 1903.

M.S. Gill
G. Krasting

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of March A.D. 1903

J. Lindley Green
Notary Public for the District of Alaska

 

_____________________________

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
DISTRICT OF ALASKA

I, J. Lindley green Commissioner and ex officio Recorder of Rampart Precinct in the Third Division of the District of Alaska, do Hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the record of the death of John Pappe deceased as it appears on the records of volume at page nine of Marriage Certificate and Births and Deaths in the office of the Recorder of Rampart Recording District Third Division of the District of Alaska.

Given under my hand this the 26th day of April 1904

[signed J. Linley Green]
Commissioner and ex Officio Recorder

_____________________________

Click image to enlarge

Territory of Oklahoma,
Kingfisher County,

Frank Stainer, and W. H. Frost, both of Kingfisher County, Oklahoma Territory, U. S. A. being first duly sworn, depose and say each for himself and not one for the other, that he was personally acquainted with John Pappe, now deceased, and is also well and personally acquainted with Albert Pappe and Richard Pappe of Kingfisher, Oklahoma Territory; that he knows of his own knowledge that the said Albert Pappe and Richard Pappe are brothers of the late John Pappe deceased, and that the said John Pappe has not, to the best of this affiant's knowledge and belief, any other or nearer kin than the said Richard Pappe and Albert Pappe.

[Signed Frank Stainer]
[signed W H Frost]

Subscribed and sworn to this 26th day of May, 1905, at the City of Kingfisher in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma Territory, U. S. A.

My commission expires on Nov. 21 1906

[signed George M Bennett]
Notary Public

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