As Cupid flits about flinging arrows into unsuspecting lovers this week, I thought it would be fun to take a look back in Alaska’s history and see what love-struck couples did when their stars crossed and they wanted to marry.
Well, it turns out that miners during the Klondike Gold Rush sometimes had to improvise when it came to matters of the heart. With no judges or preachers in the camps, they had to think up unique ways to perform nuptials. And so it was for two lovers on the Koyukuk trail.
Aggie Dalton and Frank McGillis wanted to marry, and in lieu of an official marriage contract, they created a substitute document – along with one “French Joe.” An account of the ceremony, which took place at a night camp with a group of stampeders en route to a Koyukuk River gold camp, was reported in the society columns of the Yukon Press on March 17, 1899:
Unique contract of marriage
“On the evening of November 10, 1898, a romantic union took place between Frank McGillis and Aggie Dalton, near the mouth of Dall River. Splicing was done by ‘French Joe’ (J. Durrant), and the form of the contract was as follows:
“Ten miles from the Yukon on the banks of this lake,
For a partner to Koyukuk, McGillis I take;
We have no preacher, and we have no ring,
It makes no difference, it’s all the same thing.”
– Aggie Dalton
“I swear by my gee-pole, under this tree,
A devoted husband to Aggie I always will be;
I’ll love and protect her, this maiden so frail,
From those sourdough bums, on the Koyukuk trail.”
– Frank McGillis
“For two dollars apiece, in cheechaco money,
I unite this couple in matrimony;
He be a rancher, she be a teacher,
I do the job up, just as well as a preacher.”
– French Joe
Happy Valentines Day to all my Alaska history fans!
This story appears in Aunt Phil’s Trunk, Volume Two.
“I swear by my gee-pole, under this tree,
A devoted husband to Aggie I always will be;
I’ll love and protect her, this maiden so frail,
From those sourdough bums, on the Koyukuk trail.”
Promises promises promises lol
Thanks for sharing, guess I never gave it much thought but it is nice to see what was done:)
I know, Teresa – back then people had to improvise!
I agree, Dov – not much has changed!
Wow this is very interesting! This seems so special and unique and I guess you do what you can in that kind of situation. Very beautiful! 🙂
It also makes you wonder how hard it was to find a wife in Alaska back then. It would seem like a lot of things would have to be improvised.
That is a very interesting story. Wonder how it worked with history though?
interesting that this happened in Alaska. Do you know if any other areas did this too?
I love this quote because it’s so real about their love:
“Ten miles from the Yukon on the banks of this lake,
For a partner to Koyukuk, McGillis I take;
We have no preacher, and we have no ring,
It makes no difference, it’s all the same thing.”
– Aggie Dalton
Wow! that is quite a contract. What a difference between then and now
What a great story. Things like this about the past are nice to read. Thanks for this.
You are most welcome! I really enjoy finding interesting stories for history fans.
Yes, it is a unique way to tie the knot!
Folks had to be creative back when times were simpler but life a bit tougher!
I haven’t researched any other places except Alaska and the Yukon area of Canada. But I’m guessing that many of those who lived “back in the day” came up with creative ways to say “I DO” when preachers weren’t available!
History is made up of a vast array of human experiences, Lisa.
We have an old saying in Alaska when it comes to the small number of women available who are looking to latch onto one of the many men in the county: The odds are good, but the goods are odd!
I think it is beautiful, too. Creative solution when no preacher was around!
This was very interesting and thank you for sharing this
You are most welcome, Sarah. I love finding interesting tidbits from Alaska’s past to share with history fans!
French (y) Joe, in the article, was my Great-grandfather. He attended Catholic Seminary training in Quebec to become a priest, but decided the life was not for him and left.
How cool is that!!! Did you know this story before you read it in my Alaska history blog?