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Professor Will Henry
The development of the Solomon River mines
and the rapidly increasing population last year
in consequence thereof, made the appointment
of a U. S. Commissioner for this district advisable.
The Judge of the District Court selected Will Henry
for this position, the appointment dating from June
15. 1904. Prof. Henry is an educator with thirty
years' experience in educational work. He filled the
position of principal of Nome District Schools during
the term of 1 902-'03. He is a specialist in philology
and mathematics, two branches of learning to which
he has given much time and thought.
During a residence of many years in Colorado he spent his vacations in the mines, studying practical mineralogy, and
acquired an expert's knowledge of ores. It was this
fact that led to his employment by a capitalist to visit
Nome in 1900, with the special object of acquiring extensive holdings if his judgment was
favorable to the investment. The subsequent illness and
death of the capitalist thwarted these plans at a time
when Prof. Henry's future seemed the brightest. But he had acquired a knowledge of
the country which impelled him to stay, although he realized the difficulty of
accomplishing satisfactory results without adequate capital. When he left Colorado he sacrificed
a profitable business as mining expert, but since he has come to Alaska he has obtained
a knowledge of the stupendous wealth and great possibilities of this country, and
announces his intention of remaining here and fighting to a finish on the condition he has had to accept.
Prof. Henry is a native of Ohio, and was born April 25, 1855. His family
moved to Colorado during the Civil War. He was educated at Oberlin College, and
began the work of a teacher early in life. In May, 1897, he and Miss Anna S. Skerrett were married at Cripple Creek. Mrs. Henry is a niece of Admiral Skerrett, of
the United States Navy. Prof. Henry's learning and wide experience enable him to
creditably fill the judicial position to which he has been appointed, and discharge the
duties of the office to the satisfaction of the public and the District Court.
Source: Nome and Seward Peninsula by R. S.
Harrison. Seattle: The Metropolitan Press, 1905.
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