prospector and miner who came north to Nome in 1901, Charles F. Quinton was born in Dexter, Maine in 1883. As a young man he made his way across the United States to the west coast and eventually arrived at the gold fields of Nome. After two unsuccessful years there, he headed back south and attended a barber college with the idea of having a back-up trade if he did not make it rich in the gold mining business. He returned to Alaska in 1905 and prospected the Copper River Country and the Kantishna district during the summer months. In 1920 he finally settled in Anchorage and opened a barbershop.

Bessie Griffin was born in Louisville, Colorado in 1894. She met Charley Quinton when she came to Anchorage from Montana to visit her sister Edith Knapp, and Bessie and Charley were married in 1922. Bessie worked as a bookkeeper for various stores and also was employed as a court reporter. Charley continued to have the “gold fever” and at every opportunity was off prospecting with his partners in the Kantishna area.

Bessie and Charley Quinton had three sons. Griffin, born in 1924, had three children; Jodie Tupuola; Diane, who passed away in 2001, and Greg. Harry, born in 1926, had no children. Howard, born in 1931, had two daughters and a son. Charles F. Quinton passed away in 1952, and Bessie Griffin Quinton died in 1975. Both are buried in Angelus Memorial Park, Anchorage, as is their granddaughter, Diane Lee Quinton.
Bessie Griffin Quinton, born in Louisville, Colorado, 1894. Died in 1975. Charles F. Quinton, born in Dexter, Maine, 1883. Died in 1975. Child not identified.     The Quinton and Knapp families with Nell Hewitt, at the Knapp home, 8th Avenue and L Street, 1923.
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Bessie Quinton and sister Edith Knapp, Lake Spenard, 1922.     Charley Quinton with prospecting partners John Bagoy and Dewey Burnett, 1933.
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Charley Quinton with boys, circa 1930.     Grade school class, going out for a picnic, in front of Charley’s barber shop, 1935.
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Griffin Quinton, born in 1924.     A view of 4th Avenue, looking west from C Street, from the Quinton family collection, date unknown.
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Harry Quinton, born in 1926.     Howard Quinton, born in 1931.
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Photo captions:
  1. Bessie Griffin Quinton, born in Louisville, Colorado, 1894. Died in 1975. Charles F. Quinton, born in Dexter, Maine, 1883. Died in 1975. Child not identified.


  2. The Quinton and Knapp families with Nell Hewitt, at the Knapp home, 8th Avenue and L Street, 1923.


  3. Bessie Quinton and sister Edith Knapp, Lake Spenard, 1922.


  4. Charley Quinton with prospecting partners John Bagoy and Dewey Burnett, 1933.


  5. Charley Quinton with boys, circa 1930.


  6. Grade school class, going out for a picnic, in front of Charley’s barber shop, 1935.


  7. Griffin Quinton, born in 1924.


  8. A view of 4th Avenue, looking west from C Street, from the Quinton family collection, date unknown.


  9. Harry Quinton, born in 1926.


  10. Howard Quinton, born in 1931.


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