arry Ingle Staser was born in Newburg, Indiana in 1891. As a young man still in his teens, he was determined to reach the gold fields of the Klondike. Harry entered Canada via Haines, Alaska on his way to Dawson in 1908. After his arrival in Dawson City, he met a man named Stevenson, and together they took a freighting contract to deliver supplies via dog team to the mounted police station on Herschel Island.

The following year Harry returned to Indiana for a short period, then returned to Alaska via Valdez. He hiked the Valdez trail to Fairbanks, where he met Barbara Francetta dePencier. Barbara was born in Colfax, Washington in 1889 and had come to Dawson with her mother in 1906. During their stay in Dawson, Barbara and her mother, Jane, opened a small ladies’ ready-to-wear shop. The big rush was petering out in Dawson, so Barbara and her mother moved downriver to Fairbanks in 1908.

While in Fairbanks Barbara married a riverboat captain named Green, and they moved down to Iditarod during the 1910 rush. Here a daughter, Jean, was born in 1912, and shortly thereafter they returned to Fairbanks, where the marriage between Green and Barbara was annulled.

Harry again met Barbara, and they were married in Reno, Nevada in 1916. World War I was going strong, and the United States was becoming more involved. So, Harry and Barbara moved to Ft. Lewis, Washington, where Harry joined the Army. He served overseas with the 13th Infantry Division as a First Sergeant in a heavy machine-gun company.

After the war, the couple moved to the new city of Anchorage in 1919, and Harry was hired on as superintendent of the Alaska Railroad material yard. He built a log cabin at the corner of 7th Avenue and D Street to accommodate his family, now including daughter Jean and two sons. Bruce was born in 1919 and Beverly in 1922, both in Anchorage.

In 1923 Harry Staser left the employ of the railroad and was appointed Deputy United States Marshal for Anchorage, serving in that capacity until 1933. In 1926 Harry acquired a hard-rock gold prospect named the Monarch Mine, on Crow Creek adjacent to Girdwood, and began mining operations there.

In 1935 Barbara and sons Bruce and Beverly were involved in a serious auto accident, which left Barbara paralyzed. Five years later, in 1940, Harry suffered a massive heart attack at the mine and died. Barbara passed away in 1952. Harry is buried in the Masonic Tract, Anchorage Memorial Park and Barbara is buried in Los Angeles.

Son Beverly Staser and his wife had three children; Gail Lynn, Gregory John and Barry Dwight. Son Bruce had three children, Merry Ann, Jeffrey Bruce and John R. Daughter Jeanne Staser Redmond died in 1989.
Harry Ingle Staser, born in Newburg, Indiana, 1891. Died in 1940.     The Staser home from 1919 to 1923, at 7th Avenue and D Street.
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Barbara Francetta dePencier Staser, born in Colfax, Washington, 1889. Died in 1952.     U.S. Marshal office and family quarters, 4th Avenue and F Street, where the Stasers lived, 1923-1933.
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Barbara and Harry Staser and son Bruce, 1921.     The Fourth of July parade passing by the U.S. Marshal’s office, date unknown.
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Barbara Staser, after winning a tennis singles competition, 1925.     Barbara Staser, ready to board a flight with noted Alaska pilot Noel Wien, 1924.
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Jeanne Staser Redmond, 1912-1989.     Bruce Staser, born in 1919.
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Beverly Staser, born in 1922.
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Photo captions:
  1. Harry Ingle Staser, born in Newburg, Indiana, 1891. Died in 1940.


  2. The Staser home from 1919 to 1923, at 7th Avenue and D Street.


  3. Barbara Francetta dePencier Staser, born in Colfax, Washington, 1889. Died in 1952.


  4. U.S. Marshal office and family quarters, 4th Avenue and F Street, where the Stasers lived, 1923-1933.


  5. Barbara and Harry Staser and son Bruce, 1921.


  6. The Fourth of July parade passing by the U.S. Marshal’s office, date unknown.


  7. Barbara Staser, after winning a tennis singles competition, 1925.


  8. Barbara Staser, ready to board a flight with noted Alaska pilot Noel Wien, 1924.


  9. Jeanne Staser Redmond, 1912-1989.


  10. Bruce Staser, born in 1919.


  11. Beverly Staser, born in 1922.


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