ExploreNorth, your resource center for exploring the circumpolar North
Return to the Home Page The ExploreNorth Blog About ExploreNorth Contact ExploreNorth

Search ExploreNorth

William Dibblee (1849-1913)
Arctic & Northern Biographies
The Weekly Star, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory - Friday, January 24, 1913

William Dibblee, Pioneer Resident, Succumbs To Attack of Pneumonia, 1913

    William Dibble, one of the pioneer residents of Whitehorse, died at the General hospital here Monday morning [January 20] at 6:30 o'clock after being ill less than a week.

    While not feeling well last Wednesday Mr. Dibblee came down from his home in the west part of town that evening and spent some time with Captain Martin at the store of the Arctic Trading company, which place he always visited when down town. Not appearing Thursday, Captain Martin went to his house Friday evening where he found him in very bad condition. Dr. Clarke was called and ordered the patient taken to the hospital, which order was complied with at once, Captain Martin and an assistant hauling him on a hand sled.

    From the first, Dr. Clarke having diagnosed the case as one of acute pneumonia, little hope was had for his recovery. Mr. Dibble was made aware of his condition with the result that he arranged his earthly affairs, asking Captain Martin to take charge of and settle all matters of business connected with his estate. The patient continued to sink until Monday morning when he passed away.

    William Dibblee was born in Woodstock, New Brunswick, sixty-five years ago. When a young man he migrated to the United States, later going to Mexico, and finally settling in San Francisco where he made a home for his family consisting of his wife, one daughter and one son. The daughter is now Mrs. J. J. Hughes and resides with her mother at 252 Richland street, San Francisco. The son is believed to be in Portland, Oregon.

    The family have been informed of the death of the husband and father and have requested that the body be sent to them for burial, pending certain conditions. Up to yesterday evening the disposition of the body had not been definitely arranged.

    The deceased came to Whitehorse in July of 1900 and had since made it his home. He was engaged in the wood business, having a timber concession about five miles west of town. He was an honorable, upright man, quiet and unassuming. He made few friends, but those he made testify of his worth and reliability.
The Weekly Star, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory - Friday, January 31, 1913

W. Dibblee Buried - Body Not Shipped to San Francisco as Intended

    Last Friday evening Captain P. Martin received a cablegram from the widow of the late William Dibblee who passed away at the local hospital the morning of the 20th, instructing him to bury the remains here instead of shipping them to her at San Francisco as was first intended.

    The funeral was held here Sunday at 2 o'clock from Christ church, the exercises being conducted by Rev. W. G. Blackwell. There was a fair sized attendance at the church as well as at the grave. The pall-bearers were E. Wilson, W. Chantler, T. Curran, G. W. Wilson, Captain Martin and Chas. Johnston.
    William Dibblee was buried at the Whitehorse cemetery that is now called the Pioneer Cemetery. Although the family had asked for his body to be shipped to the States, I expect they couldn't afford it (the "pending certain conditions" in the first article), so he was buried here and the family possibly ordered a headstone (though it could have been Captain Martin, known for his generosity).