The Alaska citizen., 1914-03-30
C&1
WHO'S WHO
F A Y B A TX S

with apologies to Sam Blythe o
! The Saturday Evening Post, The Gil
zen with this issue begins ser
les of Who's Who in Fairbanks,
| the purpose being to present interest
| ing local biographies in such {
| way that they will contain a re
| Election of Alaskan history and 10
cal conditions-Ed.)
! ALBERT r. HEILIG
! In years to come when Alaska has
tier to a populated independent
state. there will be historical books
favorably known people who are
low residents of Fairbanks will oc
cupy important places. At that
time the story Of Judge Heiligs eX
periences as pioneer jurist of AL
aska will probably be read by new
genera ions with animated interest
Albert r. Heilig was born on q
farm in Eastern Pennsylvania in
| 1859, his parents both being German
At the age Of ten years he was
sent to tie public school of Read
ing, Pennsylvania, and he gradual
I'd from TIE high school of that
place at the age of IA years
After teaching school for two terms
he began the study Of law in the
office of an attorney, and he was
admitted to the bar in 1880. He
practiced law in Reading until 1887,
when he went to Kansas, where he
was the agent for an investmen,
company which loaned money to
farmers to prove up on their claims,
He also took part in some import
ant law suits there.
Moving to Tacoma, Washington.
n 1889, he began the practice of
law there, and, in 1899, when a
member of the Washington legisla-
ure. he supported the successful
candidate for the United State SEN
ate. AS a result of this, James
Wickersham was appointed Judge
for the Third judicial division in
Alaska, and Mr.. Heilg was made his
clerk. They both departed with
their families for Alaska in June,
1900.
Reaches Skagway.
At Skagway they remained several
days, during which time they divid-
ed Alaska into three parts, in CO.
operation with Judge Brown of the
First division, Judge Noyes of the
Second division having previously
agreed to abide by any division the
other two might make.
They came to Eagle in July 1900,
with neither money nor supplies,
the government having promised to
forward the latter, but none arrived
until the following summer. AS
clerk, Mr.. Heilig collected sufficient
money from licenses with which to
build courthouse and Jail at
Eagle, in 1902.
Prior to that time the clerks Of
flee was in a log cabin in which
court was also held. They held
court in Rampant and Circle in 1900,
and later took over at Rampant
military barracks and made a court
house out of it. At Circle, court
was held in the Presbyterian church.
In 1902, Valdez and surrounding
country were added to the Third
division by act of congress, SO that
during the years 1902, 1903 and
1904 they made trips from the Yu-
kon to Valdez and held court at the
latter place.
In 1908, and 1904 they also held
court in Fairbanks, and in the
latter year built the first court
house, which was destroyed by the
fire of 1906 In 1904 the department
changed the judicial headquarters
from Eagle to Fairbanks. and IN
January 1905 Mr.. Heilig brought all
of his records and stationery over
land with dog teams from Eagle to
Fairbanks.
Resumes His Practice.
Finding that the law business
promised better results financially
than his office, Mr.. Heilig resigned
his position as clerk in April, 1905,
and entered upon the practice OF
the law with Leroy Tozier
In 1909, he formed law partner
ship with Judge Wickersham and
Henry Roden, which was dissolved
when Wickersham determined that
he would again be candidate for
delegate from Alaska after his first
Term Since then Mr. Heilig has