The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1942-05-04
JOHN W. TROY
PASSES AWAY
ON SATURDAY
CONTINUED from Page One)

Alaska as editor of the Daily AL
aska Empire, which he purchased
in January, 1914. He was appoint
ed Collector of Customs for the
District of Alaska by President Will
son in 1919. He remained in Of
flee until February l, 1922, when
he resigned under the changed ad-
ministration.
Mr.. Troy was delegate TO the
Democratic National Conventions in
1904, 1920, 1924, 1923, 1882 and 1896
and served as chairman of the
Alaska Democratic Territorial Com
mittee.
He was married twice, in 1892 to
Minerva Lewis, daughter of DR.. F.
S. Lewis, pioneer physician of Clal-
lam County, Washington. They
were divorced in 1911. In 1917 he
married Ethel Croker Forgy, sup
erintendent of schools at Seward
Alaska
Long a prominent figure in jour-
nalism on the Pacific Coast and
in the Pacific Northwest, as well
as in Alaska, Mr.. Troy was made
a member of Sigma Delta Chi, ma
tional honorary journalism frater-
nifty, by the organizations chapter
at the University of Washington
He also was vice-president for Al
aska of the National Editorial As
ISOLATION, and a member of the
Associated Press.
He was a charter member of the
Naval Lodge of Elks, of Port An
geles, and also a member of the
Pioneers of Alaska, Igloo No. 4, and
the Loyal Order of Moose. He be-
longed to the University Club of
Washington, D. c., and was a life
member of the Arctic Club of Sc
attic.
Becomes Governor
Mr.. Troy was nominated for Gov
ernor of Alaska on March %, 1888,
approved by the Senate committee
March %, 1888, confirmed by the
Senate March 80, 1888 and was
inaugurated in Juneau on April 10,
1888. He was renominated May 10,
1887, and confirmed by the Senate
on May 20, 1887. Mr.. Troy re-
signed August 80, 1899, effective
October IS, but remained in office
until December S, 1889, when Err
tnest Gruening arrived in juneau
and took the oath of office and be-
came Governor.
Democratic Services
While Mr.. Troy took an active
interest in political affairs during
his early residence in Alaska, from
1897 until 1907, the absence of or
ganized government in the Territory
made the field limited for that
work He was active in Democrat
ic politics and was elected as dele
gate to the Territorial Convention
in 1900.
He pioneered in the organization
of municipal corporations in 1900
as editor of the Skagway Daily AL.
askan and that year. following the
approval of the Alaska Code by
the President, he began campaign
for the incorporation of Skagway
and led the movement to a success
full elimination.
He was first auditor and city
clerk of the town of Skagway, the
first town in the Territory to take
advantage of the municipal gov
eminent act.
His real services to the party be-
gan with his advent as editor Of
the Empire in 1913, and later as
owner and editor.
1t was acknowledged by Demo
cratic leaders, including the whole
organization, the rank and file o.
the party, and by Republicans a:
well, to have been a great force
in the party's aggressive career ir
the two decades before 1882.
Democratic Doctrines
Normally, Alaska had been Re-
publican in politics since it was Or
ganized as Territory. Never, I'M
til 1882 had the Democratic party
controlled both branches of the
Legislature And during the Re-
publican administrations, Mr.. Troy
and the Empire kept the party's
adherents on the alert, driving home
Democratic doctrines, preaching
party loyalty and carrying the or
ganization along almost by the
sheer force of his personality.
He served on the Divisional DEM
ocratic Committee for nearly %
years, expanding thousands of dol
lars of personal funds in perform
| ing his duties and attending local,
Territorial and National conven-
tons in the capacity of delegate.
From 1920 until 1886, he was an
elected delegate to every national
convention of the party, serving
on the Resolutions Committee. He
invariably supported, financially and