The Beginings of a A Very Brief Family History

The farthest back that I can trace my mother's roots are to a large Indian settlement called Bonazilla. The only name that my great grandfather was known by was was Old Man Tichnor. He moved to Anvik as a child from Bonazilla. It is not clear why Bonazilla was deserted. Tichnor grew up in Anvik. My grandmother was born in Anvik and eventually married a Dane. About 6 years after having my mother they moved to the mining town of Flat. After the gold mining economy went bad my Mom, and her family, along with her parents moved to Fairbanks for a year and finally to Anchorage. This was right around 1942.

From about 1920 to 1940 my mom lived in the mining town of Flat Alaska. Flat is very near Iditarod. She and others in her family often pronounce that as IDE' a Drod. Among many other things, her family took care of dogs for the US Postal service in that era.

Here is a picture of my mom on a dogsled by the Iditarod River circa 1940.

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Page Updated March 9, 2004