LADEROUTE, FRANÇOIS-XAVIER - (398 - ENGLISH)

LADEROUTE, FRANÇOIS-XAVIER - (398 - ENGLISH)

LADEROUTE, FRANCOIS-XAVIER - POSTMASTER A KIRKMAN CREEK, YUKON

 LADEROUTE, FRANCOIS-XAVIER-POSTMASTER AT KIRKMAN CREEK, YUKON

François-Xavier Laderoute was originally from the Gaspé, in Quebec.  In 1890-1899, he built a cabin and a hostel for the postal services at the confluence of the Yukon River and the Kirkman Creek (west of the river between Carmacks and Dawson City.) His village-project in this area coincided with the gold rush in the Chisana, Alaska area.  Laderoute hoped that the prospectors on the way to Chisana would also be interested in the neighboring rivers and creeks and take advantage of the services which his hostel and cabin offered on the way.

In 1902 and 1903 he served meals to the postmen and billeted the White Pass employees. The registers show that he also did some work for this enterprise. On July 26, 1903, he wrote a letter to the Agent of the Crown asking for land and lumber in order to obtain 320 acres (129.5 hectares) in the area where he had already established himself. He wrote hoping to establish a farm or a ranch with his two sons.  In order to justify his demands, he added that he was one of the first in the region to grow vegetables successfully.  The answer he got was that the maximum land area allowed to each person was 160 acres (65 hectares).

Therefore on August 3, 1903 he asked for 160 acres (65 hectares) along the Yukon River beginning at 414 feet (126 m) north of the Kirkman Creek.  On October 27 of the same year, his son, Isidore, asked for 160 acres (65 hectares) contiguous with that of his father’s land. Laderoute, father and son obtained their land at the low price of $1.00  an acre or (40cts per hectare)  After having waited for it impatiently, François-Xavier finally received the title of his property on November 30, 1903.  From 1903 to 1904 he cut more than 300 cords of wood.

In his cabin, François-Xavier Laderoute would write now and then to Marie Beaudoin, his wife’s daughter. Through this correspondence, he kept in contact with his family in the East (although there was no blood relationship with his wife’s daughter.)

In 1935, after having sold his property near the Kirkman Creek, François-Xavier Laderoute left the Yukon to go to Victoria, B.C. Not long after his arrival he died of pneumonia. Since he did not have any identification with him, searches had to be made so it was done through the priest of his native parish.  According to his baptismal papers, Laderoute was born in 1828; therefore he was 107 years old at his death.  So he was over 70 when he built his hostel and cabin!

Ref. Empreinte, vol. 11, pages 114-115-116