Yukon who is who

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Sam Patch (b. 1826)
	
Sam Patch was born in Worchester. England and sailed around Cape Horn for California in 1848. He arrived in the Yukon and started mining on the Fortymile River in 1887. By 1898, he was reputed to be the best known and most prominent character in the Fortymile district.(("A Noted Character." //Klondike Nugget// (Dawson), 29 August 1898.)) He was famous for his vegetables and his patriotism. His garden was on the steep side of a south-facing slope, sheltered from the frosts of the summer nights.((J.E. Spurr, //Through the Yukon gold diggings.// Boston: Eastern Publishing Company, 1900: 122.)) By 1895 Patch was successfully growing and selling potatoes for a dollar a pound in Forty Mile.(("Forty Mile Historic Townsite: Concept Plan." Heritage Branch, March 1987: 23.))
	
The old California miner was so indignant when Ogilvie's survey put him and his holdings in British territory that he moved across to the American side of the line. He was dedicated in his opinions and not slow in expressing them, but the miners admired his grit if they did not agree with his opinions. Ogilvie used to laugh about it.((Yukon Archives, W. D. Johns, Robert Coutts fonds, 78/69 MSS 092 f.20.)) He was an American of such an uncompromising character that, until the winter of 1897/98 he refused to cross the international boundary into Canada. His homestead was twenty-three miles up from Forty Mile and his cabin lies in a shadow of a huge American flag presented to him by a group of Seattleites. His 160 acres straddled the border. Some friends told him that an international agreement had made the whole Fortymile American territory and they wanted him to go to town to celebrate. He boarded a waiting sled and was soon in Forty Mile where a dance was in progress. He was celebrated during the event and never regretted crossing the line.(("A Noted Character." //Klondike Nugget// (Dawson), 29 August 1898.))