James McKinnon (1880 – 1946)

James McKinnon was born in Prince Edward Island. He came north in 1906 and worked for the White Pass & Yukon Route’s Royal Mail Service as driver, stableman, and in other occupations.((“James McKinnon old B.Y.N. employee passes away suddenly.” //Whitehorse Star// (Whitehorse), 13 December 1946.)) McKinnon served in the First World War and returned to the Yukon after the war. He was one of the teamsters hauling ore from Keno Hill to Mayo during the 1920s.((Linda E.T. MacDonald and Lynette R. Bleiler, //Gold & Galena.// Mayo Historical Society, 1990: 422.)) For many years he worked for Treadwell Yukon Co. or prospected on his own.((“James McKinnon old B.Y.N. employee passes away suddenly.” //Whitehorse Star// (Whitehorse), 13 December 1946.)) He was living at Keno Hill in 1923-24.((//Polks Gazetteer,// 1923-24.)) When Treadwell shut down, McKinnon moved to Whitehorse and was employed for a number of years as night watchman for the British-Yukon Navigation Co.((“James McKinnon old B.Y.N. employee passes away suddenly.” //Whitehorse Star// (Whitehorse), 13 December 1946.))