John “Jack” McIntyre (d. 1902)
Jack McIntyre was born in Ontario and worked in the mines around San Bernardino, California before taking a steamer north to St. Michael in 1895. He prospected his way up the Yukon River and arrived in Circle in 1897. In 1898, he and William Grainger poled up the Yukon River to Whitehorse. They were following rumours of copper deposits seen near Whitehorse in 1897. McIntyre located and staked the Copper King quartz claim on July 6, 1898 and Grainger staked the Copper Queen just to the north of July 14. The Copper King was more promising, and Grainger bought a half interest for $1,000. They left for the winter and returned in the spring with equipment and dynamite to sink a shaft using hand steel.1) They shipped out nine tons of rich bornite ore in 1900, the first ore shipment from the Copperbelt district.2)
In the winter of 1902/03, McIntyre contracted to carry the mail from Atlin to Log Cabin. He and Joseph Abbey left Atlin on Nov. 25, 1902 but never arrived at Log Cabin. Both bodies were recovered, and the mail and sled were found under the ice of Windy Arm.3)
McIntyre Mountain, McIntyre Creek, McIntyre Drive, and McIntyre subdivision in Whitehorse are named after John McIntyre.