Yukon who is who

Joseph Keele (1862 – 1923)

Joseph Keele was born in Ireland and came to Canada when he was fifteen to live with his uncle in Peterborough, Ontario. In 1885, he joined the Midland Regiment, served in the Battle of Batoche, and received a medal for bravery. He attended the School of Practical Science in Toronto and graduated from the architecture program. In 1894, he received a BSc in engineering. He served as a field assistant for the Geological Survey of Canada between 1897 and 1900 and then became a permanent employee. He was sent to the Yukon to map the Klondike goldfields.¹⁾

Keele mapped the headwaters of the Pelly, Ross, and Gravel rivers in 1907 and 1908. He engaged R. B. [Robert] Riddell, J. M. [James] Christie, and Geo. Ortell, all residents of the Yukon since 1898, to help him explore the unknown region from the Pelly to the Mackenzie River. Riddell remained with him during the whole time of the exploration. Christie left during the autumn to trap and joined him again in the spring, and Ortell returned to Dawson in the fall of 1907 travelling from the winter quarters with specimens and letters. Riddell and Christie had two dogs each and the accompanied the expedition. Keele also obtained the services of Robert Henderson, assistant mining engineer to the Yukon government, for the summer. Henderson was accompanied by his two sons and had his own boat and outfit. He visited several important points on the Pelly, prospecting and collecting specimens.²⁾ Keele became an expert on clays and landslides. He was known as “the bold explorer of the Yukon.” Keele Peak and the Keele River were named for Joseph Keele.³⁾ Keele’s Yukon/NWT writings include A reconnaissance across the Mackenzie mountains on the Pelly, Ross and gravel rivers, Yukon, and North West Territories (1910) and “Report on the upper Stewart River region Yukon.”