William Lapine
William Lepine was employed by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) on the Liard River as a guide when goods were shipped by this route into the Yukon. In 1887, R. G. McConnell found Lepine in charge of a crew of Hudson's Bay Co. voyageurs. He had news of a lack of provisions in the Mackenzie District and he wanted to turn back due to high water. He had a large and a small birch canoe, and he went back upriver on 28 July with McConnell's men. They arrived safely at the Dease River.1) In 1889, W. Lapine and family and F. Lapine travelled between Winnipeg, Ft., Good Hope and Peel River [Fort McPherson]. In 1889, Francois and William Lapine were on the HBC books as servants settled at LaPierre House. In that year, the Lapines were the only servants with “book debts.” In 1891/92, only William is shown on a “statement of Servant's wages” as “Interpreter and man in charge. His contract expired in 1893.2)
Lepine worked and lived on the Fortymile River in 1897-98. Lepine Creek, 10 miles east of Dawson is named for him.3)