A capture of some of the life of Elisabeth "Bess" Magids with some of the names above was cited at Amundsen.mia.no/en/person'/elisabeth-bess-magids/
Other citations have come from FSO and other online references.
Elisabeth Patricia Berger was born in Winnipeg, Canada, and possibly could have been a 'mail order' bride for Samuel MAgids in December 1914. Bess had met Samuel in Seattle because her brother Jacob had known Magids.
Once married, Bess and Sam moved to Deering, in the Kotzebue area of the Alaska Territory. Sam and his brother Boris operated many Magids Trading Company stores around coastal Alaska. They were known for being expert fur buyers, as well as gold and other Alaskan items. The 3 of them went south to Seattle or to New York and elsewhere for purchasing for their trading posts in the Arctic.
Bess evidently adjusted well and liked Alaska, including she became quote a good dog musher and won a title of "Queen of the Arctic" therefrom.
Bess was on a ship, the SS Victoria from Seattle to Nome, Alaska when she met Roald Amundsen in June 1922. Bess, in an interview, gave an impression that no intimacy occurred, and until Bess saw him again on a ship, The Maud, arrived in Deering, Alaska where one of the Magids Trading Posts were and Bess and Sam lived.
Roald Amundsen celebrated his 50th birthday in Deering, Alaska, according to Bess' account. Odd Dahl, a Norwegian scientist on the Maud, observed that Roald had a gift for Bess - a gramophone from the expedition.
Bess and Roald wrote to one another, meeting up in New York on occasion. In late 1927 Bess went to Norway at Roald's invitation, staying at Uranienborg for 2 months, where Roald proposed to Bess.
Bess returned to the US, filed for divorce from Magids, in March, 1928 and finalized in April. Bess returned to Norway in July, but Amundsen was then a couple weeks overdue from a rescue mission. Amundsen flew out of Tromso Norway searching for Umberto Nobile's expedition. Gustave Amundsen, a nephew, gave Besse keys to an upscale resort, Hosbjor. After some others were rescued but Roald failed to return, she knew it was hopeless.
Bess went to visit Samuel's sister in Russia and then back to Alaska with some nice silver from Roald's estate. Roald's memorial ID at FindaGrave: 20956
Bess returned to working at the Magid's Trading Post at Deering where she had lived, and also back to life with Samuel. He was ill and went first to NY and then to a Miami, FL hospital. Sam Magids died in March 1930 per this account. Some details are not exactly the same, depending on the source. Bess was with Sam at his death and informed the death certificate, visible online at FSO.
Bess (Elizabeth P. Magids) went to Seattle in 1931 and on June 1, 1931, married Arthur M. Chamberlin, a sports writer. The couple had a child, Patricia in 1933 or 1934. A citation for the daughter, is captured in Atwood / DeArmoun's book as Mrs. A.W. Clark.
The 1940 US Census for the 2nd Judicial District, Alaska Territory at Deering (Fairhaven recording) shows this for the family:
John M. Cross, head, age 44, born in KS, pilot
Elizabeth Cross, wife, 42, b. Canada, general merchandise store
Patricia Ann Cross, step-daughter, 6, b. Washington
Boris Magids, wife's brother-in-law, 48, general merchandise store
A FSO citation for ONE Patricia Chamberlin / Chamberlain marriage follows:
James R Shewbert Spouse's Name Patricia A Chamberlin
Marriage Date 23 Feb 1980 Marriage Place King, Washington, United States
Marriage Licence Place King, Washington, United States
It is not confirmed this is the daughter of Bess and Art.
Apparently divorced from Chamerlin, Bess married John Milton Cross, a pilot, in June 7, 1937, in Fairbanks, Alaska, Certificate # 595, per FSO; and divorced him in 1947. It is possible that the FSO citation of Bess' divorce from John Cross occurred at a different date. Anyone with the divorce citation is welcome to contact us.
Bess' former brother-in-law Boris Magids died in 1944, leaving her full ownership of the trading post chain of general stores. Bess started an upscale lodging and dining operation in Kotzebue after Sam's; death but wanted to live in Juneau. She sold the new Arctic Adventures Club to the local church and headed for Juneau.
Bess was elected in 1945 to the Alaska Territorial Legislature, serving 2 years in the 17th Alaska Territorial Legislature per the LIO Library. She was active in equal rights and helped to get a law passed. Bess' reputation with the Alaska Democratic Party's award resulted in 1988 to create a recognition called "Queen Bess Award". The award continued to be given out every other year.
Bess's husband, John Cross' obituary has a list of several children, and it is not known if some are Bess' children, or not. John and Bess' marriage certificate cites John was married and divorced at the time of marrying Bess; and she was married and widowed once, and married and divorced once. John's obituary in 1981 was carried by the Anchorage Daily News. Refer to John's FaG herein by clicking on Bess's spouse below this section. Donald Cross, born 1940 at Deering Alaska and died in Palmer, AK cites Bess and John Cross in his obituary, at FaG, as his parents. That Bess is a different woman, born in 1921. However, the LINK is to a different male, not to John Cross, as his father.
Bess' stories are collected at the Elmer Rasmusson Library at UAF and in addition with the Alaska LiO Library which offered some info herein.
Evangeline Atwood and Robert DeArmoun compiled "Who's Who in Alaskan Politics" and had this for Besse:
CROSS, Elizabeth Patricia (Bess) nee Berger,
merchant. B. in Winnipeg, Man., Can., 1897; m.
Samuel Magids, 1915 (dee. 1929); children: Letty
Jean, Emily Alice; m. 2d, Arthur M. Chamberlin,
June 1, 1931; d. Patricia Ann (Mrs. A.W. Clark);
m. 3d, John Milton Cross, 1937 (div. 1947); moved
to Kotzebue, 1915; prop., trading posts, Deering,
Kotzebue, Fairhaven, Kobuk, Noatak and fox farm,
Noatak; terr. H.R., 1945-47; entered Sitka Pioneers'
Home, late 1960s; transferred to Fairbanks Pioneers'
Home, June 1968; died in Seattle, Wash., Apr. 14,
1971. Democrat.
Other citations have come from FSO and other online references.
Elisabeth Patricia Berger was born in Winnipeg, Canada, and possibly could have been a 'mail order' bride for Samuel MAgids in December 1914. Bess had met Samuel in Seattle because her brother Jacob had known Magids.
Once married, Bess and Sam moved to Deering, in the Kotzebue area of the Alaska Territory. Sam and his brother Boris operated many Magids Trading Company stores around coastal Alaska. They were known for being expert fur buyers, as well as gold and other Alaskan items. The 3 of them went south to Seattle or to New York and elsewhere for purchasing for their trading posts in the Arctic.
Bess evidently adjusted well and liked Alaska, including she became quote a good dog musher and won a title of "Queen of the Arctic" therefrom.
Bess was on a ship, the SS Victoria from Seattle to Nome, Alaska when she met Roald Amundsen in June 1922. Bess, in an interview, gave an impression that no intimacy occurred, and until Bess saw him again on a ship, The Maud, arrived in Deering, Alaska where one of the Magids Trading Posts were and Bess and Sam lived.
Roald Amundsen celebrated his 50th birthday in Deering, Alaska, according to Bess' account. Odd Dahl, a Norwegian scientist on the Maud, observed that Roald had a gift for Bess - a gramophone from the expedition.
Bess and Roald wrote to one another, meeting up in New York on occasion. In late 1927 Bess went to Norway at Roald's invitation, staying at Uranienborg for 2 months, where Roald proposed to Bess.
Bess returned to the US, filed for divorce from Magids, in March, 1928 and finalized in April. Bess returned to Norway in July, but Amundsen was then a couple weeks overdue from a rescue mission. Amundsen flew out of Tromso Norway searching for Umberto Nobile's expedition. Gustave Amundsen, a nephew, gave Besse keys to an upscale resort, Hosbjor. After some others were rescued but Roald failed to return, she knew it was hopeless.
Bess went to visit Samuel's sister in Russia and then back to Alaska with some nice silver from Roald's estate. Roald's memorial ID at FindaGrave: 20956
Bess returned to working at the Magid's Trading Post at Deering where she had lived, and also back to life with Samuel. He was ill and went first to NY and then to a Miami, FL hospital. Sam Magids died in March 1930 per this account. Some details are not exactly the same, depending on the source. Bess was with Sam at his death and informed the death certificate, visible online at FSO.
Bess (Elizabeth P. Magids) went to Seattle in 1931 and on June 1, 1931, married Arthur M. Chamberlin, a sports writer. The couple had a child, Patricia in 1933 or 1934. A citation for the daughter, is captured in Atwood / DeArmoun's book as Mrs. A.W. Clark.
The 1940 US Census for the 2nd Judicial District, Alaska Territory at Deering (Fairhaven recording) shows this for the family:
John M. Cross, head, age 44, born in KS, pilot
Elizabeth Cross, wife, 42, b. Canada, general merchandise store
Patricia Ann Cross, step-daughter, 6, b. Washington
Boris Magids, wife's brother-in-law, 48, general merchandise store
A FSO citation for ONE Patricia Chamberlin / Chamberlain marriage follows:
James R Shewbert Spouse's Name Patricia A Chamberlin
Marriage Date 23 Feb 1980 Marriage Place King, Washington, United States
Marriage Licence Place King, Washington, United States
It is not confirmed this is the daughter of Bess and Art.
Apparently divorced from Chamerlin, Bess married John Milton Cross, a pilot, in June 7, 1937, in Fairbanks, Alaska, Certificate # 595, per FSO; and divorced him in 1947. It is possible that the FSO citation of Bess' divorce from John Cross occurred at a different date. Anyone with the divorce citation is welcome to contact us.
Bess' former brother-in-law Boris Magids died in 1944, leaving her full ownership of the trading post chain of general stores. Bess started an upscale lodging and dining operation in Kotzebue after Sam's; death but wanted to live in Juneau. She sold the new Arctic Adventures Club to the local church and headed for Juneau.
Bess was elected in 1945 to the Alaska Territorial Legislature, serving 2 years in the 17th Alaska Territorial Legislature per the LIO Library. She was active in equal rights and helped to get a law passed. Bess' reputation with the Alaska Democratic Party's award resulted in 1988 to create a recognition called "Queen Bess Award". The award continued to be given out every other year.
Bess's husband, John Cross' obituary has a list of several children, and it is not known if some are Bess' children, or not. John and Bess' marriage certificate cites John was married and divorced at the time of marrying Bess; and she was married and widowed once, and married and divorced once. John's obituary in 1981 was carried by the Anchorage Daily News. Refer to John's FaG herein by clicking on Bess's spouse below this section. Donald Cross, born 1940 at Deering Alaska and died in Palmer, AK cites Bess and John Cross in his obituary, at FaG, as his parents. That Bess is a different woman, born in 1921. However, the LINK is to a different male, not to John Cross, as his father.
Bess' stories are collected at the Elmer Rasmusson Library at UAF and in addition with the Alaska LiO Library which offered some info herein.
Evangeline Atwood and Robert DeArmoun compiled "Who's Who in Alaskan Politics" and had this for Besse:
CROSS, Elizabeth Patricia (Bess) nee Berger,
merchant. B. in Winnipeg, Man., Can., 1897; m.
Samuel Magids, 1915 (dee. 1929); children: Letty
Jean, Emily Alice; m. 2d, Arthur M. Chamberlin,
June 1, 1931; d. Patricia Ann (Mrs. A.W. Clark);
m. 3d, John Milton Cross, 1937 (div. 1947); moved
to Kotzebue, 1915; prop., trading posts, Deering,
Kotzebue, Fairhaven, Kobuk, Noatak and fox farm,
Noatak; terr. H.R., 1945-47; entered Sitka Pioneers'
Home, late 1960s; transferred to Fairbanks Pioneers'
Home, June 1968; died in Seattle, Wash., Apr. 14,
1971. Democrat.
A capture of some of the life of Elisabeth "Bess" Magids with some of the names above was cited at Amundsen.mia.no/en/person'/elisabeth-bess-magids/
Other citations have come from FSO and other online references.
Elisabeth Patricia Berger was born in Winnipeg, Canada, and possibly could have been a 'mail order' bride for Samuel MAgids in December 1914. Bess had met Samuel in Seattle because her brother Jacob had known Magids.
Once married, Bess and Sam moved to Deering, in the Kotzebue area of the Alaska Territory. Sam and his brother Boris operated many Magids Trading Company stores around coastal Alaska. They were known for being expert fur buyers, as well as gold and other Alaskan items. The 3 of them went south to Seattle or to New York and elsewhere for purchasing for their trading posts in the Arctic.
Bess evidently adjusted well and liked Alaska, including she became quote a good dog musher and won a title of "Queen of the Arctic" therefrom.
Bess was on a ship, the SS Victoria from Seattle to Nome, Alaska when she met Roald Amundsen in June 1922. Bess, in an interview, gave an impression that no intimacy occurred, and until Bess saw him again on a ship, The Maud, arrived in Deering, Alaska where one of the Magids Trading Posts were and Bess and Sam lived.
Roald Amundsen celebrated his 50th birthday in Deering, Alaska, according to Bess' account. Odd Dahl, a Norwegian scientist on the Maud, observed that Roald had a gift for Bess - a gramophone from the expedition.
Bess and Roald wrote to one another, meeting up in New York on occasion. In late 1927 Bess went to Norway at Roald's invitation, staying at Uranienborg for 2 months, where Roald proposed to Bess.
Bess returned to the US, filed for divorce from Magids, in March, 1928 and finalized in April. Bess returned to Norway in July, but Amundsen was then a couple weeks overdue from a rescue mission. Amundsen flew out of Tromso Norway searching for Umberto Nobile's expedition. Gustave Amundsen, a nephew, gave Besse keys to an upscale resort, Hosbjor. After some others were rescued but Roald failed to return, she knew it was hopeless.
Bess went to visit Samuel's sister in Russia and then back to Alaska with some nice silver from Roald's estate. Roald's memorial ID at FindaGrave: 20956
Bess returned to working at the Magid's Trading Post at Deering where she had lived, and also back to life with Samuel. He was ill and went first to NY and then to a Miami, FL hospital. Sam Magids died in March 1930 per this account. Some details are not exactly the same, depending on the source. Bess was with Sam at his death and informed the death certificate, visible online at FSO.
Bess (Elizabeth P. Magids) went to Seattle in 1931 and on June 1, 1931, married Arthur M. Chamberlin, a sports writer. The couple had a child, Patricia in 1933 or 1934. A citation for the daughter, is captured in Atwood / DeArmoun's book as Mrs. A.W. Clark.
The 1940 US Census for the 2nd Judicial District, Alaska Territory at Deering (Fairhaven recording) shows this for the family:
John M. Cross, head, age 44, born in KS, pilot
Elizabeth Cross, wife, 42, b. Canada, general merchandise store
Patricia Ann Cross, step-daughter, 6, b. Washington
Boris Magids, wife's brother-in-law, 48, general merchandise store
A FSO citation for ONE Patricia Chamberlin / Chamberlain marriage follows:
James R Shewbert Spouse's Name Patricia A Chamberlin
Marriage Date 23 Feb 1980 Marriage Place King, Washington, United States
Marriage Licence Place King, Washington, United States
It is not confirmed this is the daughter of Bess and Art.
Apparently divorced from Chamerlin, Bess married John Milton Cross, a pilot, in June 7, 1937, in Fairbanks, Alaska, Certificate # 595, per FSO; and divorced him in 1947. It is possible that the FSO citation of Bess' divorce from John Cross occurred at a different date. Anyone with the divorce citation is welcome to contact us.
Bess' former brother-in-law Boris Magids died in 1944, leaving her full ownership of the trading post chain of general stores. Bess started an upscale lodging and dining operation in Kotzebue after Sam's; death but wanted to live in Juneau. She sold the new Arctic Adventures Club to the local church and headed for Juneau.
Bess was elected in 1945 to the Alaska Territorial Legislature, serving 2 years in the 17th Alaska Territorial Legislature per the LIO Library. She was active in equal rights and helped to get a law passed. Bess' reputation with the Alaska Democratic Party's award resulted in 1988 to create a recognition called "Queen Bess Award". The award continued to be given out every other year.
Bess's husband, John Cross' obituary has a list of several children, and it is not known if some are Bess' children, or not. John and Bess' marriage certificate cites John was married and divorced at the time of marrying Bess; and she was married and widowed once, and married and divorced once. John's obituary in 1981 was carried by the Anchorage Daily News. Refer to John's FaG herein by clicking on Bess's spouse below this section. Donald Cross, born 1940 at Deering Alaska and died in Palmer, AK cites Bess and John Cross in his obituary, at FaG, as his parents. That Bess is a different woman, born in 1921. However, the LINK is to a different male, not to John Cross, as his father.
Bess' stories are collected at the Elmer Rasmusson Library at UAF and in addition with the Alaska LiO Library which offered some info herein.
Evangeline Atwood and Robert DeArmoun compiled "Who's Who in Alaskan Politics" and had this for Besse:
CROSS, Elizabeth Patricia (Bess) nee Berger,
merchant. B. in Winnipeg, Man., Can., 1897; m.
Samuel Magids, 1915 (dee. 1929); children: Letty
Jean, Emily Alice; m. 2d, Arthur M. Chamberlin,
June 1, 1931; d. Patricia Ann (Mrs. A.W. Clark);
m. 3d, John Milton Cross, 1937 (div. 1947); moved
to Kotzebue, 1915; prop., trading posts, Deering,
Kotzebue, Fairhaven, Kobuk, Noatak and fox farm,
Noatak; terr. H.R., 1945-47; entered Sitka Pioneers'
Home, late 1960s; transferred to Fairbanks Pioneers'
Home, June 1968; died in Seattle, Wash., Apr. 14,
1971. Democrat.
Other citations have come from FSO and other online references.
Elisabeth Patricia Berger was born in Winnipeg, Canada, and possibly could have been a 'mail order' bride for Samuel MAgids in December 1914. Bess had met Samuel in Seattle because her brother Jacob had known Magids.
Once married, Bess and Sam moved to Deering, in the Kotzebue area of the Alaska Territory. Sam and his brother Boris operated many Magids Trading Company stores around coastal Alaska. They were known for being expert fur buyers, as well as gold and other Alaskan items. The 3 of them went south to Seattle or to New York and elsewhere for purchasing for their trading posts in the Arctic.
Bess evidently adjusted well and liked Alaska, including she became quote a good dog musher and won a title of "Queen of the Arctic" therefrom.
Bess was on a ship, the SS Victoria from Seattle to Nome, Alaska when she met Roald Amundsen in June 1922. Bess, in an interview, gave an impression that no intimacy occurred, and until Bess saw him again on a ship, The Maud, arrived in Deering, Alaska where one of the Magids Trading Posts were and Bess and Sam lived.
Roald Amundsen celebrated his 50th birthday in Deering, Alaska, according to Bess' account. Odd Dahl, a Norwegian scientist on the Maud, observed that Roald had a gift for Bess - a gramophone from the expedition.
Bess and Roald wrote to one another, meeting up in New York on occasion. In late 1927 Bess went to Norway at Roald's invitation, staying at Uranienborg for 2 months, where Roald proposed to Bess.
Bess returned to the US, filed for divorce from Magids, in March, 1928 and finalized in April. Bess returned to Norway in July, but Amundsen was then a couple weeks overdue from a rescue mission. Amundsen flew out of Tromso Norway searching for Umberto Nobile's expedition. Gustave Amundsen, a nephew, gave Besse keys to an upscale resort, Hosbjor. After some others were rescued but Roald failed to return, she knew it was hopeless.
Bess went to visit Samuel's sister in Russia and then back to Alaska with some nice silver from Roald's estate. Roald's memorial ID at FindaGrave: 20956
Bess returned to working at the Magid's Trading Post at Deering where she had lived, and also back to life with Samuel. He was ill and went first to NY and then to a Miami, FL hospital. Sam Magids died in March 1930 per this account. Some details are not exactly the same, depending on the source. Bess was with Sam at his death and informed the death certificate, visible online at FSO.
Bess (Elizabeth P. Magids) went to Seattle in 1931 and on June 1, 1931, married Arthur M. Chamberlin, a sports writer. The couple had a child, Patricia in 1933 or 1934. A citation for the daughter, is captured in Atwood / DeArmoun's book as Mrs. A.W. Clark.
The 1940 US Census for the 2nd Judicial District, Alaska Territory at Deering (Fairhaven recording) shows this for the family:
John M. Cross, head, age 44, born in KS, pilot
Elizabeth Cross, wife, 42, b. Canada, general merchandise store
Patricia Ann Cross, step-daughter, 6, b. Washington
Boris Magids, wife's brother-in-law, 48, general merchandise store
A FSO citation for ONE Patricia Chamberlin / Chamberlain marriage follows:
James R Shewbert Spouse's Name Patricia A Chamberlin
Marriage Date 23 Feb 1980 Marriage Place King, Washington, United States
Marriage Licence Place King, Washington, United States
It is not confirmed this is the daughter of Bess and Art.
Apparently divorced from Chamerlin, Bess married John Milton Cross, a pilot, in June 7, 1937, in Fairbanks, Alaska, Certificate # 595, per FSO; and divorced him in 1947. It is possible that the FSO citation of Bess' divorce from John Cross occurred at a different date. Anyone with the divorce citation is welcome to contact us.
Bess' former brother-in-law Boris Magids died in 1944, leaving her full ownership of the trading post chain of general stores. Bess started an upscale lodging and dining operation in Kotzebue after Sam's; death but wanted to live in Juneau. She sold the new Arctic Adventures Club to the local church and headed for Juneau.
Bess was elected in 1945 to the Alaska Territorial Legislature, serving 2 years in the 17th Alaska Territorial Legislature per the LIO Library. She was active in equal rights and helped to get a law passed. Bess' reputation with the Alaska Democratic Party's award resulted in 1988 to create a recognition called "Queen Bess Award". The award continued to be given out every other year.
Bess's husband, John Cross' obituary has a list of several children, and it is not known if some are Bess' children, or not. John and Bess' marriage certificate cites John was married and divorced at the time of marrying Bess; and she was married and widowed once, and married and divorced once. John's obituary in 1981 was carried by the Anchorage Daily News. Refer to John's FaG herein by clicking on Bess's spouse below this section. Donald Cross, born 1940 at Deering Alaska and died in Palmer, AK cites Bess and John Cross in his obituary, at FaG, as his parents. That Bess is a different woman, born in 1921. However, the LINK is to a different male, not to John Cross, as his father.
Bess' stories are collected at the Elmer Rasmusson Library at UAF and in addition with the Alaska LiO Library which offered some info herein.
Evangeline Atwood and Robert DeArmoun compiled "Who's Who in Alaskan Politics" and had this for Besse:
CROSS, Elizabeth Patricia (Bess) nee Berger,
merchant. B. in Winnipeg, Man., Can., 1897; m.
Samuel Magids, 1915 (dee. 1929); children: Letty
Jean, Emily Alice; m. 2d, Arthur M. Chamberlin,
June 1, 1931; d. Patricia Ann (Mrs. A.W. Clark);
m. 3d, John Milton Cross, 1937 (div. 1947); moved
to Kotzebue, 1915; prop., trading posts, Deering,
Kotzebue, Fairhaven, Kobuk, Noatak and fox farm,
Noatak; terr. H.R., 1945-47; entered Sitka Pioneers'
Home, late 1960s; transferred to Fairbanks Pioneers'
Home, June 1968; died in Seattle, Wash., Apr. 14,
1971. Democrat.
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