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SOURCES
Census
1900, Frank Senters, Brooklyn, Ward 8, Kings Co., NY ED111
1910, Gertie Senters, Brooklyn, Ward 27, King Co., NY, ED832 [enumerated
as Denters]
1920, Gertrude Senters, Brooklyn, Dist. 10, Kings Co., NY ED1201
1930, Gertrude Centers, Brooklyn, Kings Co., ED24-1564
1930, James Senters, Brooklyn, Kings Co., ED24-430
Naturalization
09 Sept 1892, Frank Senders,
Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY
Marriage
Brooklyn, NY, Frank J.; Spouse Unknown, 1897, Certificate Number :
1155
Directory
1897-98, Lain's Directory Brooklyn, Senters, Frank, Clk. h 217 Vernon av
Newspaper Article
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
1897, Nov. 11. BUILT FOR KLONDIKE. A Staunch Little Boat of Brooklyn Make
to Be Shipped in Sections.
1898, March 24. NEW MINING COMPANY. It is Made Up of Thirteen Brooklyn Men
and One From Jersey City
1898, March 27. GOLD HUNT IN A FREIGHT CAR. Eastern District Citizens to
Start for the Klondike Region--Would Not Start With Thirteen
1898, April 4. NOVEL KLONDIKE PARTY. A Party of Twelve Eastern District
Men Set Out To-day
1898, Aug 2. GOLD SEEKERS HEARD FROM,
Frank Senters Writes to Say That His Party's Plans Are Changed.
1900, Oct. 19.
BROOKLYN MAN BACK FROM GOLD FIELDS
Further Reading on the Alaska Gold Rush - Off site
The Great Nome
Gold Rush
SSDI
Marcella Senters, b. 14 Feb 1906, d. Apr. 1980, last residence Westfield,
Union Co., NJ
James Frank Senters, b. 22 Mar 1902, d. 27 Nov 1980, Palm Beach Co., FL
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BIOGRAPHY
Frank Senters was born in England in 1868 and came to New York in
1885. His naturalization record
shows his name as Frank Senders, but it undoubtedly is his record as the
address is very, very close to where Frank was living in 1897 on Vernon
Ave., and in 1900 at 247 Throop Avenue.
Frank married Gertrude Euler in 1897.
Their first child Irene was born in January 1898 and just over two months
later Frank left for the Yukon territory to hunt for gold. He was one of
fourteen men who each invested $2,000 in the Continental Co-Operative
Mining Company. They had the hulls of two boats built which were shipped,
along with the stern wheel, boiler, supplies, etc. to San Francisco. The
boats were put together and they then sailed north to the Klondike region.
"The builders say that this little vessel will be able to travel five
miles an hour against a strong current and that she can withstand a very
heavy pressure." The second, smaller boat had an engine of eight horse
power to be used in the creeks.
The men left in early April for what was planned to be a two year trip.
Frank Senters, an electrician was also the treasurer of the Company. "With
a capital of $30,000 we expect to make money." The president of the
company, Dr. Charles Wuest, would not go, and, as thirteen was an unlucky
number, they recruited another gentleman to accompany them. They had
devised an innovative way of mining. "Steam pumps will be used on the
banks of the river, while an electrical contrivance which has already been
tried will search the ground for metal." It was described as "an
electrical contrivance rigged up something like an old fashioned clock,
with a dial and two large hands upon it. By the means of the electrical
affair the prospective miners said they could search the earth and if gold
was to be found that fact would indicate itself upon the big dial. The
electrical machine will only be used to learn whether there is any gold in
the ground." Then "steam pumps will be put to work on the earth in any
particular section where gold has been traced." The earth "will be
filtered and the precious metal separated from the worthless clay. " Mr.
Senter "claims that by its like mining will be made a thousand fold
easier."
After arriving, Frank Senters wrote
back that upon reaching at St. Michaels "they found the place covered with
the tents of natives" and "that no big strikes had been made recently."
Plans were changed and the party decided "Eldorado Creek and the Koykuk
River is where the best claims have been struck." The last article from
the Brooklyn Daily Eagle insinuates that the company did not strike it
rich. An interview
with William A. Danforth, one of the other members of the expedition,
provides us with a colorful description of what the men endured.
Back in Brooklyn, Frank Senters was employed as a shipping clerk in 1900.
Frank was ten years older
than Gertrude and died not long after their second child James was born in
1902. Gertrude was now a widow with two young children.
The surname Senters was passed down to Frank's grandson Robert Senters
Wick, son of Irene Senters and
Harold Wick
James Senters
Frank and Gertrude's son James Senters married a woman named Marcella and they had
at least two children: Frank Senters b. 1926, and Jean Senters, b. Feb. 1929.
James Senters died in 1980 in Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Florida. Their son Frank Senters enlisted as a private in the Army
in WWII in Union County, New Jersey.
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