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Hazelet's Journal

George Cheever Hazelet

4.19 · Rating details · 21 ratings · 14 reviews

New book chronicles a man, his family and a restless nation finding its way into the twentieth century. Diary kept in the late 1890's offers riveting insight into the breed of men who pioneered America's last frontier, the great Alaska Territory, through grit and bootstrap entrepreneurship.

This saga tells the true-life story of publisher's John H. Clark IV's great-grandfa New book chronicles a man, his family and a restless nation finding its way into the twentieth century. Diary kept in the late 1890's offers riveting insight into the breed of men who pioneered America's last frontier, the great Alaska Territory, through grit and bootstrap entrepreneurship.

This saga tells the true-life story of publisher's John H. Clark IV's great-grandfather, whose adventurous quest to seek his fortune in Alaska at the turn of the century reflects the great American spirit upon which the nation relied. The diarist and voice of the new book, George Cheever Hazelet, was inspired by the great tycoons at the dawn of the Industrial Age. He became one himself in the chicory-coffee market, only to see his fortunes evaporate during the calamitous financial crisis of the late1890s. Determined to secure a comfortable life for his beloved wife and two small sons, he took what he had left and headed for Alaska in 1898 to seek his fortune.

"And if parting from my boys was hard, that from my wife was torture. I had know for days that it would be difficult but the sad look in those eyes I can never forget as she said, 'I know I shall never see you again,'" writes Hazelet as the journal begins. From here he records his motivations, his frustrations, his dispair at being separated from his family, and his determination to keep prospecting in spite of all manner of deprivation, including fronzen tundra, snow-covered glaciers, and seasonal mosquitos so ferocious their bites swelled one's face and hands beyond recognition.

Hazelet's Journal contains never-before-published maps, illustrations, and more than one hundred black and white photographs from private collections and from museum archives. In this span of time 1898 to 1902, Hazelet reaches "the last frontier"-the Copper River Country-where he stakes his claim and struggles to make his fortune in spite of forest fires, claim jumpers, earthquakes, and inevitable heartbreak.

Early Review: "Cocooned as we are in the comforts of civilization, most of us have all but forgotten the 'grit' required of our ancestors as they settled the wilderness...Reading Hazelet's Journal will cause thoughtful people to reconsider life as we know it." ~ Tori Murden McClure, explore, adventurer, the first women to row alone across an ocean, and author of A Pearl in the Storm, HarperCollins Publishers. ...more

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Hardcover, 312 pages

Published November 14th 2012 by Old Stone Press

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Jun 30, 2018 Rick rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: history, non-fiction

J.H. Clark introduces us to his Great Grandfather, George Cheever Hazelet, through a journal Hazelet kept when he first went to Alaska. In this interesting first person account we get a glimpse into the lives of rugged men and women who travelled to Alaska and struggled to settle in America’s last frontier.

George Hazelet was a successful businessman who found himself caught up in a recession in the US and decided to leave his family behind temporarily to seek his fortune in the Gold Rush in Ala ...more

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Oct 14, 2013 Schuyler Wallace rated it it was amazing

I have just finished HAZELET’S JOURNAL and I’m exhausted. George Cheever Hazelet, the creator of the journal, was a remarkable man of boundless energy and strength whose adventures would surely founder the common man. Just reading about his grit has made me a tired, but better person

Hazelet’s great grandson, J.H. Clark, editor and publisher of this exceptional book, is to be acclaimed for his insight in recognizing a family journal as a piece of valuable history and carefully honing it into a je I have just finished HAZELET’S JOURNAL and I’m exhausted. George Cheever Hazelet, the creator of the journal, was a remarkable man of boundless energy and strength whose adventures would surely founder the common man. Just reading about his grit has made me a tired, but better person

Hazelet’s great grandson, J.H. Clark, editor and publisher of this exceptional book, is to be acclaimed for his insight in recognizing a family journal as a piece of valuable history and carefully honing it into a jewel of intriguing writing, glorious photos, and impeccable design. I’ve never seen a book to match it.

George Cheever Hazelet was somewhat unlucky in his early life as a school principal, county clerk, banker, real estate investor, and coffee broker. He enjoyed some success but the Panic of 1896 caused his enterprises to collapse and he turned his attention to the Alaskan gold rush. Getting a financial grubstake from family, friends, and business partners he, and a friend, A.J. Meals, headed north to the gold fields with big plans and expectations. Although he had to leave his beloved wife and two small sons in Omaha, he was firmly focused on being successful and providing a comfortable life for his family.

Hazelet was scrupulous in detailing his adventures in his journals. As time passed he relaxed in his almost daily writing, sometimes allowing a month or so to pass between entries, but never failed to catch up on the happenings that occurred. At one point he even acknowledged he was tired of all the writing. At that, hardly an entry goes by that he doesn’t poignantly point out his loneliness as he yearns for letters from his “dearie” and words about his “darling boys.”

The entries are filled with details of the amount of backbreaking work needed to travel through thigh-high snow with enormous loads on aching backs. It doesn’t get any easier trying to coax clumsy and recalcitrant animals over rocky and slippery slopes, or poling unwieldy, over laden boats through rocky and icy wild rivers. Then, after the mining camp is reached, enormous amounts of timber and heavy lifting are needed to erect cabins and mining structures; all hand labor in those days, no chain saws. Hazelet never allowed himself to give up. If other members of his group were sick or just plain worn out, he took over and performed whatever strenuous chore they abandoned.

J.H. Clark recognized the journalistic and storytelling skills of his great grandfather and enjoyed the foresight of his grandfather who, in 1964, had the journals gathered and edited into leather-bound copies for the family. Clark’s skills in presentation packaging and publishing are put to good use. The design, typesetting, headings and organization are all instrumental in creating a stunning book.

This is a book to be savored then placed in a special place to be available when a good read is dictated by the need exit the mundane. I applaud all involved with HAZELET’S JOURNAL.

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Nov 06, 2013 Jim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: history

George Cheever Hazelet was a former school principle and business owner living with his wife and two sons in Nebraska in 1897. His business collapsed that year due to the financial panic and economic downturn that swept the country in the mid-1890s. Hazelet felt his opportunity to get his family back to their previous economic status was to try his hand at prospecting as part of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush. He left his family behind and struck out with his partner, Andrew Jackson Meals, for Alask George Cheever Hazelet was a former school principle and business owner living with his wife and two sons in Nebraska in 1897. His business collapsed that year due to the financial panic and economic downturn that swept the country in the mid-1890s. Hazelet felt his opportunity to get his family back to their previous economic status was to try his hand at prospecting as part of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush. He left his family behind and struck out with his partner, Andrew Jackson Meals, for Alaska. An educated man, Hazelet kept a detailed journal of his experiences.

Hazelet and Meals outfitted in Seattle. Most of the thousands of prospectors who were headed for the Klondike landed in Skagway or Dyea (in southeast Alaska) to take either the White Pass or Chilikoot trails to the Yukon River, then raft down to Dawson (in the Yukon Territory, Canada). The Hazelet party was one of the fewer numbers who landed in Valdez, Alaska to climb the Valdez Glacier and cross over the mountains to the headwaters of the Copper River. In Hazelet's Journal, you'll read about the struggle to overcome the terrain, the climate, and the loneliness of prospecting the Alaska wilderness. Mortal danger exists on a daily basis from river crossings, freezing temperatures, and claim jumpers. Hazelet is straightforward in his entries, his journals are engaging yet hyperbole is refreshingly absent. His descriptions ring true. This is a primary source document at its entertaining best.

George Hazelet did not "strike it rich" in Alaska in that he was not able to set up a commercial mining operation. He and his partner did, however, homestead 720 acres in what is today the city of Valdez, Alaska. Hazelet and Meals returned to Alaska with their families and left behind a legacy that is part of the collective history of the 49th state. Editor J.H. Clark is George Hazelet's great grandson. He is also president of the Port Valdez Company, which traces its history back to those original 720 acres of land and the various other business ventures started by George Hazelet. Clark has done a wonderful job of editing and publishing "Hazelet's Journal," keeping the original voice of the author. I must also comment that the book is beautifully formatted, with dozens of historic photos, and maps that can only be described as works of art. My only criticism of the work is that I would have liked to see a more in-depth introductory chapter on the various gold strikes in Alaska and the Yukon. For those that are not familiar with this segment of American History, I would recommend also reading "Klondike: The Last Great Gold Rush" by Pierre Berton. But even still, this does not detract from "Hazelet's Journal," as few are familiar with the exploration of the Copper River Country. ...more

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Jan 20, 2019 Sam Law rated it really liked it

Shelves: biography, autobiography, books-as-movies, ecology, emerging-author, environment, good-to-read, history, innocence-experience, memoir

Read More Book Reviews on my blog It's Good To Read
Summary:

This is a true-to-life Gold Rush adventure story. It is the reproduced original journal of G C Hazelet, who struggled in the Klondike for four years.

Main Characters:
George Cheever Hazelet: A successful businessman who fell on hard times in 1896, he takes a second chance to rebuild his fortunes in the Alaskan fields. This is his story.

Andrew Meals: Hazelet’s partner on the trip, and financial stakeholder in the enterprise.

Plot:
The ...more

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Oct 30, 2018 Dianne McMahan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Interesting story of early Alaskan Gold Rush,that is solely based on Hazelet's journal from 1800's to about 1902.
Even with all his ambition and laborious work,he never struck it richminibg for gold,but did very well in getting the early Railroads to come to his area.
He moved his family to Cordova and became the mayor of the town and was able to provide nicely for his family and further future generations profited as well.
Not my type of book,although I do love History.This just had too many descr ...more

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Jul 29, 2018 Krista rated it it was amazing

A straightforward memoir of the hard work put in during the Alaskan Gold Rush. George Hazelet left Omaha after a depression turned one business venture into failure. He became a prospector with thousands of other people headed to Alaska. This book is truly his journal, his thoughts and feelings as he retells the struggle of his days as a prospector. The homesickness and guilt of leaving his family behind to attempt a better lifestyle for them. The work of getting the everyday essentials to his p ...more

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Aug 08, 2014 Kimberly Westrope rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This is an absolutely beautiful book! From the cover to the print font and style of the writing, I love everything about it. It is a wonderful first-hand account of all the trials and hardships endured by the men (and women) who headed up to the Yukon in Alaska in the late 1900s to mine for gold. The journal was kept on an almost daily basis by George Cheever Hazelet and was later transcribed by family members.

It is full of interesting tales of the daily struggles encountered on the trail, whil ...more

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Jan 23, 2013 J. H. Clark rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: educators, historians, adventurers and explorers

Shelves: autobiography-biography

All my life I'd heard stories of my great-grandfather and his Alaska adventures, but never really paid much attention until I was older and my mother and father encouraged me to travel to Seattle for a family shareholder meeting of The Port Valdez Company. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know. Who was this man and what drove him to explore the unknown-to travel to Alaska seeking a fortune in gold? Slowly I came to realize that this journal wasn't so much about one man's journey but rath ...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Jenni V. rated it liked it

Shelves: net-galley, i-read-e-version

This book was difficult to rate. If I was in the target audience for this book (someone with a keen interest in the Alaska Gold Rush), I would give it 5 stars because of its fascinating details and wealth of information. However, I'm not in that target audience (which I didn't realize until I began reading this), so it took me awhile to get through it. I loved the photos and appreciate this book's historical value. My end result is rating it neutrally in the middle. I would like to thank NetGall ...more

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Jan 20, 2015 Patty Mccormick rated it liked it

I thought that this needed some footnotes. I did not know anything about mining and found the journal did not explain a lot of things. There were interesting photos and great maps, but I needed a basic primer on Alaskan mining. If I had just a little more background the book would have made a lot more sense. I think I would have enjoyed a book about Hazelet and Meals with excerpts from the journal featured in the chapters. He seemed like such an interesting character. Sort of slow at times, not ...more

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Harriet Smith rated it it was ok
Apr 28, 2013

Nov 08, 2018 Lisabeth rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book based on Hazelet's journal from 1800's to about 1902. This was an amazing book in Hazelets life. I will definitely recommend this book. ...more

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Sharon rated it really liked it
Aug 09, 2013

Kgates rated it it was amazing
Nov 16, 2017

Bridgitte rated it liked it
May 11, 2013

Tinkoo Tin rated it really liked it
May 17, 2016

Jul 28, 2018 Jena Henry rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The author’s great-grandfather, George Cheever Hazelet joined thousands of other hardy men would who ventured to the Alaskan frontier to seek gold. He kept a journal and recorded his thoughts and adventures. I suppose he did it for himself and his family. I wonder if he ever thought that people in the year 2018 would read his words from 1898-1902?

Thanks to the author, we can see what daily life was like for his intrepid ancestor. George Hazelet had a successful life as an educator, businessman a ...more

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Bruce Hazelet rated it really liked it
Jul 21, 2020

Gretchen rated it it was amazing
Feb 24, 2013

Jun 12, 2018 Denice Langley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I never tire of reading stories of Alaskan history. After living in Alaska for 30years and traveling the state many times, I can picture the places Hazelet traveled and appreciate the adventures he lived. This was one of the better books I've read centered in Alaska. ...more

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