Alexander De Soto

Alexander De Soto
Born	Template:Birth date Caroline Islands
Died	November 11, 1936(1936-11-11) (aged 96)
Occupation(s)	Medical doctor, entrepreneur, philanthropist
Known for	Founding Seattle's first hospital, Wayside Mission Hospital; mining ventures; missionary work

Alexander De Soto (July 28, 1840 – November 11, 1936) was a Spanish-American medical doctor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is chiefly recognized for establishing Seattle's inaugural hospital, the Wayside Mission Hospital, which he led from 1898 until 1904. Having experienced a religious conversion to Protestantism, De Soto dedicated himself to aiding impoverished, homeless, ill, and addicted individuals while simultaneously developing commercial enterprises to support his charitable initiatives. At the height of his business career, he was involved in mining ventures spanning Chile, Peru, Spain, the Americas, South Africa, and Mexico. He co-established the De Soto Placer Mining Company, which spearheaded mining activities in Snohomish County, Washington, and was a pioneer in introducing dredge mining techniques to Alaska. By 1903, his company's Alaskan properties ranked among the most affluent and technologically advanced worldwide, boasting the largest dredging equipment and steam shovels.

De Soto was born in the Caroline Islands and received his education in Spain before immigrating to the United States in 1862. During the American Civil War, he served as a naval surgeon. In 1867, he practiced medicine as a surgeon in Alaska. Additionally, he played a prominent role in the Carlist movement. From 1870 to 1872, he served as physician to King Charles XV of Sweden prior to relocating his medical practice to Chile and Peru. During the War of the Pacific (1879–1880), he acted as an army surgeon for Chilean forces. Following personal struggles with gambling and morphine addiction, De Soto embraced Protestantism and became active in New York missions such as the Crittenton, Bleecker Street, and Bowery Missions. In 1879, he led a gospel mission initially intended for Klondike but which ultimately ended in Seattle; there he founded the city’s first hospital and broadened his philanthropic efforts.

To fund his missionary endeavors, De Soto engaged in business projects including plans for an Alaskan railroad alongside mining operations. His Granite Falls mine located in Snohomish County yielded early profits; however, reinvestment of those earnings into an extensive Alaskan dredging initiative failed despite substantial capital input and state-of-the-art machinery. The mining properties did not produce anticipated results, resulting in allegations of poor management. After additional unsuccessful ventures, he withdrew from mining and resumed practicing medicine. In 1910, De Soto campaigned unsuccessfully for King County Coroner before serving as physician and dietitian to Norway’s King Haakon VII from 1910 through 1915. He later returned to New York and passed away at age 95 in 1936 after falling into Gowanus Bay while working aboard the private yacht Centaur.

During the 1920s, a commemorative plaque and anchor monument were placed at Seattle’s Washington Street Public Boat Landing to recognize De Soto and the Wayside Mission Hospital.

Early life and family

Alexander De Soto was born on July 28, 1840, in the Caroline Islands, which were then under Spanish control. His father was Fernando De Soto, born near Barcelona in 1791, while his mother was Hedwig Leonora De Soto of Austrian origin. Fernando had a distinguished career as a Spanish general, former war minister, governor of the Caroline Islands, lieutenant governor of Puerto Rico, and diplomat before retiring at age 80; he lived to be 111 years old. The family asserted lineage tracing back to Hernando de Soto, the Spanish explorer credited with discovering the Mississippi River. By 1906, Alexander was among five surviving descendants worldwide, including relatives residing in Rome and Spain.

Education

De Soto began his education at a Jesuit institution located in Sant Quintí de Mediona, near Barcelona. He obtained a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Spain in Madrid and later earned a Doctor of Laws degree in Heidelberg, Germany. In 1870, he pursued additional studies in Uppsala, Sweden.

Initial military, civic, and medical roles (1862–1880)

At 22 years old, in 1862, De Soto arrived in America as part of a Spanish diplomatic delegation to study naval strategies. During the American Civil War, he served as a naval surgeon. By 1867, his medical work took him to Alaska. Upon returning to Spain in 1868, he became involved with the Carlist faction before moving to Sweden in the early 1870s.

Between 1870 and 1872, De Soto held positions as both surgeon and professor in Uppsala and served as physician to King Charles XV. From 1872 until 1875, he practiced medicine across Chile and Peru. During the War of the Pacific (1879–1880), he acted as a surgeon for the Chilean army fighting against the Bolivian-Peruvian alliance.

In the late 1870s, De Soto briefly worked as a croupier in Berlin. He relocated to London in 1880 and subsequently settled in New York.

Gambling and substance dependence (1880–1890)

After establishing himself in New York in 1880, De Soto continued gambling and developed an addiction to morphine. Later, he ventured westward to gamble within Colorado’s mining communities.

Missionary and medical pursuits (1890–1936)

In 1890, De Soto underwent a religious conversion to Protestantism, which prompted him to abandon gambling and conquer his morphine dependency. This transformation inspired him to engage actively in missionary activities. Returning to New York State, he briefly worked in the leather goods industry in Freeport, Long Island.

While in New York, he participated in the Crittenton and Bleecker Street Missions and joined the Bowery Mission by 1897. After several years dedicated to missionary work, he organized a gospel outreach expedition aimed at Alaska.

Alaskan gospel mission (1897–1898)

In November 1897, De Soto led a group of seven members from the Bowery Mission on a journey to the Klondike area with the purpose of conducting worship services and gospel meetings for gold miners and indigenous peoples. Their objective was to establish a mission center in Dawson City modeled after those found in New York. Along their route from New Jersey through California and Washington, then crossing the Chilkoot Pass to Juneau and Dawson, they planned to hold religious gatherings.

The team also intended to prospect for gold to finance their missionary efforts both in Klondike and New York. De Soto aimed to create a non-profit hospital within the region.

However, they never reached Klondike. By November 1898, after spending a year traveling, they arrived in Seattle but were hindered by adverse weather conditions and De Soto’s broken leg. Upon realizing that Seattle lacked a public hospital, De Soto resolved to establish one himself.

Wayside Mission and Hospital (1898–1909)

In 1898, using his own resources, De Soto founded the Seattle Wayside Mission, assuming its presidency. The mission conducted daily meetings featuring singing, prayer, sermons, and personal testimonies while providing free mental health and medical assistance focused on individuals struggling with drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling issues, as well as offering temporary shelter for homeless persons.

Aware of the influx of impoverished, ill, and injured people returning from the Klondike Gold Rush, De Soto founded the Wayside Mission Hospital in 1899—the first free healthcare facility serving Seattle until the city opened its public hospital in 1909. Collaborating with Captain Amos C. Benjamin and Judge Roger S. Greene, he co-established the Seattle Benevolent Society to attract investors and advocate for hospital support. His strong connections with local law enforcement and influential figures facilitated obtaining municipal aid.

De Soto personally funded the hospital’s creation while also securing donations from businesses and community members. Philanthropist John J. Habecker emerged as a significant investor and manager. Early backing came from Seattle’s Free Methodist, Baptist, and Congregational churches; local companies contributed medicines and food supplies. Notably, English actress Rose Coghlan donated proceeds from her performances to support the hospital in 1903. That same year, De Soto committed all profits derived from his Granite Falls mining ventures to charitable causes including Wayside Hospital.

The mission specialized in treating illnesses linked to poverty and workplace injuries sustained by lumberjacks, sailors, miners, and others neglected by government health services—particularly focusing on severe opium and morphine addictions. De Soto earned a reputation for successfully rehabilitating addicts who frequently left nearly cured.

Known for personally seeking out those in distress throughout Seattle’s streets and taverns, De Soto often rescued individuals attempting suicide from locations such as Seattle harbor. The hospital gained acclaim across the Pacific Coast region by serving impoverished and ill people throughout Puget Sound.

Inception of the Floating Hospital (1900)

In 1900, the Seattle Benevolent Society purchased the steamer Idaho from Cahn & Cohn and transformed it into a hospital ship, mooring it at the Jackson Street slip. De Soto resigned from the Society to lease the vessel and establish his medical facility onboard.

Fundraising efforts commenced promptly, with the ship’s engines removed to create additional ward space. Initially, only a small portion was used to accommodate patients under volunteer care, with plans to develop two decks dedicated to separate wards for men and women.

De Soto began operations with a team of eight staff members; by September 1900, this group had grown to include several doctors, nurses, a matron, night watchman, cook, and porter—all serving without pay. By year’s end, the hospital was capable of treating up to 50 patients simultaneously, providing complimentary meals and medical treatment for injuries and addictions. Patients who could afford it were occasionally charged fees. Religious services consistent with Wayside Mission’s principles were also conducted aboard.

During 1901, the hospital treated approximately 7,400 individuals and distributed nearly 50,000 free meals. Over three years, De Soto personally invested $23,480 into the operation (equivalent to roughly $630,000 in 2021 dollars).

By late 1901, significant repairs were necessary for the Idaho. The City Council approved building a gridiron at Jackson Street for ship maintenance. In January 1902, a storm caused the vessel to break loose from its moorings and sustain stern damage after colliding with floating logs; evacuation was carried out by fire department personnel and nearby crews. The ship remained intact and was subsequently re-secured.

Following this event, a sturdy beam-supported gridiron was constructed; the ship was dismantled and placed on a new stern foundation to enhance stability and allow continued operation as a floating hospital.

Collaboration with Municipal Authorities

In 1900, De Soto sought formal authorization from Seattle’s Health and Sanitation Committee to provide treatment for drug addicts within the city. An ordinance granted him police powers to prohibit the sale of medications that could be abused without prescriptions and assigned him responsibility for addicts’ welfare.

That same year, the City Council enacted laws criminalizing opiate sales without prescriptions and empowered municipal courts to commit convicted addicts to De Soto’s floating hospital as a rehabilitation facility, with the city compensating 50 cents per patient daily. However, due to budget limitations, a 1901 ordinance terminated city payments, resulting in addicts being returned to jail. Treatment at the hospital was considered impractical because of easy drug availability in the community; nevertheless, De Soto persisted in efforts against illicit drug sales throughout 1901.

Until 1909 when Seattle finally established a municipal hospital, medical care was provided by an overcrowded county hospital or city jail facilities. In 1902, De Soto proposed allocating wards within his floating hospital for sick or injured individuals found in public spaces and suggested managing the city ambulance service. The City Council approved this initiative by passing an ordinance in July 1902 mandating that emergency cases be sent to Wayside Mission Hospital, reimbursing 75 cents per day for up to three days. De Soto absorbed additional costs and appointed a salaried physician for this ward.

The three-day limit proved insufficient due to complex patient needs and county hospital overcrowding; consequently, many patients remained longer at Wayside Mission. Although the original agreement expired in December 1902, the city continued referring cases there.

In early 1903, the City Council’s auditing committee reduced Wayside Mission’s reimbursement by 80%, denying payment for indigent care and transferring responsibility to the County Commissioners’ office—which also declined accountability. With hundreds of impoverished patients lacking clear funding sources, hospital officials urged the council to allocate part of the “floating fund” toward indigent care and proposed relevant legislation.

Relations between De Soto and city officials deteriorated as contractual obligations went unmet. At a Seattle Chamber of Commerce meeting in March 1903, De Soto and hospital manager Agnes Heath criticized authorities for neglecting destitute patients. The Chamber referred funding concerns to city and county committees.

In April 1903, De Soto participated in a joint committee meeting where he highlighted that private donations were inadequate and called for increased municipal funding beyond the existing 75 cents per day rate. A new committee was established to address hospital financing issues, resulting in an updated partnership ordinance between Wayside Mission Hospital and the City Council. By 1904, the hospital aboard the Idaho steamer was formally incorporated as Wayside Emergency Hospital.

Efforts to Expand the Hospital (1903)

In the absence of a public emergency hospital in Seattle, the Wayside Mission Hospital, housed on the steamship Idaho, functioned as the city’s primary receiving facility for several years. By 1903, De Soto considered the Idaho hospital insufficient to meet the increasing need for complimentary medical services.

To address this, De Soto unveiled plans in May 1903 for a contemporary four-story brick and stone building to replace the Idaho. The proposed design encompassed wards accommodating 100 patients, an ambulance bay, specialized medical and surgical laboratories, X-ray rooms, nurses’ dormitories, and educational spaces for training. The estimated cost ranged between $80,000 and $100,000 (equivalent to approximately $2–3 million in 2021). De Soto contributed personal wealth from his mining enterprises and also secured philanthropic donations.

The City Council passed an ordinance permitting the Board of Public Works to lease De Soto a 100-by-120-foot plot on Jackson Street—the same site as the Idaho—for 35 years at a nominal annual rent of $1. This lease included provisions allowing the city to assume control or renew the agreement upon expiration.

However, unbeknownst to De Soto, this land was already leased to the Columbia & Puget Sound Railroad Company. Legal issues emerged regarding leasing public streets for private purposes. Despite existing precedents for such arrangements, the City Council ultimately dismissed De Soto’s proposal without debate, causing the ordinance to fail.

Though alternative locations were suggested, De Soto insisted on retaining the oceanfront site due to his belief in therapeutic benefits derived from saltwater exposure. Public sentiment favored establishing the new hospital, and local press criticized the council’s rejection. De Soto attributed resistance to efforts by the Board of Public Works and City Engineers aimed at displacing his hospital from Jackson Street.

The future of the floating hospital became uncertain when Columbia & Puget Sound Railroad demanded possession of the Idaho site in June 1903 for rail expansion purposes. De Soto proposed moving the hospital further into Elliott Bay to accommodate both parties. Following negotiations, a one-week period was granted to finalize an agreement. The vessel remained docked at its original location until 1907 when intensified railroad lobbying resumed.

Opposition from King County Medical Society

Since his arrival in Seattle in 1898, De Soto faced opposition from the King County Medical Society due to his provision of free medical care for impoverished patients. In April 1903, tensions escalated between De Soto and several physicians affiliated with the Society, prompting some doctors to relocate their practices. The Society vehemently opposed "general medical charity" as well as De Soto’s methods regarding healthcare and mental health services for indigent populations. After expelling Dr. Wyllis Sillman for supporting a free dispensary initiative, the Society encountered criticism from De Soto who condemned their actions as "incompetence and malpractice," branding the organization as outdated. He subsequently invited Sillman to join him at Wayside Mission Hospital.

Reorganization of Hospital Leadership and Subsequent Developments (1904–1913)

In 1904, while De Soto focused on mining ventures in Alaska and his deputy J. J. Habecker was based in Philadelphia, E. G. Johnson assumed management of the hospital. Seizing this opportunity, the King County Medical Society influenced the Seattle Benevolent Society—the hospital’s proprietors—to replace Johnson and convinced City Council to reduce emergency funding allocations. Due to perceived mismanagement under De Soto’s leadership, his lease was revoked and reassigned to manager Fanny W. Connor along with director Marion Baxter.

To sustain Wayside Mission Hospital operations, new leadership organized fundraising events featuring notable medical figures such as military physician Anita Newcomb McGee. By 1905, Marion Baxter spearheaded initiatives to eliminate hospital debts and secure financial support. In 1906, administration of the hospital transitioned under Seattle and King County jurisdiction.

By 1907, worsening conditions aboard the Idaho coincided with pressure from Oregon Improvement Company advocating railroad construction through the hospital’s location. As a result, operations moved to the Sarah B. Yesler building—previously occupied by Seattle General Hospital—and continued under the name Wayside Emergency Hospital until Seattle inaugurated its first public hospital in 1909. Katherine Major managed this facility from 1910 through 1913. Eventually, the abandoned Idaho steamer sank into Elliott Bay.

Additional Wayside Mission Facilities

In August 1901, De Soto expanded the Wayside Mission by inaugurating a larger establishment on Washington Street in Seattle, significantly increasing mental health service capacity beyond the original mission and the Idaho. Between August 1900 and November 1901, this site provided complimentary shelter to roughly 8,000 people.

By 1901, the Wayside Mission operated a sanitary farm in Granite Falls, Washington, overseen by De Soto alongside J.J. Habecker. This facility functioned as a rehabilitation center for drug addicts who had previously received treatment at the Seattle hospital.

In 1903, De Soto developed mining camps in Council City and planned a 20-bed hospital staffed with doctors and nurses to offer free medical services to miners. Equipment was transported from Seattle mid-year, and by August, the modern hospital was operational under De Soto’s direction. He also founded a mission in Council City that remained successful for several years.

Subsequent Medical Career

Following his departure from managing Wayside Mission Hospital in 1904, De Soto’s significant medical engagement included his 1910 campaign for King County Coroner as a Republican candidate, though he was unsuccessful. Later, from 1910 to 1915, he served as physician and dietician to the King of Norway. In 1936, De Soto worked as a dietician aboard the private yacht Centaur during a cruise on the Great Lakes.

Historical Recognitions

A commemorative plaque honoring the SS Idaho was placed in the 1920s at the Washington Street Boat Landing pergola. During the 1960 National Maritime Week, additional markers were installed celebrating the Wayside Mission, De Soto, and the Idaho. These plaques were temporarily moved in 2014 due to restoration work on the Elliott Bay seawall.

The SS Idaho was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not! magazine in 1974. Additionally, the children's picture book Doctor De Soto was published in 1982.

Wayside Mission Hospital is recognized as Seattle’s first public hospital, underscoring early public health challenges and shaping future medical care development for impoverished populations within the city and county.

Mining Ventures (1872–1906)

From 1872 to 1875, De Soto was involved in mining operations in Chile and Peru. Over time, he participated in mining activities throughout Spain, the Americas, South Africa, and Mexico, earning acclaim for his expertise.

The De Soto Placer Mining Company was established during winter 1902–1903 with De Soto serving as vice-president and general manager and Philadelphia philanthropist J. J. Habecker as president. After discovering rich deposits in Alaska, De Soto attracted investors from the East Coast and raised up to $200,000 through stock sales. The company’s headquarters and majority shareholders were located in Philadelphia, rapidly positioning it among the world’s largest mining enterprises.

Sultan

De Soto explored gold deposits near the Sultan River after reports of abandoned camps at Horseshoe Bend surfaced. This region had been prospected during the late 1880s but was largely deserted following the 1896 Alaskan gold rush. His team uncovered placer gold deposits and claimed numerous mining rights along the river by 1900 with backing from East Coast investors.

In 1901, De Soto and Habecker acquired approximately 1,200 acres along the Sultan River, including 176 acres at Horseshoe Bend. They installed a hydraulic plant valued at about $15,000 (equivalent to $403,000 in 2021). By 1902, this operation was considered Washington state’s largest mining venture.

Between 1902 and 1903, their syndicate controlled over 5,000 acres within Snohomish County with multiple mining locations across the Cascades employing roughly fifty workers. They also possessed water rights extending over eighteen miles of the Sultan River, encompassing nine waterfalls ranging from 100 to 200 feet tall.

In September 1903, De Soto redirected the Sultan River through a rock tunnel to expose its bed for gold extraction and discovered substantial deposits. However, subsequent snowmelt damaged equipment and clogged the tunnel with debris. Some accounts suggest they intentionally dismantled the dam and gradually wound down operations while dissolving partnerships with minor shareholders.

De Soto continued involvement with Sultan River properties through 1909 despite enduring a serious injury caused by a rockslide during ongoing prospecting activities.

Granite Falls

In 1902, De Soto took ownership of the Wayside mine located in Granite Falls, Washington, known for its abundant quartz, copper, silver, and gold deposits. Collaborating with J. J. Habecker and other investors from Philadelphia, he developed the mine, generating $40,000 (equivalent to $1 million in 2021) within just a few months. By 1903, the earnings from Granite Falls mining ventures were allocated to charitable causes and helped finance the Wayside Mission Hospital in Seattle. By 1906, the mine had transitioned into ownership by a stock company under Habecker’s management.

De Soto further expanded his interests in Granite Falls in 1903 by laying out a new town called Wayside. He invested $17,000 (around $500,000 today) into additional mining operations he regarded as "the most economical venture" he had undertaken. This new mine was situated approximately 2,000 feet lower than other mines on the Pacific Coast, enhancing its potential for valuable mineral deposits. He employed numerous miners and brought in specialized machinery to support operations.

Alaska

Beginning in 1900, De Soto explored mining prospects near Council City, Alaska. In 1902, he acquired 2,120 acres across from Council City for his De Soto Placer and Mining Company. This region was recognized for exceptionally rich pay gravel deposits but required substantial capital investment that discouraged many potential investors. De Soto seized this opportunity early while others remained reluctant.

By 1903, the company’s holdings expanded to roughly 4,000 acres with over $100,000 ($3 million) invested in advanced mining equipment such as electric dredgers, steam shovels, and a fleet of ten river barges. A significant purchase was an $83,000 ($2.2 million) dredger from the Hammond Company, regarded as one of the largest dredgers worldwide at that time. The company also operated steamships named Aurum and Nugget.

In April 1903, De Soto chartered the steamer Jeanie to transport 1,300 tons of machinery, supplies, and personnel from Seattle to Golovnin Bay and onward to Council City. This shipment included a fully equipped 20-bed hospital—the largest shipment ever sent to Alaska—and was acclaimed as the most comprehensive placer mining setup of its era. Approximately 80 workers accompanied this cargo. An additional 500 tons of freight were transported aboard schooners Seven Sisters and Martha W. Tuft. The Jeanie departed on June 1 and completed delivery of all cargo upriver by July 28.

After reaching Council City, De Soto procured further land appropriate for hydraulic mining activities. By August 1903, most major equipment—including the dredger and steam shovel—was installed and operational; remaining machinery became functional during the winter of 1903–1904. In 1904, De Soto’s dredger worked eighteen hours daily and produced gold valued at $1,500 ($40,000) per day.

De Soto is recognized as the originator of dredge mining in the Council City region.

De Soto Mining Company downfall

Despite earlier geological assessments indicating rich mineral deposits and management’s optimistic outlook in 1904, only sporadic rich veins were discovered, causing operational difficulties. The company faced a bankruptcy suit initiated by a minor investor; however, it was dismissed. The Alaskan management sought additional capital from Habecker—the president of De Soto Placer Mining Company—who responded by assuming direct control through a trip to Alaska. Meanwhile, local managers secured a $21,000 loan from the Bank of Nome by using the dredger and steam shovel as collateral. Subsequent efforts to raise further funds failed; eventually, the Bank of Nome repossessed and sold the dredger to Northern Light Mining Company for approximately $31,000.

Habecker attributed the financial troubles to poor management by De Soto’s Alaskan team and requested a court-appointed receiver. At that point, company debts had escalated to nearly $125,000—primarily owed to laborers.

Subsequent Mining Endeavors

Despite encountering obstacles, De Soto continued his mining pursuits in both Alaska and California throughout 1906. He uncovered the Itak Mountain site, a substantial cinnabar reserve near Council City, securing 22 mining claims in partnership with Axel Young. Additionally, he discovered hot springs believed to have medicinal properties. At this time, De Soto maintained a formidable standing within mining communities and was regarded as exceptionally affluent.

Additional Mining Interests

De Soto held the position of largest shareholder in the Philadelphia Crude Ore Company located on Unalaska Island, which contained the most extensive sulphur deposit known during that period. Furthermore, he was the majority stakeholder and president of the Alaska Iron Company, which possessed assets close to Haynes Mission and successfully sold 50 million tons of iron ore at considerable profit.

Rail System in Snohomish County

In 1902, De Soto ventured into the railroad industry by obtaining a comprehensive franchise from the Snohomish County Commissioners to construct and manage hydroelectric plants alongside an electric railway network across Snohomish County. Partnering with J. J. Habecker, De Soto secured rights to develop an electric rail line connecting Everett and Snohomish, with plans for a $5 million investment (equivalent to $130 million in 2021). The agreement required a $10,000 bond (approximately $300,000 in 2021), and construction on the electric railway was slated to commence within six months.

To facilitate this project, De Soto established the Everett & Snohomish Rapid Transit Company. By 1902, he and Habecker controlled water rights over a significant portion of the -long Sultan River, including nine waterfalls ranging from to in height, intended to generate power for the railway. Construction had begun on five wooden dams filled with rock and one steel dam along the Sultan River.

The railway blueprint featured an eight-mile route between Everett and Snohomish, with extensions planned toward Seattle and further east to Sultan. Surveying operations started on June 17, 1902, covering the route from Sultan to Everett. Initial construction began at Lowell near Everett, connecting through the Everett Street Railway and Electric Company's existing infrastructure, which granted De Soto transit rights.

By April 1903, work on the Everett-Snohomish rail line was causing disruptions to local traffic patterns. Moreover, the required $10,000 bond had yet to be posted, prompting Snohomish County commissioners to prepare legal measures aimed at halting construction.

Alaskan Transportation Initiatives

In 1902, the Bering Sea & Council City Mining Company was formed with De Soto serving as an officer and president of its proposed Bering Sea & Council City Railway. He supervised topographical surveys for this railroad project, which received federal authorization to build approximately from Nome to the Niukluk River near Council City. The line was later extended to Chinick (present-day Golovin), crossing some of Alaska's most lucrative mining territories. De Soto expected this railroad to stimulate economic development in Northwestern Alaska. Valued at $7 million (around $200 million in 2021), it was regarded as the region’s first major railroad undertaking.

By 1903, De Soto controlled the De Soto Transportation Company, which operated the river steamer Aurum along with several barges servicing a route approximately long between Golovnin Bay and Council City.

Other enterprises

In 1907, De Soto played a key role in founding the Bering Sea Commercial Company, which was funded with $5 million (roughly $130 million in today's currency) by investors from Chicago to engage in whaling operations in the Bering Sea. He contributed valuable property to the company and took on the roles of promoter and general manager.

Personal life

During his early years, De Soto traveled widely before eventually settling in New York and later Seattle, a city he had briefly visited in 1867. Additionally, he maintained a home in Boston.

Accounts of his marriage differ: some sources indicate he wed a daughter of Senator Jesse Crane, with whom he had two children who tragically died young from diphtheria, and that his wife was later institutionalized; other records suggest he married Irene De Soto and fathered a daughter named Ruth De Soto Herold, who survived him and resided in Honolulu by 1960.

In his youth, De Soto was notably acquainted with Giuseppe Garibaldi. He joined Seattle's Tabernacle Baptist Church in 1898 and co-established the Seattle Benevolent Society two years later.

In 1906, De Soto obtained Alaska’s largest recorded polar bear skin, measuring 11.7 feet in length, and refused offers as high as $1,000 (equivalent to $30,000 today).

De Soto experienced several violent robberies throughout his life: he was shot in the leg during an unprovoked street attack by an unknown assailant in 1911; after a 1902 robbery, he secured a permit to carry a firearm; during a 1925 assault in San Francisco, he fatally shot one attacker; and he was robbed again in South Brooklyn where $185 was taken—two perpetrators later confessed to the crime.

At the age of 93 in 1934, De Soto received a suspended sentence of five days in jail for disorderly conduct after intervening during police action involving one of his employees.

Death

De Soto passed away on November 11, 1936, after falling overboard into Gowanus Bay in Brooklyn, New York. At that time, he was employed as a dietician aboard the private yacht Centaur. He fell into the water while returning from shore and died en route to Norwegian Hospital inside an ambulance. His final resting place is Seattle.

External links

• Steamer Idaho historical plaque
• City Emergency Hospital's history