Col. William Ralph Abercrombie, USA

Col. Abercrombie served for 33 years in the US Army. He fought in two Indian Wars, then served in the Western United States, including the Territory of Alaska, and also in the Philippine Islands. In 1889, Colonel Abercrombie commanded the Copper River Exploration Expedition operating from Port Valdez, Alaska. He discovered and located an all-American route from Port Valdez to the Tanana River, and was appointed Chief Engineer of the Department of Alaska and the Construction Chief Engineer of the trans-Alaskan military road. In 1908, he again saw service in the Philippine Islands. He was then Commanding Officer of Ft Reno in Oklahoma and later at Ft George Wright in Washington. He retired in 1910. Mt Abercrombie in Stevens County, Washington and Fort Abercrombie, in Kodiak, Alaska are named for him.