Michael James Heney was born back in 1864 in Stonecliffe, Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada to Thomas and Mary. When he was fourteen he ran away from home to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway, starting as a water boy graduating to a track laying crew assistant and mule skinner. He continued to be promoted to foreman of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Easter Railroad.
When the Klondike Gold Rush came he was ready. He started working for the Pacific Contract Company, first as a labor foreman then as a contractor. His contract was bought out for 250,000.00 and he retired, at least for the moment. He was then hired by the Copper River and Northwester Railway. Having completed the construction, he retired for the last time. He died in 1910, he was 46.
What you may not know about Michael is that he is best known for his work on the first two railroads built in Alaska, the White Pass and Yukon Route and the Copper River railroad route.
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