Archive for May, 2010

Steamboats, Georgetown and the Civil War

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Last week I spoke to the Beaver County Genealogy and History Center at their monthly meeting. 

BCGS Link:  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pabecgs/index.htm 

My topic was “Steamboats, Georgetown and the Civil War”.   The lecture was approximately 45 minutes followed by an informal question period of about 60 minutes.  I am not a historian.  But for those who only remember the Poes because of their celebrated battle with the Indian named Bigfoot, they are missing the Poes’ astonishing body of work as steamboat captains and pilots. 

 

I find it a fun and an important bit of American history.  Too important to forget.  I hope the members of the BCGS agreed.

PA Primary

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

As we approach the primary in PA, I thought I would add some historical perspective.  The following images are the Pennsylvania Certificate of Nomination  for the Republican Party in the Borough of Georgetown on the 21st day of Jany, A.D 1896.  The names are old family names from the Golden Age of Steamboating

Cover of the Certificate of Nomination for the Repulican Party in Georgetown 1896 (Frances and John Finley Collection)

Cover of the Certificate of Nomination for the Repulican Party in Georgetown 1896 (Frances and John Finley Collection)

 

Certificate of Nomination of the Republican Party in Georgetown 1896 (Frances and John Finley Collection)

Certificate of Nomination of the Republican Party in Georgetown 1896 (Frances and John Finley Collection)

 

 Certificate of Nomination of the Republican Party in Georgetown 1896 (Frances and John Finley Collection)

Certificate of Nomination of the Republican Party in Georgetown 1896 (Frances and John Finley Collection)

More Golden Highway 1869

Saturday, May 8th, 2010

Although the Montana Gold Rush was near its end, Missouri River commerce continued to be a profitable business venture. I have loaded a page entitled TS Calhoon’s Diary 1869. It includes his journal entries for the str Sallie which he commanded that season to Ft Benton.

More Golden Highway 1866

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

Thomas S Calhoon, as first clerk of the str Amelia Poe, sighted 16 steamboats on his trip up river and 30 boats down river. From St Louis, the trip to Ft Benton was 72 ½ days; down 57 days with three days to discharge freight and passengers.

Thomas S Calhoon left Georgetown, Pa on 12 Mar 1866 and returned to his home on 19 Aug 1866. That was 160 days on the river = almosst half the year.  He took approximately three weeks in Georgetown before he shipped out on 5 Oct 1866.

I have added his journal entries for the down river trip to the page TS Calhoon’s Book 1866.