Archive for March, 2011

Re-discovered Steamers

Monday, March 28th, 2011

My comparison of The Lytle-Holdcamper List and the BM Laughlin Book of steamers built at Pittsburgh from 1811-1904 is hereby duly declared complete.  Each steamer named by BM Laughlin was searched for in The Lytle-Holdcamper List.  The comparison was conducted through the years 1811- 1840 or, by another measure, five-hundred-fifteen (515) steamboats.  The comparison has been terminated because there were no differences found in either year 1839 or 1840.  By my count, forty two (42) steamboats have been re-discovered.  Those steamboats, not listed in The Lytle-Holdcamper List, can be accessed from The BM Laughlin Rediscovered Steamboats

My search arguments in developing this report were quite generous.  As long a steamboat was listed within plus or minus two years of the BM Laughlin build date with the same name or close to the same name and built in Pittsburgh or the Pittsburgh region, a match was declared.  The rate of difference between the two lists through 1840 was still 8.16%. 

 

Names presented the greatest challenge.  For example, there are twenty (20) steamers named Delaware in The Lytle-Holdcamper List.  BM Laughlin listed two additional Delawares that did not match any of the build dates and/or places of build.  Today there are at least twenty-two steamboats named Delaware

 

Where spelling and name abbreviations were questionable, I checked a combination of names.  Str Eliza invoked checks on Elizabeth, Lizzie, Lady Elizabeth, etc.  For Str Geo Baynard, I checked “George Baynard”, “George MI Baynard”, “General George Baynard”, etc. 

 

No doubt, I have missed a few names — omitted some because of inappropriate matches and included some because of failed checks.  The raw data is available to those who can make the time to correct my work.

More Books

Monday, March 21st, 2011

Several books and pamphlets have been added to my suggested reading list.  These books are hard to come by, and some are deemed collectible.

Steamboat ‘Round the Bend

Sunday, March 13th, 2011

I found another interesting book on the history of the Georgetown area.  This book is a collection of articles by James F Mullooly entitled “Steamboat ‘Round the Bend” published by the Fort Vance Historical Society in 1994.  James Mullooly (1914-1979) was a river history buff who wrote articles for local newspapers in the panhandle of WV and western PA.  His column was Steamboat ‘Round the Bend.   

 

In my boxes of Poe stuff, I have clippings of some of Mullooly’s articles about Georgetown and the steamboat days of the Tri-State region.  Today I read an article from the book, Georgetown Rich in History for River Experts, which caught my attention for two reasons.  First, Mr Mullooly published the recollections of Capt Adam Poe which I so painfully transcribed from a poor copy of his work.

 

Mr Mullooly also wrote that during the Was of 1812, Georgetown was the site of an important ferry on the Ohio.  This ferry was used by volunteers from Washington, PA and Burgettstown marching north to fight the British.  That I did not know.  I do know that an Adam Poe was a veteran of the War of 1812.  That Adam Poe Jr , I think, was the son of Adam Poe, the famed Indian fighter, and Elizabeth Smith.  I have little information about Adam Poe Jr.  He married Catherine Ann Mower and died in Jul 1840. 

 

Dawson’s Ferry had been used for years for river crossings into the Northwest Territory before Ohio was officially opened for settlement.  It follows that the same ferry would serve the soldiers of the War of 1812.

Index of Names

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

An index of all the people identified by Capt Adam Poe in his autobiographical book of river experiences has been loaded for your review.   The page is Index of Names.