Detailed information provided on the Certificates of Enrollment changed trough the years. The following certificates for the str Financier specify the essential changes in the life of the packet. The first certificate dated 21 May 1845 indicated that the str Financier was built for and or by Capt Adam Poe of Georgetown, PA. The next certificate dated 20 May 1846 indicated that the rights to operate the vessel had been renewed. The third certificate dated 04 Jun 1846 indicated a change of owners.
Str Financier
| Owners and Partners | Share | Vol: | 6628 |
| Adam Poe | Enroll No : | 11 | |
| Jacob Poe | Cert Date: | 21 May 1845 | |
| Thomas W Poe | Cert Type:: | ||
| George Calhoon | Build Locn: | ||
| Andrew Poe | Build Date: | ||
| George Poe | Master | Adam Poe | |
| Washington Ebert |
Str Financier
| Owners and Partners | Share | Vol: | 6629 |
| Adam Poe | Enroll No : | 68 | |
| Jacob Poe | Cert Date: | 20 May 1846 | |
| Thomas W Poe | Cert Type:: | Admeasurement | |
| George Calhoon | Build Locn: | Pittsburgh, PA | |
| Andrew Poe | Build Date: | 1845 | |
| George Poe | Master | Adam Poe | |
| Washington Ebert |
Str Financier
| Owners and Partners | Share | Vol: | 6629 |
| William J Kountz | Enroll No : | 69 | |
| Geo Black | Cert Date: | 04 Jun 1846 | |
| Robert S Hays | Cert Type:: | Admeasurement | |
| Clark and Thaw | Build Locn: | Pittsburgh, PA | |
| Build Date: | 1845 | ||
| Master | William J Kountz | ||
Note the new owners of the str Financier. William J Kountz was a steamboat man from Pittsburgh who was later charged with providing river transportation for troops and supplies during the Civil War. His clashes with Gen US Grant were famous. He wrote to Gen Halleck who was the commander of the western theater headquartered in St Louis that Gen Grant was a “glorious drunk” who should be court marshaled. Admiral Kountz was reported to be a teetotaler.
Thaw was William Thaw who had interests in the western PA canal transportation and was one of several who established the first Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Packet Line in 1842. Later he was associated with the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroad (PRRs) which was a significant player in the the Molly Maguires sensational trials. Twenty Mollies were prosecuted, and hanged, by the president of PRR and chief prosecutor on the testimony of one Pinkerton agent. The president of the PRR and acting prosecutor was Franklin B Gowen who stood to gain financially from the destruction of the striking coal miner union.
So much fun!
On 12 Oct 1850, the boilers of the str Financier exploded near Alton, IL causing the death of the captain’s son and second engineer. Others were scalded. [1]
References.
[1] Frederick Way, Jr.,Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994, (Ohio University Press, Athens 1994), p. 165.
Copyright © 2012 Francis W Nash
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