Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-07-22
AN OLD CAPTAIN.
A SKETCH OF TIE LIFE OF THE LATE WIN.
DEAN.
One Of the Old-Timo River Msn-He Would
Never Run Boat on Sunday-Rela-
hyss HereabOuts.

Capt William Dean, one of the Oldest
river men running on the Ohio or its tnou
taries. died at the residence Of his daugh-
ter. Mrs. w |. Miller, az Beaver, Pa,
July 18th.
Captain Dean was born in New Lis
bon, Ohio, in 1911. The funeral SER
vices will be held from the Third
Presbyterian Church. that city, Mon
day afternoon at 3 o'clock. The Cap
tain came from good American stock. His
grandfather was a soldier in the Revolu-
tonary war and his father raised com
pany for the war of 1872. serving in the
battle Of BladensOurg. During the late
civil war Capt. Dean was too old to serve,
but he gave freely Of his means and sent
one son to the front, who fought through
the entire four years.
He was intensity patriotic. and a man Of
strong convictions He was one Of the few
masters Of steamboats, who We're so con
scicntious that they would not run on sun
day. During his life he cited many in
stances to show that this was the very best
policy.
He first saw the Ohio river between ls23
and ISIS, at which time there We're but five
steamers on the river He had been bound
TO a merchant At New Lisbon, but didn't
ike IL, and came 10 Pittsburg and engaged
Als ilNha PURSUITS II " - AA' 49, VI AtAN
keel boat and the keel boatmen. The time
from Pttsburg 10 Cincinnati was three
weeks These boats could be propelled by
mar power about fifteen miles per day up
stream and padded / miles per hour
down stream.
In 1881 he became captain Of the Wheel
ing packet MissillOn and was captain OF
the Hunter running to Cincinnati in 1896.
In 1899 he took command of the steamer
Boston and sunk her az Devils Island, in
the Mississippi River in lSil. The follow
ing year he was captain and part owner in
the single engine steamer Allegheny,
which boat and the Lehigh We're the pio
necrs Of the Pittsburg and Cincinnati
Packet Line, sold % the late Captain X.
G. Gray in 1876
In 1895 he was captain OF the Brunette,
and shortly after built the North River to
make Today trips TO Louisville. In ls49
and 1880 he built the stcru-Whcel passenger
steamers Columbia and Navigator In
1875 he superntended and completed
number of tOwbOats and packets. From
this time up until 1859 he was engaged in
plotting on the upper Ohio, and
in this year was appointed General Agent
of the Allegheny Insurance Company 10
take charge OF the marine interests. Dur
ing the war ne built four steamers. He
resigned inc bcucful Agency OF the Allc-
gheny Insurance Company in 1854, and be
came amember Of the Fire and Marine
Agency Of Geo. W. Dean * Co.
He had three brothers who were river
men. One Of them still lives, Capt. Samuel
Dean. The other two brothers. Jessie and
Alexander, are dead. They were well
known men and their sons are prominent
men, one being cashier of the Union Ma
tional Bank and the other General Freight
Agent OF the Pittsburg and Lake Erie
Railroad
Capt. Dean leaves wife and five chill
dren. They are William b. and John d., of
St. Paul, MINI, Capt Geo. W, the insur-
ance agent; Mrs W. !. Miller, Of Beaver,
and Mrs. J. Il. Gribben, of st. Paul. MINI.
William Dean Howells, the novelist, form
erly Of Martins Ferry, was a nephew Of
the deceased, and Mrs. ID. ID. Martin, Of
Martins Ferry, was u sister. For forty
years he was member of the Third Pres
byterian Church Of this city and for fifteen
years an elder. He was respected by all
who knew him.
His mother belonged 10 one Of the best
Pennsylvania families and was a sister Of
the mother of Gov. John Bigler, Of Gala
fornia and Gov. VIM. Bigler. of Pcnnsyl-
vania He leaves wife, two daughters
and three sons, and many relatives, and a
long list Of friends who morn the loss Of a
good man.