The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-01-10
when Iowa Haa Steamboats,.


Eddyville Tribune The friends Of
Uncle Jimmie Hayes are congratu-
lating him on his serenty-second
birthday Kfich occurred Dec IL, 1910
The gentleman VAS born in NcDon-
ongh county, Illinois, and came with
his fathers family 10 Iowa in May,
1856. They were old neighbors TO the
John Vance family in Illinois, and this
good fellowship brought them 10 I'd
dyvilIe where they we're heartily vel
coined. The Edcyrilie bridge vas built
that year, and Mr. Eayes worked on
the piers during the summer OF 1886
He says the foundation OF each pier
was a double layer OF heTed cotton
wood logs pinned together and sunk
as deep below the river bed as their
methods OF excavatiug wonld allow
The first pier vas circular and serv-
ing two spans of the lridge On turn
table to admit the passage of boats,
EddyYiIle had a pork house, a grist
mill, and carding machine
These last two were great essen
tails TO the early settlers. They we're
operated by John Vance and Holland
Bennett Mr. Hayes ran ferry at Ed
dyyilie for few months and had
charge OF sawmili in East Des
Moines township during 1886. The fol-
lowing year he ran the Gately ferry.
He had a ferry OF his own at Eve
land also for time He says he took
10 water like a spaniel and aiways
liked It During his stay at Gateiy's
ne tells some interesting things about
the primitive methods Ga river traffic
and travel
His meuaorg is remarkably good and
is especially so ON names, experiences.
etc He has a distinct memory of fif-
teen steamboats, which piled up and
down the river as far as Des Moines
and occasionally to Fort Dodge. We
give the names of these boats: Alice,
Clara Hine. Skipper, Colonel Morgan,
Badger State. Defiance, Emma Har-
mon. Des Moines Belle. Sangamon
Packet, J. B. Gordon No. j. J. B. Cor
don No. and siichigan City.
John j. Gately was ship carpenter
and well acquainted with all river
men. He says ne often heard Mrs.
Gateiy relate the following story IL
Illustrating the life and character of
the sturdy and resolute men who sub
dued the western rivers.
Three Ferris brothers were the
proud owners OF the Alice and did a
prosperous business. One of them said
to the other two, If you will buy my
interest in the Alice | will bet you
$1,000 that / can go into the boat
yards and build boat that will out
run the Alice III partners took the
bet, and the first brother in due time
brought out the Clara Hine. The
race was run up the Mississippi In
good water from St Louis. to a Civ
en- point and return. and up the
Des Moines river to Des Moines
Clara Hine won the money Short
tly afterwards one of the remaining
partners OF the Alice offered to wag-
err $1,000 that he could bring out a
} boat that would leave both the Alice
and the Clara Hine in the rear The
other two brothers agreed TO give him
I a chance to try his skill and he pro-
duced the Skipper. The speed of the
three boats was tested and the Skip
per made good. carrying off the prize.
Mr.. Hayes says the boat whistle
was something fierce to the man who
kept the ferry, both night and day. If
! he failed TO drop his cable to the
bottom of the river two deck hands al
ways stood with axes ready at the
bow Of the boat 10 cut it.