Capt. Volney E. "Stogie" White

*Capt. Volney E. 'Stogie' White*
Good evening Bob & Steamboating colleagues,
Bob, I knew "Stogie" White from the time I was a kid on. Capt. Bill Judd knows even more for sure. "Stogie" came from his cigar stub in his mouth. Stogie was indeed thick in the midst of the old GREENE LINE a long time and longer than we remember. He was one party guy for sure. I seem to remember that, I 'think,' Stogie ended up with and spent a number of years with the NEARE GIBBS marine underwriters here in Cincinnati. Bill Judd will know for sure. Stogie also a side-kick of Capt. Tom Greene. I can't remember--and doubt--if Stogie was a member of Capt. Tom's little rat trap band making music on the boats or out at their camp on the Little Miami River. Stogie did serve on the GORDON C. GREENE and possibly the TOM GREENE, CHRIS GREENE. It does sound familiar about his time in either the U.S. Navy or the Coast Guard. The late Capt. C.W. Stoll knew Stogie and some years back handed me a clutch of river/steamboat photos with a much younger Stogie pictured. This all in my dusty boxes. Like many other steamboat men, Stogie in time saw the writing on the wall and moved on to business: insurance, banking, accounting, mercantile, building and loan organizations etc. This evident through the years going way back in steamboat history. Stogie appeared quite a bit down on the DELTA QUEEN to visit through the years as I recall talking with Mrs. Letha C. Greene.

The late Capt. John Beatty also a staunch friend of his and perhaps the last person to see Stogie alive. They attended some function or dinner here in town. Everybody parted company as usual going separate ways. Stogie made it to near his car in a big enclosed parking garage only to promptly keel over. And that was it. His funeral/burial up here in our Mt. Washington Cemetery, Cincinnati. At the time I had a very 'spooky' feeling seeing his grave plot within a few steps near an ancient spreading cedar tree adjacent to our family plots. His marker stone very low with just his name, birth/death using his nick name "Stogie." I never met or knew his wife as I think they possibly were separated. If he had children I knew not. This about all I recall off the cuff tonight without pulling out a file and old photos. I'll keep digging and drive in the cemetery here tomorrow to seek out his grave. His age? Not sure but assume in/around his 70s [74?]. Bill Judd could nail it when he reads these postings.

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

Capt. Stogie White

I almost hate to admit it but I knew Capt. Stogie White very well and that places me in the 'over the hill" group. He and my Dad were great friends. Capt. White was born in 1901 and died in July, 1966. He lived most of his life in Cincinnati and had a son, William.

Capt. White and Capt. Tom Greene went to school together here in Cincinnati.
Fred Way said " Stogie was as close to being a Greene as anybody other than a blood relative".

Capt. White served as clerk on the Packet John W. Hubbard, played in the band on the Island Queen, long served as Master of the Str. Chris Greene, Purser on the Gordon C. Greene's first season. As the Greene Line shrunk, Capt. White joined the Steamboat Inspection Service and after it merged into the U.S.C.G he joined Neare, Gibbs & Co. as a marine surveyor. He did fill in often as Master of the Str. Delta Queen in the early years.

He had a ATON aid, the Capt. Stogie White Light named for him at Ohio River mile 344.2 on the left bank.

*Capt. Judd's instant response*
Bill, this now really 'spooky' with you reading the above, responding so quickly as I ate three chocolate cookies with a glass of milk. Now, gang, you have "the rest of the story" from one who was there and remembered. Stogie one of those lucky enough to see, experience the end of an era from the JOHN W. HUBBARD down to the DELTA QUEEN. 'Something' I now vaguely recall hearing was that Stogie was given reign by Capt. Tom to do his job with all that entailed with some later harboring a few bruises and scars. Neither Stogie nor Tom Greene suffered fools lightly.

I yanked that brown manila out with the photos from Capt. C.W. Stoll and there is Capt. Volney E. "Stogie" White snapped in a rather casual to humorous pose on a boat [It isn't the DELTA QUEEN] with his foot on on a cleat, cap tilted, coat unbuttoned and open with hand in his pocket and that cigar in his mouth as he half-smiles to a near laugh in the camera. Now that was a LONG time ago. I had totally forgotten about the "Capt. Stogie White Light, Ohio River mile 344.2 on the left bank." Thanks Bill for the information. Ummm...errrrr...YOU "over the hill?"

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

In asking this, I "Googled" "Capt. Volney 'Stogie' White" and came up with the transcript of a taped memoir he did. Very interesting along with what Bill and Dale have posted. Thanks, guys!
www.idaillinois.org/utils/getdownloaditem/collection/uis/id/1471/.../pdf

*'Stogie' White GOOGLED*
Steamboating colleagues,
Morning, Bob. Thanks for the above including the link to click, pull up the "trascript of a taped memoir." No doubt something on my end I'm not doing right as I click but can't get it to open. I'll work with it later. Perhaps I need more time so it can fully open, download for viewing.

No doubt many to most here on Steamboats.org either didn't know, didn't hear about 'Stogie' White as he one of the other 'old timers' dating way, way back. He was a character for sure ranking as one of the 'grand originals' as I term them. I heard somebody going on about how wonderful so and so was on the boats. Then one veteran who knew/worked under him say, "Ummmm, is THAT the same person I knew?" And then there are others now long, long gone but not forgotten. The message here is to seek the old timers out [Few to any left now], talk to them, ask questions, ask them to share for viewing photos or documents--especially the old time steamboat business materials. Again, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

Captain Stogie White/

RE Dale Flicks 11 51 AM post. I could not get the memoir to come up either so don't feel alone Dale. May I recommend Keith Norringtons column titled The Old Boat column in the Waterways Journal? You will find ir in the back of this long published publication.It is all about the old steamboats and the people and memorabilia associated with them. It is very well written an just fascinating to read. Check it out The subscription is very reasonable. excuse spelling. Carole Matthews Pompano Beach Florida Dale did Captain Stogie get his nickname from his cigar smoking habit? Apparently so,

*WWJ, Stogie White, Keith Norrington*
Hi, Carole,
Keith Norrington an old, old friend of mine for years. He does great with the 'Old Boat Column' in WWJ following the death of the late Capt. Alan Bates. Keith is right where he is doing what he loves and values so much. I first knew Capt. Donald T. Wright then the big name with the WWJ back in the late 1950s, early 1960s. I'm probably a lot older now than many suspect and will never see 70 again.

Did you ever get your subscription to the S&D REFLECTOR mailed in? We'd love to have you aboard. Keep up posting here. Hope all well down in Pompano Beach.

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

Old...

hey Dale, Keith isn't THAT old!!! But yes you, I and many on .org have been privileged to know him long before he started writing that Old Boat Column. And speaking of the OBC, we were also fortunate to know not only his predecessor Alan Bates, but also the original author Jimmy Swift. Many of us do go back a ways!!!!

Dale, Carole: this is a PDF file and will download to your computer, and you may then read it. It is not a separate web page. 😉

Bob, I will check my archives and see what I might have on Capt. Stogie White. Bill Judd and Dale Flick certainly can offer firsthand remembrances, having known him personally. I seem to recall that Capt. Stogie died suddenly while seated at his desk at the Neare-Gibbs Company in Cincinnati.

Carole, many thanks for your kind "PR" and I appreciate your compliments on my Waterways Journal writings. Now into my fourth year as the OLD BOAT columnist, it is truly an honor to succeed Jimmy Swift and Capt. Alan Bates, both of whom I was privileged to have as good friends and mentors for over four decades. Many of us who post on this forum have been close friends and colleagues for MANY years --- where time has rolled on rapidly like the old river itself!

Captain "Stogey" White on Drums.

Captain White was a friend of Captain Wagner's, and often came down to the DELTA QUEEN when I was working there in 1965... I may have met him earlier, I cannot recall, though I did see and speak to him whenever he was aboard. His son was a frequent visitor in the early '70's and would ride down to the fuel dock as a guest of Cap's.

Dale asked if Cap'n White "was member of Capt. Tom's little rat trap band making music on the boats.." Here's is proof that he played the drums. Of course, that's Cap'n Tom on the piano... but, who can identify sax and banjer players?

*Keith's & Shipyard's Stogie White memories*
Steamboating colleagues,
WOW! Thanks to Keith and Shipyard for clicking in, typing in carrying on the story thread and memories of Capt. Volney 'Stogie' White. The memories grow and grow. Shipyard on the money as Capt. Bill Judd recalled Stogie passing away at age 66 being born in 1901; thus a contemporary of Capt. Tom Greene. Again, I had no knowledge, memories of Stogie's son. Shipyard, for some reason I can't get the attachment showing Stogie in Capt. Tom Greene's rat trap band to open. Again, no doubt something I'm doing wrong here. Some statement pops up in German about the 'attachment.' Anybody know what that is or what it means?

I know Keith has his hand in his archives with more proof positive about Stogie. Capt. John Beatty was the one recalling for me about Stogie being stricken in town in a garage where his car was parked. I didn't question that from John. Yet at the time Capt. Beatty was beginning to fail himself often making statements countering, confusing with others with me taking him at his word. I hope you can find the story for us Keith. Again, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

Keith wrote: "Many of us who post on this forum have been close friends and colleagues for MANY years --- where time has rolled on rapidly like the old river itself!"

Well that's an understatement my friend. It has been at least FORTY YEARS since Keith, Judy, Shipyard, Dale, Bill Judd, etc., etc. have known each other and have shared information and lots of good times (I won't mention the food and drink we've all shared over that time).

For Carole and others who may be new to the board we have all been members of Sons & Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen for longer than that. Not only have we worked on the boats and worked with many of those who are mentioned here (and some who still post), but we have all been avid students of steamboats and river history for a long, long time. We sometimes get so caught up in the smaller details, having recounted so much of the major stuff so many times, that we tend to forget new folks who have just found our long-time interest.

Carole, as fine as Keith's articles in the WJ are, if you would like some more, and more in-depth information than Keith is able to delve into in his one-page WJ column, I would urge you to subscribe to the S&D REFLECTOR.

no picture of band available

It isn't just you, Dale. I can't get the picture to come up either. The explanation is basically that the link isn't available. verweigert = denied
But I don't know why....

I sent a message to Franz that the great photo of Captain Tom Greene's TOM GREENE Band will not post..... I'll keep trying.

Sorry, don't know why the picture didn't show up. It's fixed now 🙂

*The 'Rat Trap'/'Stogie on drums*
Steamboating colleagues,
Shipyard, the above photo taken aboard the Str. TOM GREENE finally came through loud and clear. Many thanks! And there's 'Stogie' on the left behind the drums, Capt. Tom Greene in the middle. 'Stogie' always was swarthy in complexion appearing to be continually tanned, black hair. I don't know about the other two gentlemen pictured: one with the banjo, other with the sax. Jane, Tom or Gordon Greene today may 'possibly' know for sure. All four obviously young men at the time with the TOM GREENE still in passenger packet service. Jane Greene has always told me her dad could "play a mean piano in his time."

My first thought was the man on the right with the sax 'could' have been Phil Huppertz of Cincinnati but not sure by a long shot. In later years Phil and his wife neighbors of my parents up here on Glade Avenue when I was at University of Cincinnati--now a LONG time ago. Capt. Tom Greene's little band naturally changed with men coming and going. All I ever remember hearing was the 'Rat Trap' with no idea how the name originated or stuck. The Phil Huppertz I knew years ago was indeed a member of Capt. Tom's 'Rat Trap' when Tom was not on the boat. The Greene family were 'normal' people living in homes ashore and not always on the boats 24/7/52 as later legends told. Out here in the Little Miami River near Newtown and down from Milford was a summer colony or a kind of river camp with cabins, main resort building called "Bass Island." No doubt our own Capt. Bill Judd knows and remembers more than me. Anyway, Capt. Tom and his group frequented the big river camp/resort in summer for evenings away from the heat of the city. Phil Huppertz mentioned "Bass Island" and playing with the 'Rat Trap' a number of times.

No doubt there could [possibly] be more really 'old timers' who could identify the other men in the above photo. And I have no doubt should Virginia Bennett be with us today she would know instantly as could Capt. C.W. Stoll and GL purser Bob McCann. When 'Stogie' was the boss aboard he was the boss with a few we know then feeling his authority. Well, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

The person who started this great thread, Capt. Bob Reynolds passed by my home last night in charge of the magnificent M/V Magnolia. Now lots of my friends blow a salute as they pass and some whistles sound like a sick cow. Last night Bob gave me a real first class salute, really making those Kahlenbergs talk. I even got calls from neighbors asking what boat that was. We have high water so I was glad this old pilot was sitting on his porch, I think?

Rat Trap Band

I don't know the names of any of the band members but by enlarging the photo it looks like the Saxophone player's cap must read "Clerk" if that helps anyone. My photo is a bit pixilated when enlarged.

In an old scrapbook I found a clipping from The Waterways Journal concerning Capt. Stogie White's death on Tuesday, July 26, 1966. He suffered a fatal heart attack at 2:00 PM., as he sat at his desk in the Cincinnati offices of the Neare, Gibbs and Company, at that time a century-old marine insurance firm. Capt. White was chief of the marine surveying staff.

Born August 12, 1901, he acquired the nickname of "Stogie" when he smoked a cigar as a youth and ever after was known by that name.

Listed as survivors were: Mrs. Anne White (wife), five sons; John, William, Thomas. Daniel and Kenneth. Services were conducted on July 29 at the A.C. Dobbling and Son Funeral Home in Fort Thomas, Ky., with burial in the Mount Washington Cemetery.

The amazing internet, I knew of Stogie's son william but had no idea there were four other boys. Now we know the rest of the story, maybe.

*'Stogie' White and more*
Steamboating colleagues,
Keith, thanks for digging in your files RE: 'Stogie' White's death while at his desk. This nails it good. No doubt Capt. John Beatty, in his mental state at the time, gave me another version. How would I have known at the time with no thought of countering his story. I never knew a son William even existed nor another four. There is an old color movie filmed here when the GORDON C. GREENE was sailing on a 1941 Mardi Gras cruise in the dead of a Cincinnati winter. On the old GREENE LINE whaftboat a clutch of rather frozen well-wishers stood at the big wharf door waving the GORDON off no doubt following a spirited party aboard earlier. Among the group there is Stogie White bundled up smiling with his infernal cigar in hand. Now that was a LONG time ago. Stogie's burial up here in Mt. Washington Cemetery correct within a few paces of our larger family burial plots. Capt. Bill Judd correct on "the amazing internet." Once you type, hit SEND it's out there forever.

Little did Capt. Bob Reynolds possibly think his initial posting above would bring all of these discussions posted here. Again, many, many here who never knew Stogie or even heard his name. Now, "do we know the rest of the story?" I doubt it.

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

A Stogie White Story

You all know the difference between a fairytale and a river story? A fairytale starts "Once upon a time"; a river story starts "Now this ain't no sh-t". Well here's a river story Albert Kelley told me years ago....
"Now this ain't no sh-t, on the TOM GREENE Stogie was captain, Bob McCann was the clerk and I was running pilot. Stogie decided to play a joke on Bob McCann. On occasion there was a lady of "negotiable morals" who would ride the boat and Stogie convinced her to be part of the joke. Well, Bob was sitting in a deck chair on the guard watching the river go by when suddenly the lady sat on his lap, put her arms around Bob's neck and whispered in his ear "you're really cute". Bob was so shocked he shouted "Great Day" and jumped straight up, the lady's rump hit the steel deck so hard I felt it in the pilothouse, all the while Stogie was laughing so hard he spit his cigar in the river."
To get the real humor of the story, you had to know Bob McCann.

*'Stogie's stories/Purser Bob McCann*
Greetings, steamboating colleagues,
Jim, the above humorous story with 'Stogie's' joke involving GL Purser Bob McCann a delicious one--among many. Those of you here who never met, knew GL Purser Bob McCann in his years on the GREENE LINE boats; then in the head office on the GL wharfboat missed something. Bob was of the old school and a walking steamboat encyclopedia for sure when it came to the rivers, steamboat history, bridges, locks/dams, trains and aircraft. I wish now I had a tape recorder to catch his stories and history. Some I've written down having known him for nearly 30 years. Always in a suit, shirt, tie [wool vest in the winter], gold watch with dangling chain, hat on with brim turned UP if it was summer, DOWN if it was winter. There was no true 'Riverlorian' in those days with Bob making announcements about the river, history, schedules, events over the microphone in the Purser office or out on deck with a circle of passengers standing around soaking up every word. And lo' unto the person who countered Bob or asked a question he didn't like. One June, 1962 on a 10 day R/T Cincinnati to Pittsburg, Bob was standing on deck rocking on his heels going on about so and so spot "being the narrowest point of the Ohio River." An unitiated lady who knew her stuff piped up, "Ah, Mr. McCann, I don't think so. That point is down the river some miles and I'll show you as I lived there most of my life." Bob looked with red face, sputtered, stormed off and down to the dining room for his BIG lunch. Bob had old steamboat superstitions and NEVER would watch the DQ leave the wharfboat without turning his back for a moment or so to ward off bad luck.

Bob was roated as Chief Purser with his own office on the wharfboat. One spring there was a flood here with the landing under water. The crew had a big skiff to row the office staff out and back. Bob stood up, fell back out of the boat in the river going down totally; then up. They fished him out, caught his floating hat with him having to walk to his apartment way up in town to change. And Bob kept his hand firmly on the money with accounts received/paid, pay the crew, supplies, vendors etc. One Friday Bob found the GL books off by 14 cents. He went in on a Saturday morning to dig through, root out the errant 14 cents so "all would balance perfectly." In later years under new managment with big ideas, they jumped over big dollars while Bob believed in accounting for mere cents. Not all of Betty Blake's bright ideas worked out with many costing big bucks. That's the way it was then and how he worked. Payday then another matter with Bob having the crew line up on the bow of the DQ to receive their money in envelopes and always paid in cash. He was a marvel to see with stacks of bills of differning denominations whipping through to count like a Las Vegas card dealer. I'm sure, Jim, you remember seeing that in your time on the boat.

Another time, while I was talking with Bob and Virginia Bennett on the DQ, Bob stepped back at the top of the grand staircase with me thinking he'd tumble back with disastrous results. He never missed a step going backwards down those stairs light on his feet grabbing the side rails. I could go on and on but won't at this point. He was another 'grand original' many to most here never met or knew. Another 'grand original' in/around 'Stogie' White was our Capt. C.W. Stoll--and there were more than a few sparks back then with those two. Well, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati