Topic starter
21/04/2010 12:43 pm
My great grandfather was Clay Switzer [1843-1926], who operated a wharf boat at Tell City, IN from the 1880s-early 1900s. In some publications, he was referred to as Captain Switzer and was supposedly a riverboat pilot/captain prior to operating the wharf boat. But I have not been able to verify that he actually was a boat captain or if the “Captain” was an honorary title.
(1) Any suggestions regarding the authority which licensed them and where may I find the records showing the persons licensed as a pilot/captain? I have tried with the National Archives in Washington, D.C. but they were not helpful.
(2) Does anyone have any information regarding Clay Switzer they could share with me?
Sincerely,
Clay Schaefer
09/05/2010 3:57 am
capt Clay Switzer
I looked in my copies of the annuals of licenses but found no Switzers. In Cincinnati. or Evensville. I did find a reference to Capt Clay Switzer in the Index to the Waterways Journal for 31 Oct 1891 page. 4.
Why he was wharf master is a bit of a problem. so I went looking at his spouses: Mary E. Tobin his first wife, she died shortly after the birth of their Daughter Mary Corinne Switzer, who died 23 Feb 1878 shortly after her birth. I could find no connection to the very active Captain John W. Tobin of New Orleans, See 17 references to him in Way's packet Directory. Clay's second wife was Amelia Bettinge or Bettinger the daughter of M Bettinger a Woolen Goods manufacturer in Tell City. I am not sure if she is related to Albert Bettinger who was a great and well known supporter of Ohio River improvements. (Look for him in the Waterways Journal index) Any Library that has the early issues of the Waterways Journal should be able to help you get into the index compiled at the University of Missouri, St Louis. or just do a Google search. Clay in the 1900 census was still wharf Master. by in 1910 he was a general farmer. He had 5 children 2 girls and 3 boys. I didn't find him in the 1920 census so he may have been living with a daughter. I checked the sons. none went on the River. In the 1910 census the oldest daughter Corinna Elizabeth is listed as a vaudeville singer.
Utah River rat
Topic starter
20/05/2010 8:41 pm
Captain Clay Switzer
Thank you for your search efforts. Amelia Bettinger was the sister of Albert Bettinger. Clay worked with Albert on the Ohio Valley Improvement Assoc. project. Clay is in the 1920 census for Tell City at the top of sheet no. 14B. I saw the 1891 notice in the Waterways Journal, but it just noted he was returning to Tell City after visiting in Cincinnati for a while.