Topic starter
24/01/2008 4:52 am
A Steamboat Pilot Thomas Wells died or was killed in a steamboat accident in Sept 1894. He was born in 1859 and Married Emma F Aumiller 29 February 1880 in the Elk District of Kanawha county, West Virginia. Emma and his four Children were living in Charleston, West Virgina at the time of his death. He was a cub pilot in 1880 and got his first pilots license in 1882. I would like any information on the boats he was on, and the date and cause of death.
Carl Jones
24/01/2008 2:33 pm
Hi, Carl Jones & steamboating colleagues:
Carl, your request for information RE: steamboat pilot Thomas Wells (1859-1894) prompted me to do some 'digging' here. Capt. Fred Way's 'WAY'S PACKET DIRECTORY, 1848-1983,' lists seven entries under the name of Wells with the first going back to 1849. At this point I see no reference to your Thomas Wells. Capt. Way admitted in his last years that there were a number of references to boats and individuals that "slipped between the cracks." Emma F. Aumiller herself came from a line of steamboat/river men and I'll have to 'dig' for information on her family if you are interested. The Wells personages I see here are:
Capt. Wells [Little to no data.]
Capt. Charles V. Wells
Edwin R. Wells, steamboat owner
J.R. Wells, 'Anchor Milling Co.' President
M.P. Wells, Marietta, OH.
Will H. Wells, ferry owner
William R. Wells, steamboat clerk
I do not own a copy of Ellis Mace's book 'STEAMBOATS AND STEAMBOAT MEN' which is a combination river history/diary covering many years. Tom Schiffer and others on this web have copies of this rare book and could possibly find a reference to Thomas Wells. There are many Steamboats.orgers with long memories and better records than what I possess.
In 1942 the SONS & DAUGHERS OF PIONEER RIVERMEN published a fine paper bound volume on the organization, history, names of members at that time along with a listing of 72 individuals who made 'Notable Donations and Loans' to the Ohio River Museum, Marietta, OH. and it reads as a veritable 'who's who' of the day. Emma B. Wells donated an old chart of the Mississippi River; E. Roy Wells donated tableware from the packet TWILIGHT. Never give up hope and I'll keep digging.
Cheers,
R. Dale Flick
Topic starter
24/01/2008 6:24 pm
Thanks D. Dale
I have tried most of the tricks I could think of. But have hit the brick wall. The wife of the person "JP" who performed the marriage is a sister in law of a William Wells. I have dug through the family of Ephriam Aumiller of Miegs co. Ohio. and his Emma does not quite match the 16 year old Emma F. Aumiller who married Thomas Wells but that is the likely the best bet. There does seems to be a thread where established river men introduced their daughters to promising young river men. There was an Emma Aumiller down in Portsmouth area but I tracer her to a different marriage. I was in Washington DC about 3 years ago and copied as many of the annual Lists of Pilots, Mates Master and engineers as I had time But did not get into the 1880's and early 1890's. I guess I need to go visit my sister again. I have 1997 and 1912 to 1915. I tried the Waterways Journal index but he did not appear.
Carl Jones