Topic starter
03/04/2011 12:37 am
What is known of this sidewheeler, beyond what is mentioned in Way's? She only ran from 1853-1857. I have found reference to her carrying a steam calliope, which would be historically significant given that the earliest known record of this is 1856.
03/04/2011 9:08 pm
Str Thomas Swann - Officers
Mr T
The str Thomas Swann was not included in the BM Laughlin Book of SBs built in Pittsburgh so unfortunately I can not lift any of his colorful comments, ie white stacks, a round pilot house, a special calliope, or cabin furnishings. I do recognize the some of the officers cited by Capt Way.
Thomas Kinsey was a master and pilot from Georgetown, PA. In the 1860 census records, he was listed as 34 years, a SB pilot, with a personal estate of $100 and real estate valued at $800. A tidy sum pre Civil War.
Thomas Campbell also lived in Georgetown, PA. According to the 1860 Census, he was a 27 year old steamboat mechanic with a personal estate of $600.
Andrew J Johnson also had a Georgetown/Poe connection. Andrew was the spouse of the Sarah Poe who was born in Osage Co, MO in 1846. Sarah's parents were Barnabas Madison Poe and Eliza Backues. Barnabas Madison was the brother of Thomas W Poe Sr who lived in Georgetown who worked in river feight transportation - rafting and keel boating grain, coal, and various goods to ports south as far as Cincinnati. Thomas W Poe Sr's sons: Jacob, Adam Thomas, George W and Andrew were the steamboating generation.
The McClure name is also known in Georgetown. Charles McClure drown near Helena, AK when his uncle's boat, the str Nick Wall, snagged and sunk. Mark Twain wrote about this tragedy in "Life on the Mississippi". My problem is that I have no information on a Capt John McClure.
I have a book on order written by John Bowman "Steamboats on the Western Rivers in the Civil War". Mr Bowman lives in Wheeling so maybe I will find something about the str Thomas Swann.
Will let you know what I learn.
Fran Nash
26/02/2012 9:14 pm
Str Thomas Swann
Mr T
Have you discovered any additional info on the str Thomas Swann calliope? In Google news, I found an article about the str Thomas Swann from The Daily True Delta (New Orleans), 13 Aug 1852 .
"The Wheeling Gazette has the following paragraph in relation to the two boats designed to run between Louisville and Wheeling on the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to the latter city:
We went yesterday to see the new boats being built by McLure, Dunlavy & Co, for the Louisville and Wheeling steamboat line. The ribs are up for both, and one partially planked, showing the perfection of the model and giving a clear idea of what it is to be when finished. We learn that it is to be named the Thomas Swann, and is to be commanded by Capt John McLure. It is 283 feet in length, 34 feet beam. Having given it a thorough and close examination in company with practical and scientific men, we unhesitatingly say that the Thos. Swann will be the fastest boat on the river."
Maybe this info will lead to another article with info on the calliope.
Fran Nash
PS There is also a book, "Down the O-H-I-O" by Charles H Roberts published in 1891 with a reference to the str Thomas Swann.