Peggy Smith-Hake's
"Window to the Past"
Steamboating on the Osage River
by Kelly Warman-Stallings
(Published to "Window to the Past" website on 1 January 2021)
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The Osage River, named for the Osage Indian tribe inhabiting the region when white settlers arrived, is the largest tributary of the Missouri River in the state of Missouri. It originates in eastern Kansas and empties into the Missouri River, 12 miles below Jefferson City, near Osage City in Cole County. Long before the steamboat cruised the Osage River, the Osage Indians could be found traveling the waterway in their wooden canoes.
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As the white man (mostly German and Irish descent) came into the county, the flatboat was the next vessel to navigate the waters of the Osage. The flatboat was once an important means of transportation for Miller County, carrying merchandise and produce to markets and general stores along the river. Some of the staples that were hauled on flatboats included: corn, furs, flour, vegetables, fruit, whiskey and pork. Some flatboats would occasionally transport passengers as well. The drawback of the flatboat was that it could only go downstream, with the flow of the river.
The next vessel to maneuver the Osage River in the 1800s was the steamboat. While the steamboat was first introduced and patented in 1791 by John Fitch (1743-1798) and later built by Robert Fulton (1765-1815), who became known as the "Father of steam navigation.", the first steamboat did not reach the Osage River until 1837. The invention of steam power made it much easier to operate on the river with its steam engine, which turned a paddle wheel in back of the steamboat. The paddle enabled the steamboats to travel both up and down the river and the steamboat traveled much faster than the flatboat; reaching the small river towns with its wares became more convenient for the merchants and townsfolk alike.
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The first steamboat to make a maiden voyage on the Osage River was the American, a side-paddle steamer that was chartered by a group of St. Louis businessmen, left St. Louis in April of 1837, traveling the Missouri River to the Osage River. This steamer made it to Tuscumbia without any problems. The second steamboat was not as fortunate. The North St. Louis, which began in St. Louis in July of 1837, was a short-lived adventure when the steamer became grounded on the gravel bar that bears its name today. According to various records, the Osage River levels dropped rapidly, and soon the boat was sitting six feet above the waters edge! The North St. Louis remained there until the Spring rains brought enough water to float the steamboat off of its gravel-choked resting place. This event happened about 40 miles upstream from the mouth of the Osage River in Miller County and there are no records that indicate that the North St. Louis ventured up the Osage River again.
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With forested bluffs lining the winding waterway, navigating the river's tight bends and dangerous shoals became a challenge... and thus began the century-long accomplishment of steamboating on the Osage River. The major steamboat landings in Miller County were located at Bagnell, Capps and Tuscumbia.
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The steamboat once provided a valuable service on the Osage River during the 19th century and into the early 20th century. The steamboat commerce was a crucial industry to many towns and cities alike. When the railroads became commonplace and their rates were found to be much cheaper, the steamer's way of life soon became unprofitable, and basically put the steamboat industry out of service. One hundred years later, the Osage River now has become a recreational past-time to those who travel upon its waterway. And, the steamboats of long ago have become just a story upon a written page...
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Full List of Steamboats on the Osage River
AGGIE
Type: Sternwheel, Wooden hull packet.
Size: 92.4' X 20.4' X 3.'
Power: 9-1/2's- 3 ft.
Launched: 1875, Manchester, Ohio
Area: 1875, Evansville-Owensboro 1880-81, on Osage R., Mo. 1892, Registered in Kansas City, Mo.
Owners: 1875, Capt. Tom Wilson and Messers. O'Neil; 1876, Apr., traded to Azro Powel, Uniontown, Ky. for 250 acre farm. Later, sold to Mo. R. by James Tetlow of Chester to Persons in Washington, Mo.
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ALICE GRAY
Area: 1870, Osage R., Mo. between Tuscumbia and Osage City.
Owner: 1870, William H. Hauenstein, Sr.
Captain: 1870, probably Capt. William H. Hauenstein, Jr.
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ALLIANCE
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull packet.
Size: 144' X 27.2' X 3.9', 136 tons.
Launched: 1852, Shousetown, Pa.
Destroyed: 1863, Mar. 17, Cape Girardeau, Mo, near Devil's Island; Lost to stranding.
Area: Tramp trades, Pittsburgh-St. Louis. *Later, possibly Osage R. Mo.
Owners: 1/2 by Joseph Washington McClurg and 1/2 by Capt. Samuel Dean
Captain: Master, Samuel Dean.
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BLACK DIAMOND
Area: 1870s, possibly Osage R., Mo.
Owners: *possibly Charles F. Lohman and his son Capt. Louis Charles Lohman, Jefferson City, Mo. (This listing from family records of Lee Lohman, GGG granddaughter of Charles F. Lohman)
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BLACK HILLS
Type: Sternwheel, Wooden hull packet.
Size: 135' X 27.5' X 4.5'
Power: 14's-4 1/2 ft., 2 boilers each 42" X 21'.
Launched: 1877, California, Pa.
Destroyed: 1884, Mar. 28. After wintering at Bismarck, ND was cut down by ice.
Area: Mo. R. and Yellowstone R. Spent some time on Osage R., Mo.
Owners: 1/2-Timothy B. Burleigh, 1/4-James C. McVay, 1/4- Thomas M. Rees
Captains: First master, Timothy B. Burleigh, Yankton, Dakota Terr.; pilots, William Gordon and Jim Witten : 1881, July 23, Capt. Robt. F. Wright Companies associated with; 1877, Benton "P" Line: 1881, July 23, took on 10 cords of wood at Crittenden's Island at $4 a cord.
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CARRIER
Type: Sternwheel, Wooden hull packet.
Size: 165.4' X 26.4' X 4.'.
Launched: 1884, Jeffersonville, Ind.
Area: 1884-85, Mo. R. *and possibly Osage R., Mo. 1885, went to Mobile, Ala. 1885, Oct., Alabama R.
Owners: early on, *Possibly Charles F. Lohman and his son Capt. Louis Charles Lohman, Jefferson City, Mo. Captain: 1885, Sept., Master, John Quill; clerk, H. Clay King (*This info from family records of Lee Lohman, GGG granddaughter of Charles F. Lohman)
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DAN B. HURLBURT
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull packet.
Size: 62.6' X 11' X 2.4'
Launched: 1881, Warsaw, Mo. on Osage R.
Area: 1880's early-1888, Lower Osage R., Mo.
Owner: Henry Castrop
Captain: Henry Castrop
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DAUNTLESS
Area: Ohio R., Osage R., Mo.
Owner: 1897, built by a company of Tuscumbia businessmen for general freighting on the Osage; 1898, John Ailes
Captain: John Ailes
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DEW DROP
Type: Stern-wheeler
Size: 148 tons.
Destroyed: 1860, June. Mouth of Osage R.; Burned.
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EDNA
Area: 1870s, possibly Osage R., Mo.
Owners: *possibly Charles F. Lohman and his son Capt. Louis Charles Lohman, Jefferson City, Mo. (This listing from family records of Lee Lohman, GGG granddaughter of Charles F. Lohman)
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EMMA
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull packet.
Size: 64' X 18' X 3.'.
Power: one engine, one boiler
Launched: 1860s, about 50 mi. above Sioux City, Iowa, on Mo. R.
Destroyed: 1885, Aug 18; Dismantled after becoming stranded opposite Ewing's Landing when Osage R. river fell.
Area: 1872, Mo. R.; 1873-1885, Osage R. Mo.
Owners: 1860s-1872, Missouri Government; 1872, George and Fay Mattison; 1873-85, Capt Louis Charles Lohman.
Note: The Emma was originally employed as a govern-ment boat in the 1860s by Gov. Joseph McClurg; and, also at other times, in doing a general freighting busi-ness from Osage City to Linn Creek.
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EVENING STAR
Type: Sidewheel, wooden hull packet.
Size: 343 tons.
Launched: 1864, Freedom, Pa., completed at Wellsville, Oh.
Destroyed: 1869, Aug. 4, St. Louis; Burned and lost.
Area: 1864, Mo. R. trade 1867, running Mo. R. trade At one time, Osage R. Mo.
Captains: 1864, Murphy
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EXCEL
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull packet.
Size: 150' X 27' X 5'
Power: 12's-4 ft. 2 boilers.
Launched: 1851, McKeessport, Pa.
Destroyed: 1856, Mo. R., Osage Chute; Snagged and lost.
Map Area: 1851, Cumberland R. Later was on Ill. R. then went Memphis to Hatchie R. and Mo. R. Later still went Mo. R. with Capt Beasley
Owners: 1851 was under W.P. Henry and Company. Later went to a Mr. Miller, St Louis. Later yet to Capt. Ben F. Beasley
Captains: toward end, Ben F. Beasley
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FAR WEST
Type: Sternwheele wooden hull packet.
Size: 190' X 33' X 6'foot. Could carry 200 tns. and 30 cabin passengers. Drew 20 inches, un-ladened.
Power: 15's- 5 ft., 3 boilers.
Launched: 1870, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Destroyed: 1883, Oct. 30, Mo. R., Mullanthy Bend, 7 mi. below St. Charles, Mo., snagged and lost.
Area: U. Mo., Yellowstone Rs. 1876-77, for 2 yrs. was on Yellowstone R, in government service Also made some Osage R. trips
Owners: Built for Capt Sallie B. Coulson of Coulson Packet Line Later, Northwest Transportation Co. called the Peck Line, Sioux City/Yankton,ND. Later sold to Capt. Henry M. Dodds and Victor Bonnet
Captains: John .M. Belk; Grant Marsh. : At times, Mart Coulson : 1881, Master and pilot, Henry Jasper King
Note: Grant Marsh was the pilot of the Far West in 1876 He is credited with bringing the survivors back from the Battle of the Little Big Horn, making record time.
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FLOYD
Area: 1880's, Osage R., Mo.
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FREDERICK
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull towboat/packet.
Size: 96.4' X 14.3' X 3.
Engines: 7 1/2" bore, 2 1/2' stroke. 1 boiler.
Launched: 1882, Tuscunbia, Mo.
Destroyed: *1903 Sank at dock. Dismantled.
Area: Osage River in Missouri, connecting with MP Railroad at Osage City, Mo.
Owners: Originally, Capt. William H. Hauenstein 1883-89, Capt. Henry Castrup and Robert Marshall 1889, sold to other interests 1894, Managed by Robert M. Marshall
Captains: *1883, Henry Castrup
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GENERAL MEADE
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull packet.
Size: 192' X 30' X 4.3'.
Power: 8 3/4" and 23"-4 ft., 2 boilers. Later, 12's-5 ft.
Launched: 1875, Pittsburgh, Pa. for Capt. William J. Koontz
Destroyed: 1888, Sept. 4,* Pelican Bend, Mo. R., snagged and lost.
Area: U. Mo. R. Later days, St. Louis-Osage R. in Mo.-Rocheport.
Owners: Capt. William J. Kountz
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GEORGE SPANGLER
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull packet
Size: 124' X 25' X 4.2'
Power: Engines, 10-1/2's - 3 ft. One boiler.
Launched: 1873, Madison, Ind.
Area: 1877, New Orleans-St. Martinsville 1879, Mo. R. Spent some time on Osage R., in Mo.
Owners: built for Capt. Nat Williams
Captains: 1877, W.C. Smith Name:
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GEORGIE LEE
Type: Sidewheeler, wooden hull packet
Size: drew only about 15" of water
Launched: 1880
Area 1880, said to be on Osage R. in Missouri.
Captain: 1880, Henry Baker
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HELENA
Type: Sternwheel wooden hull packet.
Size: 194 x 33 x 4.5.
Launched: 1878, California, Pa.
Destroyed: 1891, Oct. 23; Snagged at Bonhomme Island, sunk.
Area: Upper Mo. R., Osage R., Mo.
Owners: T.C. Powers and Bros., Powers Packet Line 1880, Benton Transportation Line?; 1887, May 6. Sold to A.S. Bryan and others, Washington, Mo..
Captain(s): Thomas C. Powers, James McGarry : 1891, Geary W. Murray 1891, when sunk, Master, G.W. Murry; pilot, Ed Anderson. ​
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The Frederick
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The Ruth in Linn Creek, MO
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J. R. Wells
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Homer C. Wright
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Nellda
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J. R. Hugo
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J. R. Wells at Tuscumbia Landing
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Unidentified Steamboat, 1890
Built by Col. R. D. Blair and launched at Osceola
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Unidentified Steamboat, 1911 at the No. 11 Landing in [Old] Linn Creek, Mo. ... Sent by “Charlotte” from Linn Creek in July of 1911, to Miss Nellie Nagle in Billings, Missouri. Her message: “… making a drive … Everything delightful.”
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HOMER C. WRIGHT
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull packet.
Size: 86.8' X 18.5' X 3.4'.
Power: 7"- 3 1/2 ft., 1 boiler
Launched: 1920, Tuscumbia,Mo.
Destroyed, 1827, Foot of Rutger st. St. Louis, Mo., sank.
Area: Mo. R., Osage R., Mo.
Owners: Union Electric Co., St. Louis later, New St. Louis and Calhoun Packet Company.
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HURLBURT
Area: At one time Osage R., Mo.
Captains: At one time, Robert Melville Marshall.
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JAMES WATSON
Area: 1870s, Osage R. in Mo.
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JOHN R. HUGO
Type:Sternwheel, wooden hull ferry-towboat packet.
Size: originally 100' long. Later enlarged, 127' X 27' X 3.'
Power: 12's-3 1/2ft., 1 boiler.
Launched: 1879, Evansville, Ind.
Destroyed: 1900, May 22, Florence, Neb., burned.
Area: 1879-1889, Ohio R. 1889 or so went to Osage R., Mo.
Owners: 1888, Capt. Robert Marshall; 1889-1900, Osage and Missouri River Packet Company
Captains: while in OMRPC, Robert M. Marshall and Henry Castrop 1900
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JOHN R. WELLS
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull towboat/packet.
Size: 110.6' X 20' X 4.'
Power: 10's- 4ft. 1 boiler.
Launched: 1897, Tuscumbia, Mo. for Anchor Milling Co.
Destroyed: 1920, Jan. 30, Pelican Bend near St. Charles, Mo., sank
Area: Osage and Mo. Rs. Lynn Creek, Mo to St. Louis
Owners: 1897-1909, Osage and Missouri Packet Company 1920, Jan. 30, when sank, Stanton and Jones
Captain: 1897-1909, John W. Adcock, first master and pilot until sold. At one time, Capt. P.F. Hauenstein.
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KATE HOWARD
Type: Sidewheel wooden hull packet.
Size: 235' X 35' X 6.', 504 tons.
Power: Engines, 24's- 7', 3 boilers. Machinery from N.J.
Launched: 1857, Jeffersonville, Ind.
Destroyed: 1859, snagged and sunk, in the Osage Chute on Mo. R.
Area: Mo. R., St. Louis-St. Joseph
Captains: Joseph S. Nanson, 1858, E.F. Gross with W.W. Hilliard as clerk 1859, Aug. 4,when snagged, Joseph S. Nanson with Joe Fetco as pilot.
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LAST CHANCE
Type: Sternwheel, wood hull ferry/packet/workboat.
Size: 98.2' X 17.8' X 3'
Launched: 1870, Burlington, Iowa
Power: 11's-3 1/2 ft. 1 boiler. was the last of 3 sets of engines she had.
Destroyed: 1899, near Omaha, snagged and lost.
Area: Ohio, U. Miss. and Missouri's Osage Rs. 1886-99, Sioux City, Iowa-Chamberlain, S. Dak.
Owner: 1870 - 1886, Le Clair Navigation Company 1886 - 1899, King, Capt. Henry Jasper and son M.H. King
Captains: 1886-99, King, Capt. Henry Jasper
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MAID OF THE OSAGE
Size: 63 tons
Built by: Captain Nansen Bennet of Cote Sans Dessein of Callaway County, MO
Launched: 1842, Osage City, Mo.
First steamer built for the Osage trade.
Captains: Nansen Bennett, Cote Sans Dessein, Mo.
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MARTHA STEPHENS
Type: Sternwheel wooden hull packet.
Size: 192 tons. Power: Engines, 10's- 3-1/2 ft.
Launched: 1883, Osage, Mo.
Destroyed: Way's has her snagged at Sibley, Mo. or Turkey Island, Mo. R. Corp. of Engineers map has her wreck near Franklin Island just down from Boonville. Mo.
Area: Mo. R.
Owner: Henry McPherson
Captain: Henry McPherson :
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NADINE
Type: Sternwheel, woodenhull packet.
Size: 23 tons. Power: 8" - 3 ft.
Launched: Built 1872 Howard's Ferry, Arrow Rock, Mo, by Gustave Moehle and Sons.
Destroyed: 1878, Sept. 10, Snagged 3 mi. above mouth of Mo. R. on Miss. R.
Area: Mo. R. and Lamine R., Osage R.
Owner: Originally, Nicholas W. Smith *1897, Sites, Capt. Lee Thomas and Moehle, Gustave 1878 when sunk, J.A. Stien
Captain(s): *1897-early 1900s, Lee Thomas Sites 1878 when sunk, Roy Coulter, pilot.
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OH! HUSH
Area: 1840, Missouri R. and possibly the Osage R. in Mo. Captains: 1840, Nimrod Dickerson
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OSAGE
Type: Sidewheel, wooden hull packet.
Size: 147 tons.
Launched: 1865, Castle Rock, Mo.
Destroyed: 1874, Off the lists
Area: first home, St. Louis, Mo.
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OSAGE
Type: Sternwheel, transfer boat, wooden hull
Size: 100' X 19.8' X 3.5'
Power: 12 1/2's, 3 1/2 ft., 1 boiler, all from JOHN R. HUGO
Launched: 1900, Osage City, Mo.
Destroyed: 1917, about, dismantled.
Area: 1900-09, Osage R. Mo. 1909-17, Miss. R.
Owners: 1900-09, Osage and Missouri River Packet Company, 1909 Houston Lumber Co., Vicksburg. 1909-1917, Mississippi, Yazoo and Sunflower River Transportation Company
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OSAGE PACKET
Launched: 1840
Area: Osage R., Missouri R.-St Louis
Captains: Benjamin B. Bryan
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OSCEOLA
Destroyed: 1877, on way up Yellowstone R. by a tornado after loitering at shore to round up a white stalion the cowboys aboard had spotted. All humans survived, but the horse went down with the wreckage.
Area: Yellowstone and Mo. Rivers.
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PEOPLE'S FERRY/THOMAS H. BENTON
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull ferry
Size: 125' X 34.6' X 4.3'
Launched: 1889, Madison, Ind.
Destroyed: 1918, shortly after, burned
Area: originally, Quincy, Ill. 1906, Osage R. Mo. 1918, out of Vaidalia, La.
Owners: 1906, Sept., sold to Missouri River Packet Company
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PHIL E. CHAPPELL
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull packet
Size: 165' X 29' X 4.5'
Power: Engines, 15's - 5-1/2 ft. Two boilers.
Launched: 1877, Grafton, Ill.
Destroyed: 1888, Mar. 10, Red. R., Sank and lost
Area: Ran Mo. and Osage rivers Later went to Red R., Shreveport trade
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SPORT
Area: Osage R. Mo.
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T.L. CRAWFORD
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull packet.
Size: 155 tons
Launched: 1858, Warsaw, Mo. on Osage R.
Destroyed: 1860, snagged near the mouth of the Lamine R. in Slaughterhouse Bend, on the Mo. R., just upriver from Boonville, Mo.
Area: Osasge and Mo. R.
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TOM STEVENS
Type: Sternwheel, wooden hull packet.
Size: 134' X 28' X 3.5', 170 tons.
Power: 12's- 4 ft., 2 boilers
Launched: 1866, St. Louis, Mo
Destroyed: 1878, dismantled
Area: Mo. and Osage Rs. : Winter months, St. Louis-White R., Ark.
Captains: 1868, July, Master, John H. Burk; pilots, Frank A. Murry and Thomas H. Bigger
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TUSCUMBIA
Type: ? wooden hull packet.
Size: 86.4' X 14.6' X 2.8'
Launched: 1881, Ashland, Ky.
Area: reported, 1881, Osage R. Mo. 1886, documented in New Orleans
Owners: Phil Chappel and others of Jefferson City as a corporation.
Note: The Tuscumbia was built exclusively for carrying the mail from Jefferson City to Tuscumbia. It began carrying the mail in the spring of 1881 as an experiment. In 1882, the Bagnell Branch of the Missouri Pacific was built and the steamer mail was soon discontinued.
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Listing by: Dave Dawley (www.riverboatdaves.com/)
Some additional information recorded by Kelly Warman-Stallings
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Other Known SteamBoats
ADVENTURE
In operation as early as the Summer of 1838
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AGATHA
In operation as early as 1844
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BELFAST
In operation as early as 1854
Owners: The Vaughns
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BIG RED INDIAN
In operation as early as 1858
Owner: Samuel Farley
Hauled freight on the Osage, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, especially running from St. Louis to New Orleans.
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CHOUTEAU BELLE
In operation as early as 1839
Hauled freight on the Missouri and Osage Rivers from Jefferson City to Tuscumbia.
Owners: J. H. C. Branham, 1839-1858, and Jarrett Medlin, 1839-?; Samuel Short, 1858
Note: J. H. C. Branham was the first person to own a steamboat in Miller County. He was from the community of Fairplay, near the town of Old St. Elizabeth.
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FLORA
In operation as early as 1844
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GEE WHIZ
In operation as early as the 1870s
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GOLDEN GATE
Size: 260 feet long; 4-decker
In operation as early as the 1890s
Captain: Alec Stewart
Note: Possibly the largest and most palatial of all boats landing at Tuscumbia. Above the lower deck was the cabin for the laborers. Above this was the tevas or rooms for the officers, and still above this was the pilot house. This boat was a veritable floating mansion.
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H. C. COLEMAN
In operation as early as the 1880s
Laden with merchandise for Tuscumbia merchants, this steamer arrived here from Jefferson City within 24 hours of leaving the Capital City.
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HUNTSVILLE
In operation as early as 1844
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LEANDER
In operation as early as 1841
Carried approximately 200 tons of freight from Warsaw to Osceola.
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LINN CREEK
In operation as early as 1852
Owner: Joseph Washington McClurg
Moved trade goods down from the Ohio River to Linn Creek, MO.
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LITTLE JACK
In operation as early as 1859
Moved freight from Warsaw to St. Louis [during, and following, the Civil War]
Owners: John C. Barr and Joseph Golden
Captain: John C. Barr
Note: On 12 Aug 1862, Barr and Golden amicably dissolved their partnership and Barr took sole ownership of the steamboat. Clyde Lee Jenkins wrote, "In 1867, a firm of steamfitters, in St. Louis, having overhauled the Little Jack, upon finding the account unsatisfied for some time, commenced an action of recovery in the Miller County Circuit Court; and upon hearing the cause, the Court ordered the Sheriff levy upon the Little Jack's rigging, apparel, and furniture. Eventually, the Little Jack, upon tieing-up at the Tuscumbia landing, was seized by the Sheriff, and held, until the mechanic's lein , a sum of $414.90, was satisfied.
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MARY C.
In operation as early as 1852
Owner: Joseph Washington McClurg
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NAVIGATOR
In operation as early as 1854
Owners: The Vaughns
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NELLDA
In operation as early as the 1880s
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PLATTSMOUTH
In operation as early as the 1880s
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REGULATOR
In operation as early as 1852
Owners: The Vaughns
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RUTH
Size: 52.5 x 12.2 x 3.0
Tonnage: 13 gross and 8 net
Launched: Built at Tuscumbia in 1908
Abandoned: 1925
Crew of two
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THOS. H. BENTON
In operation as early as the 1890s
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UMPIRE
In operation as early as 1854
Owners: The Vaughns
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WARSAW
In operation as early as 1844
Freight included deer skins, furs, corn, wheat, bacon, whiskey and beeswax.
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Information compiled by Kelly Warman-Stallings
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I
.......a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's
Steamboats ran up the Osage as far as Osceola when the river was high. Tuscumbia, county seat of Miller County, was a regular stop – a fact commemorated today in this plaque on the new county courthouse.
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Frederick at Tuscumbia Landing
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