Chapter Eleven

White River - Gateway to Marion County

By: Duane Huddleston

 Pages 110-111

Despite her popularity, the ARGOS had financial difficulties after Thomas Cox's death in early 1871 and was finally sold at public auction in November for the paltry sum of $525. The debt-ridden little steamer sank at the mouth of Poke Bayou, at Batesville, and was not raised.

The BATESVILLE, now owned by Captain Albert B. Smith, continued to run to Buffalo City and Talbert's Ferry, being joined in late 1872 by the MAYSVILLE and JESSIE. The latter was owned by Captain Mitt Harry, who had Captain Albert Cravens as his clerk. In February, 1873, the JESSIE steamed to Buffalo City, then returned to Batesville in the amazing time of seven hours. The MAYSVILLE and JESSIE became more-or-less regular Marion County packets, while the BATESVILLE made spasmodic trips.

The ARCH P. GREEN, Captain Alex C. Elliott, master, began plying the river in 1875. Built especially for the trade, the 57 ton steamer was 110 feet long and 22 feet wide. Her clerk, Captain Charles B. Woodbury, later ran steamboats to Marion County until the end of the era. She was joined by the DUCK, a small vessel owned by Captain John T. Warner, of Batesville.

Captain Smith took the BATESVILLE through swift rapids and over stubborn shoals to Forsythe, then steamed beyond to the mouth of Bull Creek in late 1876. With Captain Will C. Shipp as pilot, the vessel brought out 2,000 bushels of wheat. Later Captain Shipp took the BATESVILLE to the mouth of the James River, equaling the feat of the THOMAS P. RAY and his brother Hardin Shipp. Young apprentice pilot Edwin Tucker Burr Warner was with Captain Shipp in the pilot house, and later became one of -the most famous of White River pilots.

Soon after, Captain Shipp listed the landings from Jacksonport to the mouth of the James, and those in Marion County included Buffalo City, Coffy's Talbert's Ferry, Mount Bruce, Salt Peter Mine, John Trimble's, Noe's, Coker's, Little North Fork, Pot Creek, Musk Creek, Butt Bottom Shoals, Friend's farm, and Big Creek. Others to Forsythe were Big Beach Shoals, Joe Pumphrey's Dubuque, Long's Ferry, Elbow Shoals, Bear Creek, Major's Cedar Creek, mouth Big Beaver and Forsythe.

Among the steamboats running to Marion County in early 1877 were the ARCH P. GREEN, now owned by Captain Charles B. Woodbury, the BATESVILLE, the DUCK, and the MUSIC, which was soon impounded by the sheriff of Jackson County. The increased competition forced Captain John T. Warner to take the DUCK to Black River.

An advertisement on March 1, 1877, listed the steamers BATESVILLE, Captain Will C. Shipp, master; and the ALBERTA, Captain Smith in command, as regular Newport to Batesville, Sylamore, Calico Rock, Buffalo City, Talbert's Ferry, Dubuque and Forsythe packets. Also found was a notice that Captain Woodbury's vessel was a Newport to Buffalo City packet.

The ALBERTA passed Talbert's Ferry in late May loaded to the guards; she had been to Hensley's Ferry, 20 miles above Forsythe. After leaving Buffalo City, she went up the Buffalo River to the Big Eddy. When she arrived at Batesville, her load consisted of 47 bales of cotton, 1700 bushels of wheat, five hogsheads of tobacco, one box of tobacco weighing 450 pounds, one bale of wool, one bale of hides, 20,000 pounds of flour, 14,300 pounds of bacon, and 900 pounds of lard.

The ALBERTA went to Trimble's Landing, 41 miles above Buffalo. City, for a cargo of cotton in early December of 1877 Captain Shipp lost some time at Talbert's Ferry trying to load a fine lot of hogs, but abandoned the shipment because of the rapid falling of the river and the proclivities of the swine.

Business was brisk, and on January 3, 1878, the boat docked at Batesville from Talbert's Ferry, heavily laden with freight. She also landed on January 29 from Marion County landings with 411 bales of cotton, 100 sacks of cottonseed, 1000 bushels of wheat, 1000 pounds of dried fruit and 1000 dozen of eggs. A local reporter bragged that the crew certainly had plenty of ham and eggs and peach rolls on the trip!

The ALBERTA passed Buffalo City on March 20, enroute from Elbow Shoals with 326 bales of cotton and a large number of passengers. The ARCH P. GREEN, WINNIE and ALBERTA traveled to Marion County landings during the remainder of the year.

Trade continued to be good in 1879, and in the fall the C. B. WARNER and ALBERTA were the primary boats serving the local landings, being joined in December by the JENNIE STINSON, Captain Silas Daugherty, master. The WINNIE and ARCH P. GREEN also made occasional trips, but the former left the river, and the GREEN was lost in 1880.

On March 5, 1880, it was announced that Captain Thomas B. Stallings was building a boat at old Dubuque, now the Lead Hill Landing. A newspaper clipping by Guntharp stated that John Fanner, Newt Milum, Isaac Linton and Bill Pumphrey each subscribed $1,000 and hired Captain Stallings to build the boat. This may be true, but later court records show the captain as the sole owner. Perhaps he purchased it from them, or they loaned him the money. I. N. Milum is shown as clerk of the boat on an old blank bill of lading. Regardless of the details of financing, the boat was not completed until January, 1881.