John E. Smith

SMITH

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 9/6/2014 at 12:09:27

The remains of the late John E Smith reached this city yesterday from Eureka springs, Mo., where he died on Thursday. Mr. smith had lived from boyhood at LeClaire, where he had as many friends as any one need have. His business was that of rapids pilot, and a more trustworthy one has never been known. In times of low stage of water he was the only pilot that could be depended upon to take the packets over the rapids in safety. Two weeks ago he went to the springs hoping to regain his waning health. A Cancer on his arm would yield to no treatment save the knife of death. The deceased was about 45 years of age. He leaves a wife, daughter, and three sons.

Source: Daily Gazette, Davenport, Ia., 28 May 1881, p. 4.

On Saturday there were two funerals at LeClaire; each that of a former well-known citizen of many years’ standing--John E. smith, the pilot whose death has heretofore been noticed in the Gazette, and Ezekiel C. Condit, who had owned and farmed several farms and now resided in LeClaire.

Source: Daily Gazette, Davenport, Ia., 30 May 1881.

RECALLING FAMOUS RIVER PILOTS, HON. J. HAM. LEWIS, AND W.C. HAYWARD’S BOOTS

By Malcolm M. McKinnon

“With the exception of the man who first arranged for the adequate refrigeration of beer, so that it could be drawn cold and foaming from the tap to the schooner, the chief citizen of Davenport in many ways during those old days which are indeed gone forever was the proprietor of the Lorton livery situated on East Third street nearly across from where the Blackhawk hotel now stands. His place was not only a community center of importance, where leading people were in the habit of congregating and exchanging the gossip of the day, but it was here that Captain John Smith, of LeClaire, the greatest of all rapids pilots was in the habit of obtaining horse and buggy transportation back to his place of residence, when he brought a packet down and there was none to take up. During most of the several decades of his activity, none of the Diamond Jo and White Collar packets was piloted thru the rapids extending between Davenport and LeClaire, except by Captain James (John?) Smith. The commanders of these large steamers would telegraph him from Dubuque or Burlington and if he was occupied otherwise when they arrived at LeClaire or Davenport they would tie up and await his return.

After the death of Captain James (John) Smith in the early 80’s, piloting of the big packets thru the rapids was divided between his son Orrin Smith and Captain Washington Hight, of St. Louis, who made his headquarters during the season at LeClaire. Captain Orrin Smith was regarded as the equal of his father in knowledge of the river and good judgment in taking a boat thru dangerous places. Later he was successful as a rafting pilot and at the present time he is still navigating the rapids as the commanding officer of the Lone Star, owned by the Builder’s Sand and Gravel company, towing barges between Davenport and Albany, Ill.

Source: The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Davenport, Ia., 14 Jan 1929, p. 16.

SMITH JOHN E

1870 Census City of LeClaire, Scott county, Iowa.
Age Occupation
Smith John E Head 26 Boat Pilot
Isabel wife 20 keeps house
Orrin son 11 at home
Sarah daughter 5 at home
Edward son 8/12 at home

1880 Census City of LeClaire, Scott county, Iowa
Age Occupation
Smith John E. Head 50 River Pilot
Isabel wife 42 House keeper
Orrin son 22 River Pilot
Lila Belle daughter 7 at home
Fred J. 2 at home

LE CLAIRE NEWS

Pilot Smith’s Rapids Runs - A Safe Man at the Wheel

A SAFE PILOT
Capt. John E. Smith, of this place, the pilot of the Northern Line of Packets, made 462 trips over the rapids between Le Claire and Davenport, during the season of river navigation just closed. During all that time no boat, barge or freight was damaged or lost while he was at the wheel.

Source: Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Ia., 06 Dec 1875, p. 4.