John T Whisler

WHISLER, ROTHE, TILTON

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 9/7/2014 at 09:28:36

JOHN WHISLER, VETERAN PILOT OF FERRY DIES

River steamer Captain victim of Pneumonia at 64
John T Whisler, 64, who was pilot on the J. W. Quinlan ferry active in river work on the Mississippi since he was 17 years old died Tuesday afternoon at the Moline City Hospital. He resided at 525 Twelfth avenue, Rock Island. Mr. Whisler had been ill of pneumonia since last Thursday.

Born March 11, 1867, in Como, Ill. He moved with his parents when a small boy to Albany, Ill, where he received his education. He moved to Rock Island 20 years ago.

Capt Whistler was married on Oct. 3, 1893 to Florence Wing in Prairie du Chien Wis. He was a member of the Albany Masonic lodge.

He served many years as pilot and captain on river steamers in early days and was one of the old masters and pilots for the Weyerhauser & Denkmann Lumber co. of Rock Island.

With the closing of the saw mills here he was in charge of the steamer Denkmann which was used for several years as the pleasure craft of the Weyerhauser and Denkmann families. In later years he served as pilot on the Davenport-Rock Island ferry on the steamer Minneapolis under the Rock Island engineers office.

Surviving are the widow; three daughters, Miss Helen Whisler of Rock Island, Mrs. Paul Rothe of Oakland Calif., and Mrs. Kenneth Tilton of Moline; a son, Arthur Whisler, of Rock Island; three sisters Mrs. Harry Burns and Mrs. Isaac Burns, both of Albany and Mrs. Ora Barnes of Reynolds. There also are one grandson and one granddaughter.

Source: Unknown, 11 Feb 1932.