Isaac Sturgeon Spinsby

SPINSBY, PIERCE, COLE, AMMAN, BOEDECKER, MOELLER

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 9/10/2014 at 14:08:52

Capt Spinsby Retired Veteran Of River, is Dead
Record Includes Mississippi

Piloting and Hennepin Pioneering

Capt Isaac Sturgeon Spinsby, 83, a former riverboat captain on the Mississippi, who saw nearly half a century’s service aboard various craft prior to his retirement about 20 years ago, died at 8:20 a. m. today in his home in Le Claire following a six months illness.

The body was removed to McGinnis funeral home, and services are set for 2 p. m. Saturday, with burial in Glendale cemetery, Le Claire
A native of Montgomery City Mo. Capt sturgeon was born Feb. 14. 1864, received his education in the schools of Montgomery City and Le Claire, and married Irene Dorrance in Le Claire, Dec. 18, 1889.

Began at 17

It was while he lived in the Mississippi river community that he learned to love the river and people who worked on it, and longed to become a part of this group. At the age of 17 he became a deck hand on the Glenmont, and worked successively on such boats as the Saturn, Wild Boy, and Irene D., owned by his father-in-law and named for his daughter, receiving the respective ratings of cub pilot, pilot and later master. He was named captain on the USS Mac, a government owned boat, in 1891.

He later served as captain on other government boats such as the USS Ruth, USS Le Claire and the USS Louise. He had worked for the government for over 35 years on the Mississippi in the Rock Island district and had served as river captain on the Mississippi for over 30 years.

Hennipen Pioneer

Capt. Spinsby was instrumental in the building of the Hennipen canal, waterway from Chicago to the Mississippi, and was in charge of the first boat that passed through. He held a license to operate on the Mississippi river and all its tributaries, which included the Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and various other navigable streams.

Survivors include four sons. D. F. Spinsby, at one time candidate for mayor of Rock Island, John Spinsby, South Dakota, and George and Court Spinsby both of Le Claire; five daughters, Mrs. W. L. Pierce, Milwaukee, Mrs. Howard Cole, Los angeles, Mrs. L. W. Amman, Fulton, Ill. And Mrs Curtis Boedecker and Mrs John Moeller, both of Davenport , and nine grandchildren.

Source: Davenport Democrat, Davenport, Ia., 24 Jul 1947.