RAPIDS PILOTS WHO RAN RAFTS OVER THE LOWER, OR DES MOINES, RAPIDS
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William West, lived at Priced creek.
Valentine Speak, died at Montrose, 1880.
R.S. Owen, died at Montrose, 1898.
J.P. Barber, died at Montrose, 1915.
Sam Speak, died at Montrose, 1900.
Charles Speak, died at Mt. Pleasant, 1895.
Sam Williams, died in California, 1878.
Chs. H. Farris, living in Montrose, well and active at seventy-eight.
When the old canal was finished in 1878, the work of the Rapids pilots
was greatly reduced, as rafts could be put through the canal in less time and
with less expense and damage in extreme low water than working them over
outside.
Then in 1913, when the Keokuk dam was completed, there was no more work
for the Rapids pilots on any craft between Montrose and Keokuk.
Captain Charles Farris made the last trip as a Rapids pilot, taking the
big 'Morning star' down and back on a special sight-seeing trip when the dam
was completed and the old Rapids submerged nearly all the way up. There were
three locks in the old canal, each eighty feet wide and three hundred feet
long.
During the busy year of rafting, Captain Joseph Farris was in charge of
the Guard lock, at the upper end, at the village of Galland.
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Nicholas McKenzie was in charge of the middle lock. He was the father of
Captain Hugh McKenzie and grandfather of Louis McKenzie, now in the crew that
operates the big single lock that passes vessels from Lake Keokuk
to the river level below or contrariwise,
John Carpenter had charge of the Lower or Keokuk lock and Major M.
Meigs was in charge of the entire canal dry docks and machine shop.
Major Meigs and John Carpenter are now (1928) living quiet, retired,
but healthy and happy lives in Keokuk.
HISTORY