The LeClaire Navigation Company 



In February, 1882, I drove into LeClaire, Iowa, one 

 evening, when there was a meeting of the Pilots associa- 

 tion, and took my examination for a pilot's license suc- 

 cessfully and any member of the association was author- 

 ized to endorse my application. 



In March I met the United States Local Inspectors 

 at Rock Island. Captain G. W. Girdon of Galena, the 

 Hull Inspector, gave me another examination which I 

 passed without difficulty and soon after I secured my 

 first issue dated March 15, 1882, signed by George W. 

 Girdon, Inspector of Hulls, and John G. Scott, Inspec- 

 tor of Boilers. 



This license authorized me to act as "Master of 

 steam vessels on the Mississippi river, and its tributa- 

 ries, and as Pilot navigating the Mississippi and Saint 

 Croix rivers between Montrose, Iowa, and Stillwater, 

 Minnesota, except the Rock Island rapids down 

 stream." 



The last issue of my license dated March 26, 1927, 

 permits me to pilot on the Mississippi and Saint Croix 

 rivers between St. Louis, Missouri, and Minneapolis 

 and Stillwater, Minnesota, and the Illinois river from 

 its mouth to Peoria. 



In March, 1881, Captain Sam Van Sant who had a 

 half interest in the little steamer "Last Chance" sold 

 me a one-sixth interest for five hundred dollars. Cap- 

 tain John McCafifrey of LeClaire owned the other half 

 interest, had charge of her and was to pick up what 

 work he could get and pilot her himself. 



