Rapids Pilots who ran Rafts over the 

 Lower, or Des Moines, Rapids 



William West, lived at Prices 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. 



Chas. 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 ex- 

 pense and damage in extreme low water than working 

 them over outside. 



Then in 19 13, when the Keokuk dam was completed, 

 there was no more work for Rapids pilots on any craft 

 between Montrose and Keokuk. 



Captain Charles Farris made his last trip as a Rapids 

 pilot, taking the big "Morning Star" down and back 

 on a special sight-seeing trip when the dam was com- 

 pleted 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 years of rafting. Captain Joseph 

 Farris was in charge of the Guard lock, at the upper 

 end, at the village of Galland. 



