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Steamboats on the Rocks: The North Western Union Packet Company, 1866–1873

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

Robert C. Toole
Robert C. Toole
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor of History, Franklin College of Indiana
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Abstract

This study narrates the history of the largest steamboat line on the western rivers during the decade following the Civil War and assesses causes and responsibilities for its failure.

Type
Articles
Information
Business History Review , Volume 36 , Issue 4 , Winter 1962 , pp. 431 - 454
Copyright
Copyright © The President and Fellows of Harvard College 1962

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References

1 St. Paul Pioneer, Dec. 4, 1867.

2 First Annual Report of the Assistant Secretary of State of Minnesota. Statistics of Minnesota … for 1869 (St. Paul, 1870), pp. 12, 22, 26, 64; Folwell, William W., A History of Minnesota (4 vols., St. Paul, 1921–1930), vol. III, p. 66Google Scholar; Raney, William F., Wisconsin, A Story of Progress (New York, 1940), p. 529Google Scholar; Pease, Theodore C., The Story of Illinois (Chicago, 1949), pp. 188, 270Google Scholar; Cole, Cyrenus, A History of the People of Iowa (Cedar Rapids, 1921), p. 407Google Scholar; Violette, Eugene M., A History of Missouri (Cape Girar-deau, 1957), pp. 443, 447.Google Scholar

3 Articles of Incorporation, Apr. 30, 1866, W. E. Wellington to W. F. Davidson, Sept. 14, 1866, Minute Book, p. 19, J. C. Spencer to Davidson, Jan. 13, 1871, Stock Certificates Nos. 42 and 56, William F. Davidson Papers (Minnesota Historical Society); St. Paul Pioneer, Nov. 25, 1863; Dubuque Herald, May 3, 1866; The Biographical Encyclopaedia of Illinois of the Nineteenth Century (Philadelphia, 1875), p. 401; Bateman, Newton and Selby, Paul (eds.), Illinois Historical (Chicago, 1909), p. 184Google Scholar; Toole, Robert C., “Behind the Lines: The La Crosse Packet Company during the Civil War,” Business History Review, vol. XXXIV (Summer, 1960), p. 172Google Scholar, and “Anti-Monopolists of 1866 v. La Crosse Packet Company et at.,” Mid-America, vol. XXXXIII (Oct., 1961), p. 214.

4 Articles of Incorporation, Apr. 30, 1866, Minute Book, pp. 8–21, Davidson Papers; Answer to Petition, G. L. Dunlap v. W. F. Davidson et al., U. S. Circuit Court, Eastern District of Missouri, March Term, 1875. The North Western Line supplied the steamers Damsel, Diamond Jo, Flora, Itasca, Julia, Key City, Milwaukee, Ocean Wave, and War Eagle. The La Crosse Line contributed the steamers Addie Johnston, Albany, Annie Johnston, Ariel, Chippewa Falls, City of St. Paul, Clara Hine, Enterprise, Favorite, G. H. Gray, G. H. Wilson, Hudson, Jennie Baldwin, Keokuk, Mankato, Mollie Mohler, Northern Belle, Phil Sheridan, and Stella Whipple.

5 Journal, pp. 85, 228, 275, 276, 282, 283, 353, Ledger, p. 138, Ledger B, pp. 370, 371, 408, Promissory Note, July 31, 1868, D. A. Robertson to Davidson, May 10, 1869, Tonnage Measurement No. 82, Port of St. Paul, Apr. 8, 1870, Davidson Diary, 1871, memo p., Certificates of Enrollment Nos. 184 and 190, Port of St. Louis, May 12, 23, 1877, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, various issues Aug. 3, 1867-Nov. 16, 1871; Quincy Herald, Aug. 2, 4, 1868; Quincy Whig, Aug. 8, 1868; Minneapolis Tribune, Apr. 20, May 19, 1870; New Ulm (Minn.) Plain Dealer, Dec. 31, 1870; Burlington (Iowa) Saturday Evening Post, June 6, 20, 1914, Oct. 7, 1916; Frederick Way, Way's Directory of Western River Packets (n.p., 1950), p. 107. The Quincy Line provided the steamers Mollie McPike, Tom Jasper, and Victory. The Union Line also purchased or constructed the steamers Countess (1868); Alex Mitchell, Belle of ha Crosse, North Western, City of Quincy (1870); and S. S. Merrill (1871).

6 St. Paul Press, May 29, 1866; St. Paul Pioneer, Mar. 19, Sept. 6, 1867, Oct. 3, 1869, June 22, 1870, Apr. 14, May 26, Aug. 6, 1871; U.S. Commissioner of Statistics, List of Merchant Vessels of the United States, 1867–1868, pp. 7–247, and 1871–1872, pp. 6–298 (Washington, 1869 and 1873); Burlington Post, various issues Oct. 4, 1913-Oct. 25, 1919; Holdcamper, Forrest R. (ed.), Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States, 1807–1868: The “Lytle List” (Mystic, Conn., 1952), pp. 2–198.Google Scholar

7 Journal, pp. 96–98, 275, 276, 282, 375, Bill of Sale, Nov. 9, 1870, W. F. Davidson Memo Book, 1871, n.p., Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, Dec. 13, 1866, Sept. 6, Dec. 4, 1867, Dec. 8, 1868, Dec. 2, 1869; St. Paul Press, Dec. 13, 1866, Dec. 4, 1867; Hirshheimer, H. J., “La Crosse River History and the Davidsons,” Wisconsin Magazine of History, vol. XXVIII (March, 1945), p. 273.Google Scholar

8 W. P. Johnson to Davidson, Apr. 29, 1867, J. S. Tildesley to Davidson, Apr. 29, 1867, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, various issues June 28, 1866-June 27, 1871; St. Anthony Falls (Minn.) Democrat, June 24, 1870.

9 St. Paul Pioneer, May 31, July 1, 1866, Aug. 6. 1868, June 18, 1870, May 3, 1871; St. Paul Press, Sept. 3, 1872.

10 St. Paul Pioneer, Aug. 16, 1867.

11 Ibid., July 24, 1867, June 21, 1868.

12 Memo Book, May, 1868, n.p., Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, May 1, 1866, Sept. 6, 1867, July 13, 1869.

13 Minute Book, p. 18, Journal, p. 77, Journal B, pp. 39, 141, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, Nov. 18, 1868.

14 Ibid., various issues May 10, 1866-June 8, 1871; St. Paul Press, Apr. 20, 1866, May 31, June 12, 1868, May 16, 1869, Apr. 15, 1870, Apr. 11, Oct. 20, 1871; Mankato (Minn.) Weekly Record, Apr. 18, May 23, 1868; Minneapolis Tribune, May 22, 1869; Assistant Secretary of State of Minnesota, Statistics of Minnesota … for 1869 (St. Paul. 18701. n. 12.

15 T. Cushing, Note and Extension of Protest, May 16, 1870, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, various issues July 12, 1866-Apr. 19, 1871; St. Paul Press, Nov. 21, Dec. 4, 1867, Apr. 21, 1869, Apr. 27, 1871; Minneapolis Tribune, Apr. 14, 20, 1871; StOlwater (Minn.) Gazette, Sept. 19, 1871.

16 St. Paul Press, Dec. 13, 1866; St. Paul Pioneer, Oct. 8, 1868, May 7, 1871.

17 Ibid., Sept. 6, 1867.

18 St. Paul Pioneer, various issues May 5, 1866-Sept. 29, 1871; St. Anthony Falls Democrat, Oct. 29, 1869. The river mileages were taken from a St. Louis and St. Paul Packet Co. Passenger Tariff, 1882, p. 41, Davidson Papers.

19 Inspection Certificate, Board of Underwriters of New Orleans, Dec. 14, 1870, A. McPike to Davidson, Jan. 30, 1871, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, various issues Feb. 8, 1867, to Nov. 18, 1871; New Ulm Plain Dealer, Dec. 31, 1870; St. Paul Press, March 7, 1873; Burlington Post, Oct. 5, 1918.

20 A. McPike to Davidson, Jan. 30, 1871, Davidson Papers; Mankato Weekly Record, Apr. 18, 1866, May 7, 1870; St. Paul Pioneer, various issues June 26, 1866-Apr. 6, 1871; St. Paul Press, May 3, 1871, June 18, 1872; Stillwater Gazette, Sept. 19, 1871.

21 Contract, A. M. Hutchinson and W. F. Davidson, Mar. 29, 1866, Contract, C. H. Merry and Davidson, Sept. 4, 1866, Journal, p. 353, North Western Steamboat Co. Journal A, p. 1, Merchants' Southern Packet Co. Stock Certificates Nos. 11, 13, 16, 21, John Kyle Steamboat Co. Stock Certificate No. 1, Lightning Line Minute Book, p. 7, People's Tow Boat Line Minute Book, p. 20, Answer to Petition, Davidson et al., n.d., Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, July 19, 1866, Feb. 8, 1867, June 12, 1868, Oct. 20, 1869, May 14, 1871.

22 Minnesota Insurance Co. Stock Certificates Nos. 1–170, Letters to Davidson from D. D. Merrill, Nov. 28, 1866, H. Thompson, Jan. 1, 1867, A. M. Wright & Co., Apr. 24, 1868, St. Paul and Sioux City R.R. Co., Aug. 23, 1870, J. C. Burbank, Jan. 25, Oct. 14, 1871, J. Skelton, May 9, 1871, C. T. Miller, Sept. 17, 1871, Assignment of Interest, Burbank to Davidson, May 10, 1867, Contracts between Davidson and Scott, Elliott and Dickenson, Dec. 6, 1867, D. C. Shepard, Apr. 9, 1868, W. S. Richie and G. R. White, Sept. 11, 1868, D. H. Valentine, July 30, 1870, Davidson to Miller, Nov. 29, 1871, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, Aug. 3, 10, 1867.

23 W. E. Wellington to Davidson, Sept. 24, 26, 1866, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, various issues July 28, 1866-Apr. 7, 1871; St. Paul Press, Dec. 3, 1866.

24 St. Paul Pioneer, Dec. 4, 1867, Apr. 1, 1871.

25 St. Paul Pioneer, Oct. 16, 1867.

26 St. Paul Press, Jan. 10, 1868; St. Paul Pioneer, Jan. 13, 1869.

27 Rae Patent Peat Machine Co. to Davidson, June 26, 1866, Memo Book, May 1, 1868, Fuel Receipts, Steamer Victory, Dec. 4–30, 1869, and Steamer Tom Jasper, Dec. 29, 1869-June 27, 1870, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Press, Sept. 12, 1866, Sept. 6, 1867; St. Paul Pioneer, June 25, 1871; Minneapolis Tribune, May 12, 1872.

28 St. Paul Pioneer, various issues Oct. 25, 1867-Aug. 16, 1871; St. Paul Press, Nov. 19, 1872.

29 St. Paul Pioneer, July 8, 13, 1866, Aug. 18, 1870, Nov. 24, 1871; St. Paul Press, Nov. 15, 1872.

30 T. Cushing, Note, May 16, 1870, D. H. Valentine to Davidson, Apr. 19, 1871, Instrument of Protest, Jan. 1, 1872, Journal, p. 275, Journal B, p. 168, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, various issues May 15, 1866-Nov. 24, 1871; St. Paul Press, May 14, 1868, Sept. 20, 1872; Mankato Weekly Record, May 23, 1868; Minneapolis Tribune, Aug. 11, 1868; Burlington Post, July 27, 1918.

31 Keokuk Northern Line Packet Co. Minute Book, p. 106, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, various issues Aug. 24, 1866-Dec. 3, 1871; St. Paul Press, Dec. 13, 1866, Dee. 4, 1867; Minneapolis Tribune, Mar. 14, 1869; Gould, Emerson W., Fifty Years on the Mississippi (St. Louis, 1889), pp. 513–15Google Scholar; George B. Merrick, “Joseph Reynolds and the Diamond Jo Line Steamers,” Mississippi Valley Historical Association Proceedings, vol. VIII (Cedar Rapids, 1914–1915), p. 228; Larson, Henrietta M., The Wheat Market and the Farmer in Minnesota, 1858–1900 (New York, 1926), p. 44Google Scholar; Peterson, William J., Steamboating on the Upper Mississippi (Iowa City, 1937), p. 266.Google Scholar

32 Note, July 31, 1868, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, various issues Jan. 21, 1866-Nov. 19, 1868; Quincy Herald, Aug. 6, 1868; St. Paul Press, Aug. 30, 1868; Minneapolis Tribune, Nov. 11, 1868.

33 Minute Book, 26, 33, A. McPike to T. B. Rhodes, Aug. 8, 1870, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, March 18, 1869, Apr. 12, 1870, March 23, 1871; St. Paul Press, March 18, 1869, Aug. 10, 14, 1872.

34 A. McPike to T. B. Rhodes, May 5, 1870, Davidson to Rhodes, May 9, June 6, 11, 20, Aug. 5, 1870, Rhodes to Davidson, June 25, July 1, 1870, Minute Book, pp. 35, 42, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, March 15, 23, Apr. 9, 1871; St. Paul Press, Apr. 2, June 6, Aug. 10, 1872.

35 Ibid., various issues Aug. 10-Nov. 30, 1872.

36 Railroad Commissioner of Minnesota, Annual Report for … 1877 (Minneapolis, 1878), p. 21; St. Paul Pioneer, various issues Aug. 22, 1866-June 3, 1871; St. Paul Press, Feb. 22, 1872.

37 P. H. Smith to Davidson, Aug. 23, 1866, Accounts Payable, Oct. 12, 1866, Sept. 26, 1870, W. G. Swan to Davidson, Apr. 24, 1867, J. Lawler, memo, Feb. (n.d.), 1869, Contract, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry. and North Western Union Packet Co., Mar. 3, 1869, Lawler, receipt, Jan. 19, 1870, S. S. Merrill to Davidson, Dec. 26, 1870, Lawler to Davidson, Dec. 28, 1870, J. C. Spencer to Davidson, Jan. 13, 1871, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Pioneer, various issues July 1, 1866-Sept. 10, 1871; Hewitt, Girart, Minnesota: Its Advantages to Settlers (St. Paul, 1867), n.p.Google Scholar; Larson, Wheat Market, p. 43.

38 St. Paul Pioneer, March 15, Aug. 26, 1866, Nov. 6, Dec. 7, 1867, Aug. 3, 1870; St Paul Press, Dec. 13, 1866, March 23, May 12, Oct. 17, Nov. 19, 1872; Minneapolis Tribune, May 1, 1869.

39 St. Paul Pioneer, May 16, 1871.

40 St. Paul Press, Aug. 31, 1867; St. Paul Pioneer, Nov. 24, 1871.

41 Minute Book, p. 42, Davidson Papers.

42 Contract, Davidson and W. H. Rochey & Co., Jan. 4, 1868, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Press, Apr. 20, 1866, Oct. 2, 1868, Apr. 20, 1872; St. Paul Pioneer, various issues May 29, 1867-Sept. 27, 1871; Minneapolis Tribune, Apr. 13, 1870.

43 Minute Book, p. 22, Davidson Papers.

44 Journal B, p. 141, ibid.

45 St. Paul Pioneer, Aug. 25, 29, 1869.

46 Ibid., Dec. 4, 1867.

47 Minute Book, p. 23, Ledger B, p. 408, W. Rhodes, Deposition, July 21, 1870, La Crosse and Minnesota Steam Packet Co. Minute Book, p. 47, Davidson Papers; Answer to Petition, Dunlap v. Davidson, U.S. Circuit Court, Eastern District of Missouri, March Term, 1875.

48 Minute Book, pp. 46, 47, 49, Davidson Papers; St. Paul Press, March 7, 1873.

49 Minute Book, pp. 51, 52, Journal B, pp. 158, 159, Ledger B, pp. 407, 408, Answer to Petition, W. F. Davidson et al., n.d., Davidson Papers; St. Paul Press, March 5, 1873; St. Paul Globe, Apr. 6, 15, 19, 1881.

50 Merrick, “Joseph Reynolds and the Diamond Jo Line Steamers,” Mississippi Valley Historical Association Proceedings, vol. VIII (Cedar Rapids, 1914–1915), p. 238.

51 Shippee, Lester B., “Steamboating on the Upper Mississippi after the Civil War: A Mississippi Magnate,” Mississippi Valley Historical Review, vol. VI (March, 1920), p. 502Google Scholar; Hartsough, Mildred L., From Canoe to Steel Barge on the Upper Mississippi (Minneapolis, 1934), p. 169.Google Scholar

52 St. Paul Pioneer, Nov. 19, 1868, Nov. 30, 1870, June 9, 1871; St. Paul Press, Apr. 30, 1870, Apr. 2, 1872; Minneapolis Tribune, Apr. 1, 1869.

53 St. Paul Globe, May 27, 1887; Hirshheimer, , “La Crosse River History and the Davidsons,” Wisconsin Magazine of History, vol. XXVIII (March, 1945), p. 276.Google Scholar

54 St. Paul Pioneer, Sept. 6, 1867.