Originally published: [Cleveland, OH]: The Arthur H. Clark Co., 1909.

This is a Historical Reprint and renewed copyright by the family of George Byron Merrick at the Merrick Foundation Org. "Merrick's "Old Times on the Upper Mississippi." The author lived for many years amid the scenes that he depicts, and for nine years was a pilot on an upper Mississippi boat. The romance and adventure of that life helped more to rouse and challenge the imagination than any other single feature of early pioneer days, and Mr. Merrick, though now what many would consider "pretty well along in years," is still young enough in the remembrance of those days. Like many another hard-working pioneer, he caught the spirit of his work, and he here has faithfully set down the most careful record of river annals in existence, from a historical standpoint, and at the same time one which grips the interest of the reader. " Charles Rounds 1918 Cpt. Daniel W Merrick PhD edited and added contributions to this work to enhance the overall culture and times in which George wrote this book. George also added great contributions to the family history of the Merrick - Meyrick - Myrick line in the United States in his book on Genealogy released and published in 1902. The Merrick Foundation along with Eternal Light and Power Company publishing has worked for over 25 years to republish and preserve the historical legacy of the Merrick family world wide. For more about this work and other books and history of the Merrick Family visit MerrickFoundation.Org and YahBible.Org Although this work is mostly public domain, the publisher has copyrights to his part and contribution to the work added and edited for which the editor holds all rights reserved.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1909 edition. Excerpt: ... Appendix A List of Steamboats on the Upper Mississippi River, 1823-1863 In the following compilation I have endeavored to give as complete a history as possible of every boat making one or more trips on the upper Mississippi River -- that is to say, above the upper rapids -- prior to 1863, not counting boats engaged exclusively in the rafting business. Owing to the repetition of names as applied to different steamers, which were built, ran their course, and were destroyed, only to be followed by others bearing the same name, it is altogether likely that some have escaped notice. Others that may have made the trip have left no sign. In nearly every case the record is made either at St. Paul or at Galena. Whenever possible, the names of the master and clerk are given. Where boats were running regularly in the trade but one notation is made: "St. Paul, 1852; 1854; etc.," which might include twenty trips during the season. The record covers the period from 1823, when the first steamer, the "Virginia," arrived at St. Peters from St. Louis, with government stores for Fort Snelling, up to 1863, one year after the writer left the river. ADELIA--Stern-wheel; built at California, Pa., 1853; 127 tons; St. Paul, 1855; 1856; 1857--Capt. Bates, Clerk Worsham. ADMIRAL--Side-wheel; built at McKeesport, Pa., 1853; 245 tons; 169 feet long, 26 feet beam; in St. Paul trade 1854--Capt. John Brooks; went into Missouri River trade; was snagged and sunk October, 1856, at head of Weston Island, in shallow water; had very little cargo at time; was raised and ran for many years thereafter in Missouri River trade. ADRIATIC--Side-wheel; built at Shousetown, Pa., 1855; 424 tons; was in great ice jam at St. Louis, February, 1856. ADVENTURE--In Galena trade 1837--Capt....

Excerpt from Old Times on the Upper Mississippi: The Recollections of a Steamboat Pilot From 1854 to 1863 To most men of our day, the life of those who manned the steamers of that once mighty fleet is legendary, almost mythical. Its story is unwritten. To the few participants who yet remain, it is but a memory. The boats themselves have disappeared, leaving no token. The masters and the mates, the pilots and the clerks, the engineers and the men of humbler station have likewise gone. Of the thousands who contributed to give life and direction to the vessels themselves, a meager score of short biographies is all that history vouchsafes. The aim of the present volume is to tell something of these men, and of the boats that they made sentient by their knowledge and power; to relate something of the incidents of river life as seen by a boy during eight years of residence by the riverside, or in active service on the river itself While it may not literally be claimed, All of which I saw, it is with satisfaction, not unmixed with pride, that the writer can truthfully assert, A part of which I was. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Originally published: [Cleveland, OH]: The Arthur H. Clark Co., 1909.

A sweeping history of the upper Mississippi introduces readers to the rich natural and human history of this region, from the earliest European explorers through the massive engineering projects that are changing the destiny of the river. (History)