Excerpts from a log of keel and flat boats traveling
the Ohio and Mississippi from Wellsburg to New Orleans
between 1834 and 18367 disclosed some interesting facts
about this mode of transporting produce and goods. The log
was presented to the Brooke County Historical Society by Ada
FINLEY in memory of Robert L. FINLEY.

....Captains of the boats were James P. PALMER, LATTIMOR, CURRAN,
LOGAN, James GILLESTHROP, CRAWFORD, THOMPSON, LOGUE,
and William CONNELL. The captains received 1/3 of the
profit made on a trip.

....One keel boat was called "Crusade", another "Everett
Starr", and still another "The Star of (Name not legible"
At other times the boats were designated as Number 1,2,3
and etc.

....Apparently all of the boats were made in Wellsburg and
cost approximately $184.87 to build. APPLEGATE and GASS
were mentioned as building one of the boats. Outfitting the
boat for the trip included one or two skiffs, and extra
pump, potatoes, bread, coffee, sugar, spices, candles, tea,
bacon, soap, brooms, nails, whiskey, gin and brandy at an
approximate cost of $38.41. Insurance for 66 days on the
cargo added another $19.75 and extra cash for whiskey and
emergencies was $57.00, or a total cost, including the boat
of $300.03.

....Sometimes the boat was sold in New Orleans for the
lumber and other times it was brought back to Wellsburg
loaded with a cargo of sugar and spices etc.

....Profits as low as $424.90 and as high as $1,360.66 could
be expected and a very good trip netted one owner
$10,139.00. Of course, this type of trip was the exception,
not the rule.

....Stops were made at Wheeling, Cincinnati and other points
along the river to pick up and discharge cargo. The cargos
consisted of: Flour from the mills of CLARK AND TIERNAN,
HUNTER, WAUGH, PATTERSON, MILLER AND GIST, FOWLER, PUGH,
MAHON, CLARK AND FOWLER, AND Erskine - 278 barrels at
$67.50; Window glass 8 x 10, 10 x 12 and 145 x 16, and
boxes of glass wares from J. AND D. MARKLEY, LOWTHER AND
COMPANY, LOWTHER AND MILLER OF WELLSBURG AND ENCELL AND
PLUNKET OF WHEELING--$740.00 and $101.05....Stoneware from
BAKEWELL $89.70; 3 lb nails - 25 cents; 1 gal whiskey 37
cents; 5 guns from MC CONNANT - $90.00; 15 lbs coffee -
$2.40; 14 casks of cheese - $122.64; 4 kegs butter - $20.60;
29 kegs lard - $82.50; 1 gal gin- 75 cents; 2 bushels
potatoes -$10.00; tea kettle and coffee pot $1.00; 8
teaspoons - $1.12; one secretary and bookcase $36.00; three
dozen chairs and Lloyds - $37.00; wagon - $40.00; drag
$30.00; 50 lbs sugar - $5.50; also horse collars, bacon,
paper, onions, jugs, wheat, molasses, all kinds of spices,
tinware, hops, bedsteds and etc.

....The FINLEYS are to be congratulated for contributing so much to the history of the county.