Notes for Campbell Hunt: BIRTH: As per Pike County, Illinois Courthouse -- Birth records did not begin until 1877; No record of birth available for Campbell. April, 2007
Pilot for the Gem City Steamboat from 1882-1883. Historical Information about the Gem City: The Gem City was a Side Wheel, wood hull packet Steamer 303' x 36' x 6'. It was powered by 7 28-1/2's Engines, had a 28' diameter wheel with 15 buckets. It was owned first by the Keokuk Northern Line, but due to financial problems it was sold to The St. Louis & St. Paul Packet Company. It was launched in 1881 from St. Louis, Missouri. In 1883, she was destroyed by fire at the foot of Barton St. in St. Louis, Missouri. On May 13-14, 1882 Samuel Clemens was a passenger on the Gem City during his historic River Tour of 1882. In the book "Mark Twain's Notebooks & Journals, Vol. II, 1877-1883", Samuel Clemens comments about his visit on the Gem City are as follows, "I couldn't sleep in 46--hog chain making intermittent thumping noise. Moved to 58 but no use. Got up at 2.30 & went to watch below draw of Louisiana bridge." During the era of River Steamboats, Captains and Pilots of these boats delighted in racing other steamboats for the best time. Taken from the article "Tidbits of Information" published on the groups.msn.com Rivermen & Riverboats webpage is the following, compiled and written by Jerry Canavit about the Gem City: "...ST. LOUIS TO ST. PAUL: In 1867 the HAWKEYE STATE made the record run in 2-21-49 (not 2-20). Her sister boat, the SUCKER STATE had set the record a few months earlier in 2-23-48. In 1881, the GEM CITY reportedly made the run in 2-21-30 but the time was questioned because many thought the time deductions for stops had been excessive. (The GEM CITY'S engines went into the Diamond Jo "QUINCY", that later became the JS DELUXE)." The race times noted here should be read - Days-Hours-Minutes.
More About Campbell Hunt: Burial: 18 Feb 1920, St. Francis Cemetery, Portage Des Sioux, Missouri.69 Occupation 1: Bet. 1865 - 1919, River Pilot for Steamboats on Mississippi, Illinois, & Ohio Rivers.70 Occupation 2: Bet. 1881 - 1883, Pilot for the Gem City Steamboat owned by St. Louis & St. Paul Packet Company.71 Occupation 3: Bet. 1899 - 1919, Capt. & Pilot of the U.S. Light Tender 'Emily'.72 Residence 1: Bet. 1850 - 1856, Living in Wapello Co., Iowa.73 Residence 2: 1860, Living in Wapello Co., Iowa.74 Residence 3: 1870, Living in St. Louis, MO.75 Residence 4: 1880, Living in Portage Des Sioux, MO with wife's mother and siblings.76 Residence 5: 1900, 3351 Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO.77 Residence 6: 1910, 3814 St. Louis Ave., St. Louis, MO with son & daughter-in-law Henry & Katherine Hunt.78 Residence 7: 1920, On LaFaivre Farm in Portage Des Sioux, MO with wife, mother-in-law, & sister-in-law.79 Retirement: 1919, As Capt. of the U.S. Light Tender 'Emily', a Governmental Coast Guard Lightship.80
More About Campbell Hunt and Laura LaFaivre: Marriage: Bet. 1875 - 1879, Missouri.
Captain Campbell Hunt (b. 29 Jul 1848, d. 15 Feb 1920)
Notes for Campbell Hunt: