Ellen (Sternwheel towboat, 1907-1944)

Date

• July 26, 1925

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Towboat
• BUILT: 1907 at La Crosse, Wisconsin
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Sold at public sale to Ralph M. James in 1943, then sold to Standard Oil of Ohio who, in turn, sold her in 1944 to Industrial Marine Service of Memphis, Tennessee who converted her to diesel, twin prop
• OWNERS: Sawyer Austin Lumber Company of La Crosse; U.S. Engineering Department, Rock Island, Illinois district (circa 1930)
• OFFICERS & CREW: Captain Charles White Sr. (master); Captain John Suiter (master, 1930s); Captain Charlie De Lisle (master, circa 1912, 1916); Captain W. A. Thompson (master, 1918); Levi King Sr. (engineer, October 1911)
• RIVERS: Mississippi River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - T0724; W.W. Cargill of the Sawyer Austin Lumber Company used the Ellen as a part-time rafter and also for pleasure. The Ellen was named for Mrs. W.W. Cargill. A steel hull was put under her when she was purchased by the U.S. Engineering Department. Also while under their ownership, the cabin was air conditioned and an elevator installed for the expected arrival of President Franklin D. Roosevelt; for some reason the trip was canceled. The Ellen was sunk 3 mile south of Brownsville on October 8, 1918 and was raised
• PHOTO DESCRIPTION: Left to right: Ellen, Dandelion (U.S. Engineering Department towboat), Coal Bluff (U.S. Engineering Department towboat), Mamie S. Barrett (towboat), John W. Coffee (towboat), Cahawba (dredge), Muscatine (U.S. Engineering Department towboat)