Afloat on the Ohio Informative Summary

Overview:

The author, Reuben Gold Thwaites, embarks on a 1,000-mile journey down the Ohio River in 1897, documenting his experiences and observations in a journal titled “Afloat on the Ohio.” He travels in a small white cedar skiff named Pilgrim, accompanied by his wife, son, and a doctor. Their voyage provides a unique perspective on the Ohio’s history, evolving landscape, and diverse population.

Thwaites’s journey takes him through a variety of settings, from the industrial heartland of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with its bustling manufacturing towns and coal mines, to the gentler landscapes of Kentucky and Ohio, where farmers, fishermen, and houseboaters live in a more rustic setting. He vividly portrays the river’s changing character, from its swift currents and rapids to its calmer stretches. His observations reveal the complex interplay between nature and human industry, and highlight the impact of industrialization and changing economic conditions on the river’s communities.

Key Findings:

The Ohio River is a vital waterway for transportation and commerce, but also faces challenges from pollution and industrial waste.
Industrialization has profoundly impacted the Ohio River Valley, transforming its landscape and creating both prosperity and hardship for its communities.
The river’s history is rich and varied, encompassing Native American settlements, French and English rivalry, American frontier expansion, and the development of steamboat traffic.
Poverty and hardship are evident in many riverside communities, particularly those inhabited by poor whites and houseboaters, who struggle with economic hardship and limited opportunities.
The Ohio River’s diverse population includes a mix of cultures and backgrounds, from the descendants of early settlers to later immigrants and river nomads.

Learning:

The Ohio River’s Importance in American History: The Ohio River played a crucial role in American expansion and the development of the West. It served as a vital transportation route for early settlers, traders, and soldiers, and influenced the growth of major cities along its banks.
The Impact of Industrialization: Industrialization has profoundly shaped the Ohio River Valley, creating new industries and economic opportunities but also generating significant environmental challenges, particularly in terms of pollution and waste.
Houseboat Life: Houseboat communities along the Ohio River provide a glimpse into a unique lifestyle, characterized by mobility, resilience, and often hardship.
The Persistence of Poverty: The text reveals that poverty continues to be a persistent issue in many riverside communities. The author portrays the struggles of poor whites, houseboaters, and small farmers who face limited opportunities and challenging living conditions.
The Ohio River’s Diverse Landscape and Population: The Ohio River’s varied landscape, from its rugged hills to its broad bottoms, and its diverse population, from native tribes to immigrants, highlight the rich tapestry of human and natural history that it embodies.

Historical Context:

The text provides insight into the Ohio River Valley during the late 19th century. This was a period of rapid industrialization and westward expansion, with the rise of steamboats and railways transforming transportation and commerce. The author’s observations reveal the ongoing impact of historical events, such as the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and the Civil War, on the region’s development and its communities.

Facts:

Redstone Old Fort: The first English agricultural settlement west of the Alleghanies was established at the mouth of Redstone Creek.
Washington’s Land Holdings: George Washington owned vast tracts of land along the Ohio River, making him one of the most significant land speculators of his time.
Logstown: This Shawanese village was a key fur-trading center and the site of several important treaties.
The Zane Brothers: The Zane brothers were instrumental in the early settlement of Wheeling, West Virginia, and their fortified home played a crucial role in frontier defense.
The Big Grave: The large Indian mound at Moundsville, West Virginia, is one of the largest remaining in the United States and a testament to the region’s prehistoric past.
The Battle of Point Pleasant: This bloody battle, fought between General Andrew Lewis’s forces and Cornstalk’s Shawanee warriors, was one of the most significant engagements between Indians and whites on the Ohio frontier.
The Scioto Company: This land speculation scheme led to the settlement of Gallipolis, Ohio, by French emigrants, but its history was marked by challenges and misfortune.
Marietta, “The Plymouth Rock of the West”: Settled by Revolutionary War veterans, Marietta became a center for early education and established the principle of public education at public cost.
Blennerhassett’s Island: This island was the home of Harman Blennerhassett and his wife, who were drawn into Aaron Burr’s conspiracy.
The First Library in the West: The first circulating library in the Northwest was established at Belpré, Ohio, thanks to the collection of books brought west by Israel Putnam.
The “Big Grave” of Moundsville: This massive Indian mound is sixty-eight feet high and a hundred feet in diameter at the base.
The Long Reach: This sixteen-and-a-half-mile stretch of the Ohio River is notable for its scenic beauty and the presence of numerous oil and gas wells.
Oil and Gas Wells: The author encountered numerous oil and gas wells along his journey, including those at Witten’s Bottom, a site with a dense concentration of wells and pumping equipment.
Natural Gas for Fuel: Natural gas was readily available for fuel in the oil and gas well regions, providing a low-cost fuel source for residents.
The Mason and Dixon Line: This line, marking the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland, crosses the Ohio River, dividing West Virginia from Ohio.
Lord Dunmore’s War: This conflict between Virginia settlers and the Mingo and Shawnee tribes was triggered in part by the murder of Logan’s family.
The Capture of Vincennes: George Rogers Clark’s daring capture of Vincennes, Indiana, from the British during the Revolutionary War, was a pivotal moment in the struggle for control of the Northwest.
The Ohio River’s Changing Character: The author observed a shift in the river’s character as he traveled south, with the emergence of broad bottoms and the increasing presence of sycamore trees.
The Abundance of Driftwood: The Ohio River carries a significant amount of driftwood, particularly during periods of high water, posing challenges for navigation but also providing a valuable resource for riverside communities.

Statistics:

Washington’s Landholdings: George Washington owned over 32,000 acres along the Ohio River.
Mingo Junction Population: This town has a population of 2,500, with 700-1,200 employed at the iron and steel works.
Mingo Junction Steel Plant Employees: 10% of the workers at the Mingo Junction steel plant are Hungarian and Slavonian.
Wages at the Mingo Junction Steel Plant: Wages at the steel plant range from 90 cents to five dollars a day, with a majority of workers earning closer to the minimum.
The Big Grave: This Indian mound is sixty-eight feet high and a hundred feet in diameter at the base.
Number of Oil Wells: There are hundreds of oil wells in the Witten’s Bottom region, with 200 located in a single gravel area.
Natural Gas Costs: The gas company in Shousetown charged ten cents per month for each light and $1.50 for a cook-stove.
Cost of Coal: The cost of coal at the Mingo Junction steel plant was $1.10 at the shaft mouth and $1.75 landed at the works.
The “Clipper”: This floating saw and planing mill is engaged in “tramp work,” processing logs for farmers.
The “Troubadour”: This towing steamer pulls the barge of Price’s Floating Opera Company.
Population of Wheeling: This city has a population of 50,000.
Population of Parkersburg: This city has a population of about 10,000.
Population of Marietta: This city has a population of about 10,000.
Population of Gallipolis: This city has a population of about 6,000.
Population of Huntington: This city has a population of 16,000.
Population of Portsmouth: This city has a population of 15,000.
Population of Steubenville: This city has a population of 16,000.
Population of Cincinnati: This city has a population of about 296,000.
Population of Louisville: This city has a population of about 205,000.
Population of Evansville: This city has a population of 50,000.
Population of Henderson: This city has a population of 9,000.
Population of Paducah: This city has a population of 13,000.
Population of Mound City: This town has a population of about 2,500.
Population of Cairo: This city has a population of 12,000.
Rental Fee for Land: The average rental fee for land near Owensboro, Kentucky, was 14 bushels of corn per acre.
Cost of Railway Ties: Oak, elm, and sycamore railway ties from Derby, Kentucky, sold for 20 cents each.
Number of Houseboats: The author observed that houseboats were less common on the lower reaches of the river, with approximately one every 10 miles.

Terms:

“Cracker”: A term for poor whites in the Southern United States, often associated with a rural, backwoods lifestyle.
“Longshore”: Relating to the area near the shore of a river or lake.
“Shakes”: Roughly split wooden shingles, often used for roofing in rural areas.
“Towhead”: A small, sandbar island in a river.
“Pirogue”: A type of canoe or small boat, often carved from a single tree.
“Punting”: A method of propelling a boat using a pole pushed against the bottom of a shallow river or lake.
“Bargemen”: Boatmen who operate barges, often carrying large quantities of goods.
“Flatboat”: A flat-bottomed boat, often used for transporting goods and passengers on rivers.
“Keelboat”: A long, narrow boat with a keel, used for transporting goods on rivers.
“Wharf”: A paved area along a riverbank used for loading and unloading boats.

Examples:

The “Dynamiter”: A nitroglycerin cartridge dealer who sought to blow up fish in the river and make a profit.
The Houseboat Family: A young couple living on a houseboat, hoping to build a life on land.
The Round Bottom Family: A poor white family living in a cabin on the banks of the Ohio, relying on casual labor and the river’s bounty for sustenance.
The Strawberry Grower: A man who lived on a small hillside plot, cultivating strawberries for the Marietta market.
The “Cracker” Family: A family living on a small farm near the Ohio River, raising livestock and crops, with their children playing a prominent role in household chores and farm work.
The Floating Opera Company: A traveling theatrical group that performed on a barge towed up and down the Ohio River.
The “Troubadour”: This towing steamer transported the Floating Opera Company’s barge.
The Junk-Boat Owners: Two brothers who traveled the river, collecting oil barrels and other junk to sell.
The Floating Sawmill: An old steamboat converted into a sawmill, providing a service to farmers in the region.
The Hermit Fisherman: A solitary man who lived on a shanty boat and fished for a living, relying on the river’s bounty.

Conclusion:

Reuben Gold Thwaites’s “Afloat on the Ohio” offers a captivating journey through the river’s history, landscape, and diverse population. The author’s observations, spanning six weeks of travel from Redstone to Cairo, reveal the Ohio’s multifaceted character as a vital artery for commerce and transportation, a setting for human resilience and hardship, and a testament to the rich tapestry of American history. The text offers a glimpse into the changing world of the Ohio River Valley in the late 19th century, as industrialization, westward expansion, and evolving economic conditions shaped its communities and altered its landscape. Thwaites’s journal is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of this iconic American waterway.

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