LECLAIRE, IOWA RIVER PILOTS

By Joann Loete.  Published in Suiter Family Association Newsletter, 1988.

LeClaire, Iowa, located on the Mississippi River, is well known for its many river pilots. Among them were several Suiters.

PHILIP SUITER b. 1 Nov. 1799, Lawrence Co. Ohio, d. 26 Nov 1884, DeWitt, Nebraska (buried in LeClaire, Iowa (his home.)

Philip Suiter’s career on the river began early. He left Ohio in 1824 with his wife and 2 children and “paddled his own canoe” down the Ohio and up the Mississippi river to Illinois, where he stayed a few years, then moved on to Scott county, Iowa.

One of the first settlers in LeClaire, he began studying the rapids, learning its cross-currents, locating the rocks, and charting the channel by means of landmarks along the banks such as large trees, buildings, etc.

He soon became recognized as an expert in navigating the rapids, and was the first licensed floating raft pilot in the area. During the season of 1864, the Mississippi was at the lowest ever known in history, and he made a mark in a ledge of rock near his house, which stood on the bank of the river. That mark became the standard gauge for low water mark and was adopted by the government.

Philip was married three times and had twelve children. Several of his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons also became river pilots.

JOHN H. SUITER,  b. 15 Aug. 1822, Lawrence Co. Ohio, d. 6 June 1896, LeClaire, Iowa

John H. Suiter moved with his parents to Scott County, Iowa when he was 14  years old. He lived there until his death.

On 22 Dec. 1842 he married Eliza Jane Wright, and they had eight children:  Elizabeth Agnes (Freeman). John W., Margaret Ann, Zachariah G., George P., Jeremiah J., Eliza J., and William A.   Margaret Ann and Eliza J. died young.

John H. Suiter was an early rapids pilot on the Mississippi River, taking rafts down the serpentine channel in the days when they were powered not by steam but by oars. His river career began in 1843, and he retired from the river in 1886. In 1864, in the time of low water, he was the only pilot willing to take rafts over the rapids, receiving from $10 to $16 a trip.

Two brothers, William M. and Jacob G., were also river pilots. as were two of  his sons, John W. and Zachariah, and two grandsons.

WILLIAM M. SUITER,  b. 13 Nov. 1826, Illinois, d. 23 Jan. 1904, LeClaire. IA

Another son of Philip Suiter, William M.  was born in Illinois, and came with his father to LeClaire, Iowa in 1836. At an early age he engaged in the river trade,  first as a raft hand, but before he was  21 years of age he was running as  rapids plot. He married Alice Disney in 1848 and they had 7 children.

ZACHARIAH G. SUITER,  b. 20 May 1851, LeClaire, Iowa,  d. 13 June 1907, LeClaire. Iowa

A son of John H. Suitor, Zach was a well known Mississippi river pilot for 31 years. He began his career at the age of 19 when he began to pilot rafts which were floated down the stream and guided by large sweeps.  In 1882 he secured his Master and Pilot license. He piloted the City of  Winona, and was also on the Eclipse  between the Tri-cities and Clinton.

He was married to Angeline David and they had six children, two of  whom, George and Lila, died in childhood. Others were: Grace (Bartinc), Elmer M., Charles H., and Zach G.

JOHN WRIGHT SUITER, b. 28 March 1846, LeClaire, Iowa, d. 20 July 1907, LeClaire, IA

John W. Suiter was a life-long resident of LeClaire, Iowa, except for a few years when he homesteaded in Nebraska.

At the age of 21 he received his pilot's license and began his career as a pilot on the floating rafts. He was employed as a pilot for many years, serving last on the government steamer Louise.

He was married in 1878 to Laura Gordon, and they had nine children: children, John F., George M., James P., Laura, Lee , William A., Olive C. (McWilhams) Laurel, and Mary (Carter).

Two of his sons, John F. and James P., also worked on the river.

JAMES PHILIP SUITER, b. 16 June 1878, LeClaire, IA, d. 9 Nov. 1966, LeClaire, IA

James P. Suiter was a well known resident of LeClaire, serving on the town council and as a school board member.

He began working on the river at the age of 13, on the Steamer Stella with his father, Capt. J.W. Suiter as pilot. He also worked on log rafts. He was Niger runner and Watchman the last trip the steamer Moline made.

He served as Mate and Pilot on both the steamers LeClaire and Ellen. He was a licensed rapids pilot. In 1943 he retired after service as master and pilot of the Ellen, a government steamboat.

He was married to Mae Long in 1901,  and they had five daughters. After she  died, he married Bertha Tobey. His daughters were: Vernie (Brennan), Alta Suiter, Eva, Mary (Bratcher), and Lois (Loete).

JOHN F. SUITER, b. 15 April 1876, Leclaire, Iowa, d. 8 Oct. 1964, LeClaire, Iowa

A son of John W. Suiter, John F. followed in his father’s footsteps, as he loved the river as his father, grandfather and great-grandfather before him.

He was born in LeClaire, and lived there all his life. He married Olive Pearl Carter December 23, 1908, and they had eight children: Olive Lea (Harms), John R., Laura (Holst), Marion C., Sarah E., Evelyn (Rothenberger), Helen (McGuire), and James F.

After graduation from high school, he served as a river pilot and captain of river boats, serving with the U.S. Engineers about 30 years.

Back to top    Back to The Suiters

Family relationships of Suiter river pilots:

            -- son, John Halford Suiter

                            -- grandson, John Wright Suiter

                                        -- great-grandson, John F. Suiter

                                        -- great-grandson, James Philip Suiter

                           -- grandson, Zach Suiter

             -- son, William M. Suiter