Ferry Service Began Locally Many Years Ago
One Of First Power Propelled Boats Was Operated By Man Named Campbell Using Horse, Then Steam – Improvements Made Until Double Service Was Given - Old-Time Ferry War Remembered
The opening of the Maysville-Aberdeen suspension bridge means, as it has at other points along the Ohio river where bridges have been built, the final passing of the ferry, it is reasonably probable.
Around the Maysville-Aberdeen ferry cling many fond memories. Since the settlement of the little village at the mouth of Limestone creek, which was designated by one of the earliest historians as “the most available and natural landing place on the beautiful river that flows unvexed from the mountains of Pennsylvania to the great Mississippi,” ferries have been operated, of many styles and by various parties.
The settlement of this village dates back to 1787, so there have been ferries operated for 144 years.
The first ferries were crude of the hand-paddle type and then poles were used to propel them in low water. They were called “push boats.” It remained for a man of the name of Campbell, who has relatives now residing in Mason county, to operate the first ferry with horse power. He erected on a small barge a treadmill, something on the order of the old fashioned “Ground-Hog” threshing machine [external link] . A horse was placed on the treading arrangement and it turned a large wheel and turned a small wheel at the rear of the boat pushing against the water, just as the wheels of large steamers that came later and are yet in use. Mr. Campbell was one of the very earliest power navigators of the Ohio river, or in fact any other river to inaugurate this method of propulsion. That it was a success was early proven.
Then the Campbells soon saw, as business increased, that improvements had to be made. Steam power had been developed, so they built a ferry and placed thereon a boiler and engine with a paddle wheel, and this ferry was christened The Gleaner, which operated most successfully for many years.
The Campbells sold out their ferry interests to Captain William Linton, and he built the Frank S. Owens, which was named in honor or Col. Frank S. Owens, then a noted hardware dealer and pioneer and progressive resident.
The Frank S. Owens participated in the first ferry battle that ever occurred on the Ohio river. Seeing that the business was profitable, Mr. James C. Power built the Gretna Green, named for the village across the way [external link] which had won wide honor because it was a popular place for couples to go to have marriage ceremonies performed. Aberdeen became famous because of this convenience, but that is another story.
When the Gretna Green began to operate there was a battle on to secure patronage. Rates were cut and an old settler tells the writer that the boats would return for a single passenger, racing to the float even from the middle of the river. It is said that many passengers and even teams belonging to persons of influence would be carried free of toll. Mr. Conrad M. Phister, who operated the wharf boat, took over the Power interests.
Captain Phister then built the steamer Laurance, naming the boat after his son, Laurance Phister, who is now a prominent businessman of Kansas City, Mo. Capt. Phister then sold his interests to Capt. Charles F. Stalder and the Green Line owners. The steamer Laurance was damaged by fire at the local wharf one night in September, 1929. It was rebuilt and rechristened and moved to another service. The Laurance was succeeded by the Relief, and later the steamer Kiwanis was added giving double ferry service to the city.
The Relief was also damaged by fire and practically rebuilt. These boats are now in use. No notice has been given of any future intentions of the ferry owners and operators. In their passing, however, will cling fond memories that have marked the progress of this section of the Ohio valley. By them communication was afforded to the thousands who came this way.
From the Maysville’s Daily Independent, November 25, 1931