We know that over 150 steamboats were built at the boatyard at Murraysville, WV, owned by A. J. Flesher and Robert W. Skillinger. This boatyard was established in 1838 by Elijah Murray. In 1840 Murray sold his interest in the facility to Robert W. Skillinger and John Roberts. In 1847 William Henry Hicks bought out Mr. Roberts. About 1853 William Hicks retired and sold his shares to J. F. Scott and A. C. Tidd. Mr. Tidd withdrew from the firm in 1855. In 1858 William Hicks bought the Scott interest for his son, Milton Hicks. In 1959 this interest was sold to R. H. Sherman. In 1863 Andrew Jackson Flesher bought the Sherman shares and worked with R. W. Skillinger as partners in the operation until it closed. The following is a partial list of boats that were built at Murraysville. The last boat built at the Flesher boatyard was built in 1890. After that A. J. Flesher moved to Ohio and for a while ran the Barrett boatyard in Levanna, Ohio. Shortly before his death he bought the Ripley Ferry. The information in this list comes primarily from Way’s Packet Directory, compiled by Frederick Way, Jr., Way's Steam Towboat Directory and from various issues of S & D Reflector Magazine, a quarterly publication of the Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen.
AN Johnston
1847
Side-wheel Packet, wood hull, 199 tons
Capt. Bennett
Annie L. 1881 Stern wheel Towboat, wood hull, 115.8 X 20.3 X 3.1
Amazon
1838
Side-wheel Packet, wood hull, 231 tons
Capt. Louderbeck
Atlantic 1871 Stern wheel Towboat, wood hull, 266.56 tons
Audubon 1853 Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 191 tons Martin & Anshutz
Bayou Belle
1855
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 168 tons
Capt. Walker
Beacon
1848
Side-wheel Packet, wood hull, 175 tons
Capt. Shaw
Bob Ballard
1890
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 130 X 26.2 X 4
Car of Commerce 1848
Side-wheel Packet, wood hull, 294 tons
Davis & Smith
Catahoula
1858
Side-wheel Packet, wood hull, 137 X 33 X 5
Capt. Walker
City Belle
1854
Side-wheel Packet, wood hull, 215
tons
Capt. Hicks
David Gibson
1854
Side-wheel Packet, wood hull, 414 tons
Capt. McKinley
Ed. Hobbs
1871
Capt. Hornbrook
Emperor
1864
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 245 tons
Capt. Reno
Freestone
1858
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 150 tons
Garrett & Co.
Glide 1863 Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 232 tons, 160.4 X 33 X 5.1
Capt. Anderson
H Lindsay
1873
Capt. Barrett
Ham Howell 1857 Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 144 tons, 120 X 30 X 4.5 Capt. Robb
Proctor Ankrum
Harry 1879 Stern wheel Towboat, wood hull, 81 X 15 X 2.5 Capt. Harry Flesher
Henry Logan
1878
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 106.6 X 24.4 X 3.4
L. Kanawha R.
Henry M Stanley 1890 Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 180 X 32.4 X 5.5 Bay Brothers
(Reported to be the last boat built at the Flesher boatyard at
Murraysville, WV.)
Hope
1868
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull
Capt. Davis
Horace
1881
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 90 X 81 X 3
L. Kanawha R.
Hudson
1875
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 200 X 33.6 X 6.2
Capt. List
Isaac Shelby 1856 Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 100 tons Capt. Bishop
Irvin
1873
Capt. Barrett
J. H. Moulton 1881 Towboat, 52.19 tons
J. N. Roberts 1875 Stern wheel Towboat, 62.09 tons Capt. Roberts
Lancet
1843
Capt. Hicks
Louis Phillippe
1843
Rogers & Co.
Luella Brown
1890
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 128 X 22.3 X 4.5
Capt. Brown
Nellie F. Brown 1881 Towboat, 122.7 X 19.7 X 4.4
Ohio Valley 1841 Davis & Smith
Oriole
1863
Stern wheel Packet, Tinclad, wood hull, 160 X 33.5 X 5
Oriole
1869
Side-wheel Packet, wood hull
Capt. Dowry
Quickstep
1866
Side-wheel Packet, wood hull, 456 tons, 200 X 29 X 5.4, Capt. Smith
RR Hudson
1866
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 169 X 33 X 5.5
Capt. Russell
R W Skillinger
1871
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull
Capt. Flesher
Reuben White
1856
Side-wheel Packet, wood hull, 110 tons, 104 X 27 X 3.5 Capt. Shelby
Revenue
1863
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 236 tons
Capt. Booth
S R Van Metre 1888 Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 98 tons, 112 X 18.3 X 3.4 Muskingum R.
Shelby
1855
Capt. Bishop
St. Johns
1864
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 309 tons, 174 X 36 X 3.5
List & Co.
St. Lawrence
1879
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 266.5 X 41 X 6
Capt. List
Scioto
1846
Side-wheel Packet, wood hull, 231 tons
Davis & Smith
Sidney
1880
Stern wheel Packet, wood hull, 221.3 X 35.5 X 5.5
Capt. List
Transit
1878
Stern wheel Ferry, wood hull, 80 X 18 X 4
Ferry at Wheeling
Yuba
1852
Side-wheel Packet, wood hull, 348 tons
Capt R. Hill
Note: The dimensions given are the centerline length of the hull, with at the widest part of the hull and depth, all in lineal feet. The overall length of a stern wheel steamboat is much greater than listed due to the paddlewheel hung at the rear. The side-wheel boat is much wider than listed due to the guards necessary to enclose and support the wheels. (Only the hull dimensions are given.)
Written by Bob Krepps © 2002 & 2005 all rights reserved. Permission granted to copy for personal & non-commercial purposes only. Additional information on the history of this boatyard, the steamboats built there or Andrew Jackson Flesher will be greatly appreciated. I am also looking for photos of these steamboats and of A. J. Flesher and his descendents.
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