Captain James A Pell
Information comes from Pell Family History Books
James A Pell, a captain on the river trade, married
Emma Sebastian from Newport, was a pilot on the steamboat State of
Missouri, which was built for St Louis-Kansas City trade but never
saw the Missouri River, inasmuch as a drastic cut in rail rates was made while
she was under construction. She sank at Watson's Landing on Feb. 20, 1894, later
raised. On Jan 12, 1895, she was down bound with a big trip with Jim Pell Jr. as
pilot on watch. Jim was seated back on the lazy bench reading a newspaper and
letting a "cub" do the paw haul work. She was coming around Wolf Creek Bend on
the Ohio River, the worst one down in that region, when the cub turned to Jim
and said; "She isn't going to make it."
His prediction was correct. She slammed broadside into a huge rock on the Kentucky shore and went to kindling in the twinkling of an eye.
*****
James A Pell was born 28 Jan 1829 in Harrison Co Indiana and died 23 June 1916 in Covington. He was buried in the Highland Cemetery in Ft Mitchell Ky.
Children of James A Pell and Emma Sebastian (1849-1927)
James T Pell b-12 July 1870 in Louisville Ky. d-5 Dec
1948 at St Elizabeth Hospital in Covington; br-Highland Cemetery
Walter Pell
b-June 1872 in Louisville Ky. m-Lillie Elizabeth Harrison 19 May 1903; was a
river pilot
Emma Pell b-1874 in Dayton Ky.
Charlotte Pell b-1875 in Dayton
Ky.
Irene Pell b-20 Aug 1877 in Lagrange Ky. m-John Robertson in 1903; d-13
Nov 1940 in Clairton, Pennsylvania
Lela Mary Pell b-21 Sep 1889 in Dayton Ky.
d-12 June 1966 in Bucks Pennsylvania; m-Earl Jones
***********
Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 May 1895, page 6
TO BE ARRESTED-An inquiry is to be made into recent Longfellow accident. It is said Pilot Pell is to be called to answer to some charge in the United States Courts, probably technical manslaughter. The police at Bellevue Ky. were waiting for Pell's arrival at his home last night.
*********
Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 15 October 1895, page 8
RIVER NEWS-Pilot James Pell reports his opponent in the pilot house in the famous race between the Robert E Lee and Natchez, Frank Haydon, in a serious condition. He is at the Marine Hospital awaiting a surgical operation.
********
Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 1 July 1896, page 8
RIVULETS-Captain James Pell returned from Lake Chautauqua Wednesday, where he had gone to take a berth. He claims 18 hours constituted a day's work.
*******
Kentucky Post, Saturday, 4 July 1903, page 3
SOLD-The Mary F Golden, which has been running in the Maysville and Portsmouth trade for the past year, has been sold to Capt. Pell of Paducah, the boat being delivered to him at Cincinnati Friday. She will be used to tow railroad ties out of the Tennessee river.
********
Kentucky Post, Friday, 24 August 1906, page 7
FINGER-William B Pell of Saratoga st. was taken to Speers Hospital early today and a finger of his left hand amputated. It had been crushed and bruised in an ice machine.
**********
Kentucky Post, Monday, 26 June 1916, page 1
OLD PILOT-Funeral of James Pell, river pilot, who took part in the race between the Natchez and Robert E Lee, was held Monday afternoon at 2 pm. Burial was in Highland Cemetery.