Kleiboeker Family Tree - Person Sheet
Kleiboeker Family Tree - Person Sheet
NameIra F Smith 
Birth1839
Death15 Dec 1918, Chicago, Cook CO., IL
Burial17 Dec 1918, Glendale Cemetery, Le Claire, Scott County, Iowa
FatherIra Fuller Smith Sr. (1804-1884)
MotherNancy Huffman (1809-1876)
Notes for Ira F Smith
Davenport Democrat and Leader
Dec. 15, 1918
FORMER RIVER PILOT
PASSES AWAY SATURDAY
Captain Fuller Smith of Steamer
Verne Swain Dies in Chicago
According to word received late Saturday, Captain Fuller Smith, former well known river pilot, and for years captain of the steamer “Verne Swain” passed away at 8 o’clock Saturday morning at the home of one of his daughters in Chicago.
The remains will be brought to Le Claire for burial, and interment will take place there, announcement of the time to be made later.
Captain Smith’s old home was in Le Claire, and during the long period that he spent in navigation the river he resided there, but removed to Davenport . He has however, made his home in Chicago for the past ten years.
The survivors are two daughters Mrs. Grace Tolleson and Mrs. Lola A. Stone, both of Chicago ; two sisters, Mrs. Net Holsappple and Mrs. Cynthia Becker, of Le Claire: also two brothers, Peter of le Claire and George of Moline, Ill.
--Sue Rekkas
The Daily Times
Dec. 17, 1918
Pg. 12
Capt. Smith Funeral Held
The funeral of Capt. Ira Fuller Smith, who died in Chicago , Saturday, was held Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Le Claire, Rev. M. E. Kroster officiated at the service. The pallbearers were six nephews of the deceased. They were Orrin Smith, Nelson Smith, Frank Smith, George Holsapple and Frank Becker. Interment was in Le Claire cemetery.
--Sue Rekkas
Smith Fuller
Davenport Sunday Democrat
June 12, 1898
Clears up mystery
Pilot Fuller Smith Explains the Low stage of water
George M. Waters, Moline Correspondent of the Waterways Journal, has the following interesting bit of pilot house profanity and philosophy charge up to him.
Moline, Ill., May 30, 1898. Do you Know Fuller Smith? If not, I will introduce him to you: Mr. Editor, Mr. Smith, pilot on the Verne Swain for the last nine years, making two trips a day over the rapids.” Now, there is a sly old fox of a wheel spinner that can juggle a boat and is up to all the tricks. He knows all the little pickets, ct offs and openings to put his boat into and through when the water is low, and in a race he will beat you every time. He is a lovely talker. You should hear the ornamental language he uses, especially when the bridge tender is slow to open the draw.
When a new engineer came on and asked: Mr. Smith, which is your slow bell? He answered: “H--! Got no slow bell! What you want a slow bell for? This boat’s slow enough without running on slow bells. When you get signals, twist the wheel out of her; that’s what you do, Huh! Slow Bells? Nit!”
While coming down yesterday from Hampton on the Swain I was always in the pilot house, and asked Smith about the stage of water. “Water? Got no water! Just had wheels put on her bottom! Can’t you feel her when she runs over the rocks?” “They are moving freight down below.” “No, sir; that’s rocks-hard rocks. As long as they allow street sprinklers and sich to pump the water all out of the river and spread it over the ground, just so long we’ll have low water, Gad! I drove a nigger off up at Le Claire the other day that had his mule down to water, and the next morning he came down to the land and says: “Please Mr. Captain, can let my mule drink out of your river?”
Dec. 15, 1918
FORMER RIVER PILOT
PASSES AWAY SATURDAY
Captain Fuller Smith of Steamer
Verne Swain Dies in Chicago
According to word received late Saturday, Captain Fuller Smith, former well known river pilot, and for years captain of the steamer “Verne Swain” passed away at 8 o’clock Saturday morning at the home of one of his daughters in Chicago.
The remains will be brought to Le Claire for burial, and interment will take place there, announcement of the time to be made later.
Captain Smith’s old home was in Le Claire, and during the long period that he spent in navigation the river he resided there, but removed to Davenport . He has however, made his home in Chicago for the past ten years.
The survivors are two daughters Mrs. Grace Tolleson and Mrs. Lola A. Stone, both of Chicago ; two sisters, Mrs. Net Holsappple and Mrs. Cynthia Becker, of Le Claire: also two brothers, Peter of le Claire and George of Moline, Ill.
--Sue Rekkas
The Daily Times
Dec. 17, 1918
Pg. 12
Capt. Smith Funeral Held
The funeral of Capt. Ira Fuller Smith, who died in Chicago , Saturday, was held Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Le Claire, Rev. M. E. Kroster officiated at the service. The pallbearers were six nephews of the deceased. They were Orrin Smith, Nelson Smith, Frank Smith, George Holsapple and Frank Becker. Interment was in Le Claire cemetery.
--Sue Rekkas
Smith Fuller
Davenport Sunday Democrat
June 12, 1898
Clears up mystery
Pilot Fuller Smith Explains the Low stage of water
George M. Waters, Moline Correspondent of the Waterways Journal, has the following interesting bit of pilot house profanity and philosophy charge up to him.
Moline, Ill., May 30, 1898. Do you Know Fuller Smith? If not, I will introduce him to you: Mr. Editor, Mr. Smith, pilot on the Verne Swain for the last nine years, making two trips a day over the rapids.” Now, there is a sly old fox of a wheel spinner that can juggle a boat and is up to all the tricks. He knows all the little pickets, ct offs and openings to put his boat into and through when the water is low, and in a race he will beat you every time. He is a lovely talker. You should hear the ornamental language he uses, especially when the bridge tender is slow to open the draw.
When a new engineer came on and asked: Mr. Smith, which is your slow bell? He answered: “H--! Got no slow bell! What you want a slow bell for? This boat’s slow enough without running on slow bells. When you get signals, twist the wheel out of her; that’s what you do, Huh! Slow Bells? Nit!”
While coming down yesterday from Hampton on the Swain I was always in the pilot house, and asked Smith about the stage of water. “Water? Got no water! Just had wheels put on her bottom! Can’t you feel her when she runs over the rocks?” “They are moving freight down below.” “No, sir; that’s rocks-hard rocks. As long as they allow street sprinklers and sich to pump the water all out of the river and spread it over the ground, just so long we’ll have low water, Gad! I drove a nigger off up at Le Claire the other day that had his mule down to water, and the next morning he came down to the land and says: “Please Mr. Captain, can let my mule drink out of your river?”