This is a Kentucky Boat, the form of transportation most
 early settlers used to get to Maysville.  After reaching Maysville,
it was common to set them adrift, or sell them, cheaply, for the timber.

Cincinnati's Fort Washington was built out of boats from Maysville, here.

 

The Aberdeen Ferry

 

   

left, River Boat and Aerial View of Maysville
right, Steamers Ben Hur and the Courier
More Ben Hur pics are here, while more Courier pics are here.

 

The Steamer Homer Smith Excursion Boat, Maysville 
Thanks! to Regina Stewart for the above image.
Lots more shots of the Homer Smith are here.

 

 

The Steamer "Courier", 
 between Cincinnati, Ohio and Maysville, Kentucky
More on the Courier, here.

 

 

left, Wharf Boat, Maysville
right, The Steamer Ben Hur
more on the Ben Hur, here.

 

Floating Theatre in Maysville

 

River Scene near Chester, circa 1875

 

Launching on the Ohio River

 

The South Ripley Ferry - the Proctor Smiley

 

The Ripley Ferry
The W. S. Taylor

 

The Ferry to Ripley, Ohio
The Proctor K. Smiley
More on the Proctor K. Smiley, here.

"We learn from the Maysville Eagle that a judgment for some $1500 was obtained against the steamer Bostona in the Lewis Circuit Court last week for having taken off a slave belonging to Mrs. Eshom.  The law of common carriers, always strict and severe when enforced, bears quite hard in this case, but it will make steamboats more careful as to whom they allow to travel with them."  from the Covington Journal, December 22, 1855

"The ferry boats Gretna Green and Frank S. Owens met with quite an accident a few days since by being cut loose from the wharf by the the ice, and drifted down the river four miles, and in the drifting, had the guards and sides town away, loss sustained at $600.  No Insurance." from the Newport Local, 1-2-1879.

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