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Subject: Piatt's Landing
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2004 22:01:03 EDT

I had the pleasure of spending some time at ACPL last Saturday and took the
opportunity to browse through _A Storeboat on the Ohio River, 1838-1840_ by
Jonathan Newman Hamilton. This book was originally typed up from Jonathan
Newman Hamilton's diary manuscript by Covington Williams of St. Charles, IL, a
descendent, and "mimeographed for the family" in 1960.

To my delight, it contained two references to Piatt's Landing. This was, I
believe, located near Rabbit Hash in Boone County, Kentucky, and a Ferry was
operated between Piatt's Landing and Rising Sun, Indiana, across the river.
Piatt's held the license to operate this Ferry in 1875 and 1899 (at least).

On page 13 Mr. Hamilton's diary says, "Drew out at 3 o'clock - ran down to
Mr. (Senior) Piatt's Landing on Ky. shore. Poor landing, water shallow and
snaggy - River quite low. Fine brick house on the bank in which Mr. P. lives.
M., as usual, went to run down customers. Five families within a short distance
- a number of blacks. Quite a number called but none bought anything. Have
a little store just above the landing kept by a moor, a boyish looking fellow.
Sold only 75 cents worth . . ."

On page 44 Mr. Hamilton is summing up the activity of several months:
"Stayed about 2 months at Rising Sun. Stopped and traded at Peat's Landing -
Patriot - Warsaw - Ghent - Carrol and Milton. Left Milton on Saturday evening, the
17th of October, 1840 - ran down to Hanover Landing to lay over Sabbath.
Concluded to recommence my diary. Therefore, will date recommenced from next
page."

Beth Lauer

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