Daniel Able, who Samuel Clemens knew from Hannibal, was  the
owner and captain of the John H. Dickey, a steamboat for which
Samuel worked as steersman several months after the death
of his brother, Henry.  Sam's mind was filled with recriminations
about his part in the circumstances causing Henry's death.  He
felt that it would not have occurred had he done things differently.
After Henry's death Sam wanted to continue working on the
river and still be in close touch with his family in St. Louis.
The Dickey, a packet on the Memphis-St. Louis run would permit
him to do so.
Captain Able was someone that Sam respected; he had
commanded his first steamboat when he was Sam's age.
Sam became more confident and started writing again; articles
about the captain, the boat and the city of Memphis, a city
he never forgot because of its kindnessto Henry.  In October,
1858 Sam followed Captain Able to the White Cloud which
replaced the Dickey on the Memphis-St. Louis run.  Samuel
Bowen, Will Bowen's brother, was the pilot.
In 1851 Dan Able made the historic trip of taking the Anthony
Wayne up the Mississippi River to the falls of St. Anthony in
Minneapolis.  It was the first time that a steamboat had ascended
that far north on the Mississippi.
In 1862 the John H. Dickey exploded 10 miles above Ste.
Genevieve, Missouri killing Captain Henry Eaton (Block 76,
Lot 260).  John H. Dickey, for whom the steamer was named,
is also interred in Bellefontaine Cemetery (Block 51, Lot 880)
which is next to the Ethan Allen Hitchcock lot.
Dan Able is interred in the Bellefontaine Cemetery-Block 116,
Lot 1139).   Dan Able (1827-1908).









Main image is taken from my own personal cd
collection and the information that is on the
following pages have been researched through
genealogy links and the Bellefontaine Cemetery
listings.
This set is NOT linkware and is NOT to leave
this site by any means.
Thanks.....Fiddlinsue a.k.a. Suzanne