Early 1900s Archive of Diaries of a Cincinnati, Ohio Riverboat Captain Who Served in WWI and Went on to Work in Commercial Cargo Shipping

On offer are four diaries of a riverboat captain that include notes on WWI Service and US Army service at sea. 

The author of these diaries is Captain Lewis Bolton (sometimes Boltin) Reade (1902-1970) of Cincinnati, Ohio. Lewis was the only child of Reverend Charles Reade and Nora (Boltin) Reade. He attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT class of 1923, though records indicate he only finished one year of schooling. He was  recorded as having worked as a “pilot master” in 1940, and it does not appear that he ever married or had children. 

The first volume is a pocket notebook. From context, we expect that this notebook was kept in either 1917 or 1918, and again in 1922. Reade identifies himself as a Corporal, assigned to Battalion Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 147th USNG. This Battalion was raised in October, 1917 through the amalgamation of several other Ohio National Guard units. The 147th went on to serve in Europe, participating in actions at Ypres and the Sheldt.

His notes contain detailed points about the use of chlorine gas. After 20 pages, he begins a new section simply labeled Temporary Diary. This appears to date to 1922, during World War I. From context, it is clear that he is now working on a riverboat, transporting cargo and at times passengers on the Ohio River – Mississippi River systems. There are several pages missing from the beginning of the notebook. An excerpt from the Temporary Diary follows: 

“Shipped on Str (steamer) Greenwood for Charleston and Return. Possibility of steady job. We towed [?] to Pt. Pl…Smith Gilham Mitchell Fleishchman Davis down with coal. In mine mill shute formed large sunk cross ways and partly in channel. Hatfield barge. Davis had a time passing it, so did we. Steered Greenwood first time alone 35. Old man Greene on boat, Chapman in command, Pres Ellion back again, Charlie…lead engineer. Do not seem to eat as long on here or on the Chris. On watch 6-11. Went off at Pt. Pleasant…” [Tues, Nov 28]. 

The notebook details daily life on this great river system and the many tasks that filled his day from Nov 28 through Dec 13. It also references a number of ports.

The second diary covers the year 1923. On Jan 2nd, Reade notes that he reported on board the USS General John McE Hyde [SEE BIO  NOTES FOR MORE ON THIS SHIP].  As Hyde was delivered to the War Department in December of 1922 and Reade joined her on Jan 2nd , where she was launched in Charleston WV, he was likely part of the commissioning crew. Early in the 1923 diary, he records the following:

“Shipped on the U.S.S. General John McE. Hyde. Captain Ray Johnson in command. Ran down to PO. Pleasant and lay there all night. Hit bank owing to steering gear carrying away” [Jan 25]. 

His entries record daily shipboard life and experiences:

“Fell in river in afternoon. Swamped yawl. Went to other ship to get warm. Reported drowned. My friends started looking for me below the barges. Engineer and I with Bob and Sydney bailed and launched yawl. Still here. Bos’n in trouble with Cook. Bos’n fired. I am promoted!” [Feb 18]. 

“Shipped another man. Crossed river to same dock we landed at on March 7. Up town. No mail. Very homesick for about a week. Put one ton of ice on board. No mail” [Apr 24]. 

By the time he begins his two 1930 diaries, Reade is working full-time on commercial cargo boats working the rivers in the Ohio River and Mississippi River basins. These river systems were and continue to be major transportation routes for cargo in the United States. In 1930, it appears that he had two diaries. Both begin in January. One seems to have been started and kept for about 10 days in January. Entries stopped on Jan 25th. At the same time, he was keeping a daily log of his movements in a 2nd diary. Quite possibly, he decided that he would only maintain the one record. These two diaries together give a detailed description of his life on the river. Each entry records waypoints passed during the day and total miles covered.

His last entry is Oct 22nd. It reads simply “The Ax”. One can assume that he was let go from his job, possibly with the onset of winter. From death records, we know that obtained the rank of Captain, most likely in the U.S. Merchant Navy. 

For a historian or geographer, these diaries offer an excellent level of detail to the shipping industry and life on America’s great inland water systems.

The diaries range in size from 5.75x3 inches to 7.5x4.75 inches. The covers, binding and pages are all in Good to Fair condition. The 1922 WWI diary contains 112 pages and is 25% complete, the 1923 diary contains 365 pages and is 40% complete. The brief 1930 diary contains 365 pages and is 10% complete. The consistent 1930 diary contains 220 pages and is 85% complete. 

BIO NOTES: 

The General John McE. Hyde was a ferry boat built for the War Department by Charles Ward Engineering Works. The ferry was assigned to provide transportation services among the military facilities. Upon commissioning in 1922, she was transferred to the U.S. Army and served with the prefix USAT (United States Army Transport). In WWII, she was transferred to Manila where she was sunk in enemy action in December 1941.