George...
you are definitely right...a needle in a BIG haystack! The only way to get any information on the "Captain" in question is to find his NAME mentioned somewhere...there were Soooooooo many of them! And, Lloyd's list is far from complete! It is only a one-year listing. Pilots had to renew their licenses every three years I believe. Not sure off the top of my head just what the time frame was on Engineers. And, despite licensing regulation (passed by Congress in 1852), many of the pilots and engineers on the smaller rivers (like the Osage) were never "licensed". They all learned their craft by apprenticing to experienced personnel...like Mark Twain did...and some of them avoided the government regulation. In fact, they considered the government's rules as an intrusive and unnecessary regulation of their industry, and resented the interference . (It reminds me of how truckers today feel about DOT regulations! lol)

I still think the most likely place that might provide a clue to this captain's identity would be a local newspaper of the time when he left Illinois to go south.

I really do wish Dexter lots of luck...he will definitely need it! I hope he will post when he finds the information! I find quests of this type to be quite a challenge! lol

In fact, I'm looking for information on William F. Townes, an Osage River pilot after the war. Trying to find out what boats he worked aboard.
Anyone know of him????

Maggie
"steamboat granny"