Does anyone have information on the early ferry activity in Wapello County? I am interested in general information on the early ferry history and would appreciate suggestions for sources that may speak to the subject. I am also interested in the identity of the "first" ferrymen. I found the following short entry in the History of Wapello County, Volume I, published 1914: "[A] man by the name of Martin ran the first ferry." This was the only reference to the ferry activities or ferryman of early Wapello County. Does anyone have an idea who this Martin was? Thank you. Vicky

I checked through some information I have and could not find a reference to a ferry owned by a person named MARTIN. That is, perhaps, not unusual. At one time there were as many as four ferries running on the Des Moines River between Ottumwa and what was then Port Richmond (later part of South Ottumwa and now simply part of the city of Ottumwa). It seems that the ferry locations were later the same places where bridges were constructed. There was a ferry in the general area of the Vine Street bridge, the Market Street bridge, and a ferry went to Turkey Island. The ferries were the only means to cross the river until the 1870s. However the first totally permanent bridge was not constructed until 1892. The earliest ferry owner that I can find was Tay Sinnamon in 1852, however there was more than likely someone prior to that. The Richmond ferry went from Port Richmond to Central Addition, then to Wapello and Main streets. The Richmond ferry was purchased by John Overman and is still known to many as the Overman Ferry. The ferry by Turkey Island was owned by a man named Ford. I don't know much else about him. Bill Hansen Ottumwa, Iowa