PHILIP SUITER

Born 1 Nov. 1799 , Lawrence Co. Ohio, d. 26 Nov 1884 , DeWitt, Nebraska (buried in LeClaire , Iowa (his home.)

Philip Suiter’s career on the river began early. He left Ohio in 1824 with his wife and 2 children and “paddled his own canoe” down the Ohio and up the Mississippi river to Illinois, where he stayed a few years, then moved on to Scott county, Iowa.

One of the first settlers in LeClaire, he began studying the rapids, learning its cross-currents, locating the rocks, and charting the channel by means of landmarks along the banks such as large trees, buildings, etc.

He soon became recognized as an expert in navigating the rapids, and was the first licensed floating raft pilot in the area. During the season of 1864, the Mississippi was at the lowest ever known in history, and he made a mark in a ledge of rock near his house, which stood on the bank of the river. That mark became the standard gauge for low water mark and was adopted by the government.

Philip was married three times and had twelve children. Several of his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons also became river pilots.