Daily Democrat Tribune

Jefferson City, Missouri

9 May 1913

Uncle Ben Adams, about 74 years of age and a pilot on the Missouri river for almost 30 years, died last night at 9 o'clock at St. Mary's hospital after an illness of several weeks. His illness was due to a complication of diseases incident to old age. He was removed to the hospital about three weeks ago.

He was born in Callaway county and spent his early life on a farm near Cedar City. When he was about twenty years of age he began to work on the steamboats which were plying the Missouri river between St. Louis and Kansas City.

By hard work and close attention to his duties, Uncle Ben succeeded in qualifying as a pilot and during a period of over twenty five years he was the best known riverman on the Missouri river. He made a number of trips to Fort Benton, Mont., the head of navigation on the Missouri river. The "Nadine," "Fannie Louis" and "Metamora" were some of the steamboats that he piloted between St. Louis and Omaha. L.C. Lohman was captain of the latter boat and he took a load of cargo to St. Joseph on it in '77. Other well known pilots of those days were Wm. Miller, cousin of the present police judge, Geo. B. Miller, Ed and Wm. Postal and the Herendon brothers.

"Uncle Ben" was the only licensed pilot in this part of the State and only recently renewed his license with the Steamboat Pilots' Association of St. Louis. He has not worked actively since about 1886. The last few years of his work on the river was in piloting the ferry boats at this place before the bridge was built.

Those were palmy days for the pilots when the steamboats were the only means of transportation along the Missouri river. Pilots, who had proven themselves skillful would receive $500 per month during the entire year. "Uncle Ben" was said to be acquainted with every turn and sand bar in the river between St. Louis and Omaha. He amassed a small fortune during that time but died penniless.

The only relatives surviving him are two cousins, Mrs. Phil Chappel and Mrs. Jack Smith of Kansas City.

The funeral will take place Saturday morning at 10 o'clock from the undertaking parlors of Vaughan-Stampfli-Oliver. Interment will be in City cemetery at the site of his wife, who died about 15 years ago.