James Clinton (sternwheeler)

Advertisement for James Clinton Nov. 15, 1856
History
Name:	James Clinton
Owner:	Cochran, Cassady & Co.; James D. Miller; People’s Transportation Co.
Fate:	Destroyed by fire April 23/24, 1861, at Linn City, Oregon
General characteristics
Type:	inland steamship
Length:	90 ft (27.4 m) exclusive of fantail
Beam:	16 ft (4.9 m) exclusive of guards
Depth:	4 ft (1 m) depth of hold
Installed power:	twin steam engines, horizontally mounted, each with bore of 9 in (228.6 mm) and stroke of 4 ft (1.22 m)
Propulsion:	stern-wheel

James Clinton was a steamboat which operated on the upper Willamette River from 1856 to 1861. Although the Clinton was said to have been “not a very good boat.”, it was the first steamer ever to reach Eugene, Oregon. James Clinton was destroyed in April 1861, when a large fire broke out at Linn City, Oregon in a shoreside structure near to where the vessel was moored.

James Clinton was built at Canemah for the Yamhill River trade by Cochran, Cassedy & Co. The boat was designed to go to Dayton and Lafayette, on the Yamhill, during most of the year.

Construction of the steamer was underway by April 5, 1856. The boat was expected to be placed in operation in June 1856.

The builders were Captain Cassidy, Capt. John Gibson, and Capt. Cochran.

The Clinton was launched on July 19, 1856. At that time, the only steamers operating above Willamette Falls were Enterprise and Hoosier.

The James Clinton was 90 feet long, exclusive of the extension over the stern, called the “fantail, on which the stern-wheel was mounted. The boat was driven by twin steam engines, horizontally mounted, each with bore of 9 in (228.6 mm) and stroke of 4 ft (1.22 m).

With the completion of the Clinton in early October 1856, there were now five steamers operating on the Willamette above the falls. In addition to Clinton, there was the sternwheeler Enterprise and the side-wheelers Hoosier, Franklin (ex Minnie Holmes ex Fenix), and Canemah. In addition, a sixth vessel, the sidewheeler Portland was being brought up around the falls.

James Clinton made its trial trip on Monday, October 6, 1856. The initial officers of the boat were: John Cochran, captain; John Boston,clerk; Christopher Sweitzer, pilot; and Willam Cassedy, engineer.