Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
DIAMOND JO LINE: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
The company was named for [[REYNOLDS, Joseph "Diamond Jo"|Joseph "Diamond Jo" REYNOLDS]], a prosperous businessman who made fortunes in milling, tanning, [[RAILROADS]], [[MINING]], and shipping. The origin of his name, often the source of wild stories, came from his habit of surrounding his name Jo, for Joseph, with four lines suggesting a diamond. Another name remembered for his connection to the company was Captain [[KILLEEN, John F.|John F. KILLEEN]]. | The company was named for [[REYNOLDS, Joseph "Diamond Jo"|Joseph "Diamond Jo" REYNOLDS]], a prosperous businessman who made fortunes in milling, tanning, [[RAILROADS]], [[MINING]], and shipping. The origin of his name, often the source of wild stories, came from his habit of surrounding his name Jo, for Joseph, with four lines suggesting a diamond. Another name remembered for his connection to the company was Captain [[KILLEEN, John F.|John F. KILLEEN]]. | ||
Reynolds | Reynolds felt that he had been treated badly by other business interests along the Mississippi. In 1860 he began his business buying grain, hides, and furs. His business expanded so quickly that he thought it necessary to have his own boats. In 1862 he purchased the steamer, "Lansing." Before he had operated it for long, the Minnesota Packet Company operating between Dubuque and St. Paul convinced Reynolds to sell them the boat while promising him that is business would be treated fairly. Before the end of the season, he found these promises to be worthless. Reynolds retaliated during the winter of 1862-1863 by constructing he steamer "Diamond Jo" and the barges "Fleming" and "Conger. | ||
Nine years later the building in Dubuque was constructed as the main office of the Diamond Jo Steamers. Originally the company was primarily involved in transporting grain. As this declined, transporting passengers took on greater importance. | |||
In 1911 the company was sold to the Streckfus Company. | In 1911 the company was sold to the Streckfus Company. | ||
Revision as of 03:10, 12 May 2010
DIAMOND JO LINE. In December 1977, the former Diamond Jo Boat Store and Office, now property of Inland Molasses Company at Jones and Terminal STREETS, was added to the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. The building, which once had an office at the end facing the river and a steamboat warehouse behind it, is the only remaining building in Dubuque traceable to one of America's great steamboat companies.
The company was named for Joseph "Diamond Jo" REYNOLDS, a prosperous businessman who made fortunes in milling, tanning, RAILROADS, MINING, and shipping. The origin of his name, often the source of wild stories, came from his habit of surrounding his name Jo, for Joseph, with four lines suggesting a diamond. Another name remembered for his connection to the company was Captain John F. KILLEEN.
Reynolds felt that he had been treated badly by other business interests along the Mississippi. In 1860 he began his business buying grain, hides, and furs. His business expanded so quickly that he thought it necessary to have his own boats. In 1862 he purchased the steamer, "Lansing." Before he had operated it for long, the Minnesota Packet Company operating between Dubuque and St. Paul convinced Reynolds to sell them the boat while promising him that is business would be treated fairly. Before the end of the season, he found these promises to be worthless. Reynolds retaliated during the winter of 1862-1863 by constructing he steamer "Diamond Jo" and the barges "Fleming" and "Conger.
Nine years later the building in Dubuque was constructed as the main office of the Diamond Jo Steamers. Originally the company was primarily involved in transporting grain. As this declined, transporting passengers took on greater importance.
In 1911 the company was sold to the Streckfus Company.
