J.W. Whitlock & The Hoosier Boy

J.W. Whitlock and The Hoosier Boy. . J.W. Whitlock was one of Rising Sun's prominent citizens in the late 1800s until his death in 1935. A man of many talents, J.W. had his own band, “Row's Band.” He manufactured his patented Automatic Harps (one can be seen at the Historical Museum), and chairs, but what he enjoyed most was building and racing boats., He began racing in 1907 and raced a variety of crafts that be built. He is best known for racing the Hoosier Boy. It was in the fourth Hoosier Boy that J.W. set a speed record on the Ohio River that still stands today. The Hoosier Boy had recorded speeds of 62 miles an hour on October 9, 1924. He wanted to establish a record of a mile à minute., On a swollen, debris-filled Ohio River, J.W. set out from Cincinnati to Louisville and back again. He completed the round trip distance of 267 miles in 267 minutes and 49 seconds. He had the official speed record, but he did not attain his goal. Upon arriving in Cincinnati he only waved to the cheering crowd. Instead, he returned to Rising Sun. If he had stopped, his boat would have sunk due to a hole from one of the many floating branches., The fifth Hoosier Boy, built in 1926, is housed at the Historical Museum. This was the last in the line of Hoosier Boy boats built and raced by J.W. In 1927, J.W. was going to race against an airplane near Laughery Island when the plane crashed, killing two boys aboard the plane. The deaths of the boys deeply affected him., [Captions (top to bottom)] , . The Hoosier Boy that set the speed record on the Ohio River, circa 1924. , . One of the early Hoosier Boys. Two mechanics rode with J.W. Whitlock during races, circa 1910. , . Docked at the Hoosier Boy's home is the Kittie Whitlock. In back of the home is The Greyhound. J.W.'s father owned the Kittie Whitlock. Circa 1910.