LeClaire in Scott County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Horton-Suiter House
LeClaire Pilot's Houses
— Scott County Cody Trail —
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 2023
1. The Horton-Suiter House Marker
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.
Location. 41° 35.862′ N, 90° 20.706′ W. Marker is in LeClaire, Iowa, in Scott County. Marker is at the intersection of North 2nd Street and Wisconsin Street, on the right when traveling south on North 2nd Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 108 N 2nd St, Le Claire IA 52753, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The George Tromley, Jr. House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); LeClaire City Hall (about 600 feet away); The Jacob Suiter House (about 600 feet away); Green Tree / Buffalo Bill Trail (about 600 feet away); LeClaire's Rapid Pilots (about 700 feet away); LeClaire Veterans Monument (about 700 feet away); Buffalo Bill Museum (about 700 feet away); The Samuel Van Sant House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in LeClaire.
Regarding The Horton-Suiter House. Excerpt from the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the house:
A 1˝-story frame“cottage”, built c. 1860, and set on a raised lot surrounded by a stone retaining wall. House is five bays across the front, with a low-pitched gable roof with ridge parallel to the front facade. The center en trance is sheltered by a small porch supported by slender turned posts. There is a large triangular roof dormer centered above the entrance. A later addition is a one-story section, with slanted roof, on the northeast corner.
Click or scan to see
this page online
The house is believed to have been built for Henry Horton, who worked as an engineer on raft steamers. It was later occupied by James Suiter (1878-1966), one of the last of the Le Claire rapids pilots, who supported his river income by working as a mortician during the winter months when the river was frozen.
Henry A. Horton (1844-1910), a Pennsylvania native, moved to Le Claire when he was 10 years old. He worked as a marine engineer his entire life. Suiter retired in 1943 after being master and pilot of the “Ellen,” a government steamboat with a crew of 22.
Also see . . . Horton-Suiter House (PDF). National Register of Historic Places documentation of the house, which was listed in 1979 as part of the Houses of Mississippi River Men Thematic Resource submittal. (National Archives) (Submitted on August 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 8, 2023
2. The Horton-Suiter House Marker
Unknown via The Buffalo Bill Museum (Public Domain)
3. James Suiter (1878-1966)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 56 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 8, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
