Biography
He started his career in Mississippi River boats becoming a Master Mariner.
He moved to San Francisco in 1850 for the goldrush. There being few opportunities remaining there he travelled to the Columbia River becoming master of the Lot Whitcom. running between Astoria and Oregon City.
In 1855 he was a partner withJacob Kamm in the ownership of the Jennie Clark and the Carrie Ladd (steam ships operating in the Columbia River system).
He was one of the founders of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company in 1860.
He opened up the Fraser River to American steamboats in 1858 with the Umatilla.
He organized transportation into the Kootenay placer mining fields.
He had a financial interest with G.B. Wright in building the Eagle Pass waggon road in 1883.
He had an interest with Simeon Reed in the CPR construction east of Kamloops.
He was the President of the Oregon Steam Navigation Co. running a fleet of steamers up the Columbia River to Wallula. After its sale in 1879 he moved from Portland OR to Oakland CA.
In 1883 he became a principal in the Columbia & Kootenay Railway & Navigation Co. His first wife died and he married secondly raising another family of six children, many of whom lived in Portland OR.
Vessels Owned / Designed
Jennie Clark (1855 with Jacob Kamm); Carrie Ladd (1858 with Jacob Kamm);
Search for vessels associated with Ainsworth →
References
- Affleck, Edward L. (1978)
- Francis, Dan (Ed.) (2000)
- Wright, E.W. (ed.) (1895 reprinted 1967)
- Affleck, Edward L. (2000)
