You state the builder as unknown. The builder of the
Lizzie Simmons was Dohrman & Humphries at New Albany, IN. I have attached a sketch of her. In appearance she looks much like the
Buckeye State, the machinery of which went into the
Red Rover hospital ship. Captain George H. Kirk contracted with them to build the
Lizzie Simmons in March 1859. She was launched 16 July 1859 at the yard in New Albany. There's a good article on her in the newspaper
Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock, AR, Sunday, July 31, 1904, p. 5. Who did the drawings you enclosed? She was named after Elizabeth "Lizzie" Tatum from Autauga County, Alabama. Lizzie married John T Simmons 12 January 1848 in Autauga County, Alabama. They were living in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana when the boat was named after her. Dr. J. T. Simmons died in a boiler explosion on the maiden voyage of the new steam ferry between Monroe and Trenton 12 April 1867 at age 42. Lizzie Simmons married Alexander Lazare on 18 December 1871 in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. She died 17 July 1892 (aged 61)
. The boat was purchased from Kirk on 5 November 1861 for $65,000 (voucher attached). If you want any of this info, let me know at
[email protected] and give me an email address to send it to as it's too much for this blog. Yes, my email indicates I served aboard the USS Bushnell (AS-15) in '63. She was the 2nd submarine tender named after David Bushnell who as most know made the Turtle, the first submarine (Oaken barrel) to attack an enemy ship during the Revolutionary War. Enough of my babbling.
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