The Maid of Iowa was a steamboat

Steamboat

A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...

 first owned and captained by Dan Jones (1810-1862). It was first launched in 1842, and was used as a passenger ship on the Mississippi river

Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...

. The boat is best known for transporting British Mormon

Mormon

The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...

 converts to settle in Nauvoo, Illinois

Nauvoo, Illinois

Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...

.

Specifications

Design= Sternwheel steamboat

Weight= 60 tons

Length= 115 feet

Draft= less than two feet

Passenger capacity = 200

Original cost= $4,000

(Givens & Givens p.76)

History

The Maid of Iowa was built and owned by Levi Moffitt and Dan Jones (1810-1862). It was first launched on the Mississippi River

Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...

 in the fall of 1842. Shares of the boat were purchased by Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith was founder of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement or Mormons.Joseph Smith may also refer to:-Latter Day Saints:* Joseph Smith, Sr. , father of Joseph Smith...

 in 1843, for use by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The boat played an important role in the establishment of Nauvoo, Illinois

Nauvoo, Illinois

Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...

 as Mormon converts from abroad landed in New Orleans and journeyed up the Mississippi river to settle in Nauvoo.

The boat was small relative to other steamboats of the time. On one voyage, a large steamboat tried to run the Maid of Iowa off the river, but Captain Jones prevented this by threatening to shoot the pilot of the larger ship. (Garr, Cannon, & Cowan p.694)

The first use of the boat was as a ferry between Nauvoo, Illinois

Nauvoo, Illinois

Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...

 and Montrose, Iowa

Montrose, Iowa

Montrose is a city in Lee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 957 at the 2000 census. The town is located on the Mississippi River. It is part of the Fort Madison–Keokuk, IA-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...

. It was also used to carry freight, such as coal, lumber, lead, military supplies, wheat, corn, and pork. When used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it was also used for pleasure cruises, a church meeting place, and for hauling the workers and supplies for work on the Nauvoo Temple

Nauvoo Temple

The Nauvoo Temple was the second temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as the Mormons. The church's first temple was completed in Kirtland, Ohio, United States in 1836. When the main body of the church was forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois in the...

.

After Joseph Smith was killed, it was sold in 1845 to Peter Hoelting to haul freight on the Fox River (Wisconsin)

Fox River (Wisconsin)

The Fox River is a river in eastern and central Wisconsin in the United States. Along the banks is a chain of cities, including Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Appleton, Little Chute, Kimberly, Combined Locks, and Kaukauna. Except for Oshkosh, these cities refer to themselves as the Fox Cities...

 and Wisconsin River

Wisconsin River

-External links:* * * , Wisconsin Historical Society* * * *...

. It was last reported carrying freight on Soap Creek in Iowa in 1850.