John Halford Suiter
LeClaire Township ~ History of Scott County

John H. Suiter, Le Claire, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Lawrence Co., Ohio, August 15, 1822, and came to Iowa in 1835, with his parents, being 14 years of age. Married Eliza Jane Wright in the Winter of 1842. She was born in Greene Co., Ohio, December 16, 1817.

There was by this union a family of eight children, six living-Anges, born November 16, 1843, John W., born March 18, 1846, Zachariah G., born May 20, 1851; George P., born March 14, 1853, Jeremiah J., born May 24th 1855; William A., born September 29, 1861.

He has 200 acres of land in Scott county, valued at $75.00 per acre. Also has 360 acres in Keokuk County, valued at $20.00 per acre, which is used for grazing. mr. Suiter has been identified with the county nerly half a century, and has seen the various changes which Scott County has undergone.

In politics he is a Democrat. In the fall of 1843 he commenced as pilot on the LeClaire Rapids and followed it until 1875, when he gave it up on account of his landed property.

In 1864, in the time of low water, he was the only pilot that took rafts over the rapids, receiving from $10 to $15 a trip.

Suiter family history