Captain Curtis Scovell Kouns

Source: Times-Picayune – Saturday, Jul 07, 1906, New Orleans, LA, Page:7

Captain Curtis Scovell Kouns, a veteran steamboatman, known and popular for more than forty years in Ohio, the Red River, and the Mississippi navigation, died last evening at his residence on Canal street, near Solomon street, at the age of 55 years, after an illness of nine weeks. He was a native of Ironton, Ohio, and since his fourteenth year, he was connected with the steamboating career.

He clerked and then commanded boats in the Ohio River, and subsequently came down to the Red River, and was captain of boats in that trade. He had charge of such well-known crafts as the John D. Scully, the A.S. Kouns, the Era No. 10, and the Bonnie Lee. Twenty years ago Captain Kouns entered the Mississippi River coasting service and was for a long time commander of the Whisper.

For several years past he was engaged in the Lower Coast Packet trade, and was captain of the Alvin, Neptune, Grover Cleveland, Louise, and latterly of the Dial, plying between New Orleans and Olga.

The deceased was a man of many fine traits of character, genial, generous, kind, and charitable, and the esteem in which he was held was not confined to any particular class but was general.

Captain Kouns married twenty-three years ago, Miss Ada S. Gardner, a native of Liverpool, but a resident of Buffalo, NY.  No children were born to them. He leaves a widow and one brother, Lewis E. Kouns, of Sybene, Ohio, and several relatives in Ohio and a great many friends to mourn his untimely death.

He was a member of the Red River Pilots’ Association and of Corinthian Lodge, F. and A.M. The Masons will conduct the funeral, with Rev. Dr. Hunter, rector of the St. Ann’s Episcopal Church. He will be buried in the tomb of the Red River Pilots’ Association in Masonic Cemetery.