Captain John MacKenzie, a resident of Fulton, and Master of steamer “Silver Wave,” of the Van Sant & Musser line, plying between Stillwater, Minn., and Muscatine, Iowa, is a native of Whiteside Co. Ill., being born in the town of Ustick, July 3, 1850. His parents, John and Margaret (Ritchie) McKenzie, were born in the Highlands of Scotland and came to this county in 1843.

 John was reared on his father’s farm, and when 18 years of age, or in 1868, he engaged as a deck hand on a Mississippi River steamer. Before the expiration of two years he had qualified himself fo the position of pilot, and siled as such. In 18–he purchased a third interest in the steamer “Wm. White: and became her Captain. He afterwards built and commanded the steamer “Eclipse.” He sold out his steamboat interests in the spring of 1883, since which time he has sailed the “Sam Atlee” and the “Silver Wave.”

Capt. MacKenzie was married near Creston, Iowa, Dec. 14, 1880, to Miss Abbie E. Devore, daughter of John and Josephine (Smith) Devore. Mrs. MacKenzie was born near Mr. Carroll, Carroll Co., Ill.

The Captain is a staunch Prohibitionist, of Republican antecedents. He is Chairman of the Prohibition County Committee, and was the Prohibition candidate for Representative in the late campaign. He is a member of Fulton City Lodge, No. 189, A.F.& A.M. Mrs. MacKenzie is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Captain MacKenzie has worked up through all grades of a boatman’s duties from the lowest to the highest, and has long been classed among the most popular and skillful of the Mississippi steamboat Captains. He has made his home at Fulton, Ill. Since 1881.

Transcribed from the Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County - 1885 pps 338-339