Your source was probably CABELL'S CANAL by Langhorne Gibson, Jr., Commodore
Press, Richmond, 2000.

In 2004 there should be another book with material on Charles Ellett, Jr.:
canal historian Gibson Hobbs is finishing a book about engineering on the
James River & Kanawha Canal.

In 1835 Ellett was in charge of building the canal between Tye River and
Lynchburg. He became Chief Engineer of the entire canal in 1836 but was
fired in 1839, the result of a personality conflict with Joseph Cabell,
president of the JR&K Company. Ellett's wife had warned him not to be "too
dictatorial."  Cabell arranged to have him replaced and stopped paying him
but didn't tell him until later, getting some free work out of him.

Bill Trout, VC&NS, www.batteau.org

----- Original Message -----
From: "Randy Cabell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2003 2:32 PM
Subject: Charles Ellett & The James River Canal


I am putting the finishing touches on a public statement next Wednesday in
Lovingston, and in regard to Nelson-County History, I want to reference that
Charles Ellett had something to do with building the James River Kanahwa
Canal.  Somewhere in the black hole that passes for my filing system, I
recall a statement that he was chief engineer for the section of the canal
between the Tye River (New Market) and Lynchburg, then fell out with the
management and quit.

BUT I cannot put my finger on where I read this.  Can anybody confirm or
deny the story for me?

Randy Cabell

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