William Schuler

William Schuler recalled that he began driving mules in 1885 when he was about fourteen years old. On trips from Lockport to Chicago, boats traveled against the current and required five husky mules to pull them at about two miles an hour. The mules were lined up one behind the other and connected to the boat by a towrope stretching 300-350 feet, while he walked beside or rode one of the mules along the towpath as a man on the boat steered.

Lockport, Illinois · United States