You are correct about the steamboats. The method of passage would depend upon the date in time. My Pinaire family came from LeNans, France to New Oleans on the TALMA in 1846 then I assume by steamboat to Leavenworth, Ind and they setteled near Frenchtown. There were other families from the same area in France who setteled at Frenchtown so we assume that they had planned their destination before leaving France. The first steamboat to make the trip to New Orleans was named the NEW Orleans and made the trip downriver in 1809/1810 but never came back up river but worked several years on the lower MississippI. It was soon after this that there came to be many steamboats.

Prior to steamboats the only method would be to walk or by keel boat, horseback, etc. Flatboats were used to go downriver taking crops and other goods, but they would not come back up river. They would make a flatboat yearly and when they reached New Orleans would sell the boat for lumber and walk or come back by horseback.

Linda Fisher