James B. Eads

"James B. Eads" by Louis How is a 19th-century biography that follows the remarkable journey of James B. Eads, a celebrated engineer who revolutionized the Mississippi River. The narrative begins by painting a vibrant picture of his modest upbringing in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and his family's move to St. Louis. The story vividly recounts Eads's innate fascination with machinery as a child, including his own model steam engine, and the self-driven path he took to becoming an engineer. The book highlights his perseverance and inventiveness, focusing on his early professional life using his diving-bell business, leading to his groundbreaking contributions to American infrastructure, most notably his advancements in bridge construction and river navigation, including foreshadowing the Eads Bridge.