Chapter 16Captain Manning of the Regale, the flagship of John McClellan's maritime empire, nudged his mare forward as he neared Seagrove. The Choctaw Port as his boss called it fit his homespun description. The small town of Genoa sprang up from the wilderness and became a bustling center of activity around a town square located at the four-mile landing. Houses built on stilts dotted the coastal waterfront. The Captain knew John's family owned a sawmill and had grown rich supplying building materials for settlements along the coast. The McClellan's were the driving force behind the growth of Genoa. New settlers moved into the area and used their expertise to found new businesses. A much-needed livery and blacksmith shop sprang up across from Lawrence mercantile store to serve the influx of
