The J.M. Hannaford was a steam-powered stern-wheeler that played an important role in the construction of the railroad up the Clearwater River. It was built in Spalding by the Idaho and Washington Transportation Company, a Northern Pacific Subsidiary, according to the book Clearwater Steam, Steel & Spirit. J.M. Hannaford and J.W. Kendrick were principle stockholders. Sixteen men began construction of the boat in the winter of 1898 and by late January had it ready for service with the contractor building the railroad.

J.M. Hannaford is shown in Lewiston at the port. (Photo from Clearwater Steam, Steel & Spirit, courtesy of the Nez Perce County Historical Society)

The double stacks and open guards gave it a distinctive look more like those used on the Mississippi rather than the Columbia and Snake. It was 169 feet long and weighed 746 tons. It could carry 300 tons of cargo. Captain Harry Baughman was at the helm during the work on the Clearwater.

A newspaper article of the time said the Hannaford was able to handle all the upriver traffic, both on and off the reservation to Kooskia.

In John Bradbury's history of Clearwater County series, he says though it was built for the Clearwater, it only took four trips there. It was later used on the Snake River.

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