Life aboard the Canal Barges was a difficult one and many of the chores were conducted aboard by the wife and mother, as this was a family affair.  All members of the family had important roles aboard.  The man would be in charge of the animals and managed the entire operation, mother had hard chores in addition to house holding, children piched in and often acted as the "hoggee", driving the mules along the Towpath.

President Garfield worked as a "hoggee" as a boy.