Milwaukee County Wisconsin Genealogy

MILWAUKEE MARINE AND SHIPPING
SHIPWRECKS AND DISASTERS

The following ships were listed in various sources, newspapers 
and publications as having a Milwaukee connection.
This list includes information collected by David D. Swayze, Lake Isabella, MI

A A C TESSLER

Specs: 30t
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

A. B. C. F. M.

formerly J.& A. STRONACH
Specs: 144t
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Date of Loss: check
Place of Loss: off Milwaukee Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: scuttled and abandoned
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details: A B C F M translates to American Board of Foreign Missions.

Detroit Post and Tribune, Aug 17, 1881

The name of the schooner J. & A. Stronach has been changed to A. B. C. F. M., which, translated, means American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions.

A. B. WARD

Official No.: 383
Type of Ship: schooner, wood
Place of Loss: 20 mi NE of Milwaukee
Type/Cause: storm
Cargo: shingles & potatoes
Date Built: 1854
Where Built: Philadelphia, as a tug
Size: 32 t. also listed as 80 t.

A.C. MITCHELL

Specs: 51t
Enrollment:
Date of Loss: yr 1866
Place of Loss: Lake Michigan Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details: Lost in Gale

ADDA

Specs: 273t
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Owner: Cook, Hall & Co.
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

ADELAIDE

CHAMPLAIN
Other names : built as ADELAIDE, later ECLIPSE (or ALLIANCE)
Official no. : none
Type at loss: sidewheel steamer, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info: 1832, Chippawa, Ont. (or 1830)
Specs : 225 t.
Date of loss: 1840, May 3
Place of loss: 4 mi S of St. Joseph, MI
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss: storm
Loss of life: none
Carrying : general merch
Details: She was driven ashore by a storm and wrecked, then abandoned to break up in place, but later recovered and rebuilt. Built in Canada, seized by U.S. officials during the "Patriot War" in 1837 for violation of revenue laws and documented as CHAMPLAIN 4/5/38. Reportedly almost destroyed by a boiler explosion in '30 or 31. 3 lives lost. Also wrecked on L. Mich. in 1847 - see ECLIPSE.

In 1834, schooner ADELAIDE went ashore twenty miles from this city. Total Loss (from History of Milwaukee County 1881)

ADELL

Type at Loss: schooner, wood, 2-mast
Built: 1869, Milwaukee
Specs: 48x12x5, 25 gt. 268t
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Official No.: none
Date of Loss: Nov. 16, 1869
Place of Loss: 1/2 mile below Bay View pier, WI [near Milwaukee]
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost: none
Cargo: unknown
Details: Driven ashore and pounded to pieces. Her skipper, who had his every penny sunk into the craft, was able to salvage her rigging and spars and left them on the beach overnight, only to find all was stolen the next day. Reported completely broken up by the 26th, but one source says she was recovered. Rebuilt , 1862

A. D. PATCHIN

Other names : none
Official no. : none
Type at loss : sidewheel steamer, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info : 1846, J.M. Keating, Truago [Trenton], MI
Specs : 226x29x14, 873 gt. [om]
Date of loss : 1850, Sep 27 [often seen in error as 1853]
Place of loss : Skillagalee Reef
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss : navigational error
Loss of life : none
Carrying : general merchandise
Detail : Though believed to be on course, she was driven 2-3 miles out of line by a current and stranded on Skillagalee Reef. At first not much damaged but thoroughly stuck, she was pounded regularly by a stormy fall and finally broken up by a storm in late November after over two months of concerted efforts to save her. Also stranded in a fog and wrecked N of Racine, Jun 11, 1848.
Re-engined with the powerplant from the wrecked steamer MISSOURI in the winter of 1849-50

ADVANCE

Type at Loss; schooner, wood, bulk freight
Built: 1853, J.M. Jones, Milwaukee
Specs: 119x26x10, 180g 171n
Enrollment: Chicago
Official No.: 365
Owner: Meadowcroft & Co., Chicago
Date of Loss: Sept. 8, 1885
Place of Loss: 10 mi N. of Port Washington, WI
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost: 6 of 7
Cargo: wood
Details: Waterlogged and capsized in a gale and blinding rain. All but one of crew drowned when her yawl capsized in the surf. Captain's son was included in the lost. Hailed from Chicago Major repairs in 1861

See Also Jamison Bio in Marriage section

ADVENTURE

Specs: 8.55t
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

A. EATON

Specs: 14.81t
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

A.E. CLIFFORD

Specs: 41x13x6, 33gt 27nt
Enrollment:
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

AGNES W

Type at Loss: propeller, wood, bulk frieght
Built: 1887, Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee
Specs: 264x38x18 1593g 1165n
Enrollment: Milwaukee as Roswell P. Flower
Official No.: 379
Date of Loss: July 12,1918
Place of Loss: Canada Point, Drummond Isl.
Lake Lost: Huron
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost: ?
Cargo: grain
Details: Stranded on Drummond Island while attempting to enter the St. Mary's R. in a storm. Later pounded to pieces. Also wrecked on a reef near Waugoschance Pt., western Straits of Mackinac, 1892.

A.J. VIEAU

Specs: 44.79t
Enrollment: Chicago
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

ALGOMA

Specs: 106t
Enrollment: Offnum, also Detroit
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

ALICE

Specs: 9t
Enrollment: Chicago
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

ALICE B. NORRIS

Specs: 189x33x13,628gt 597nt
Enrollment: Milwaukee, also Chicago
Date of Loss: yr 1932
Place of Loss: Summer Island
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause: sunk as breakwater
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details: Rebuilt in 1900, Abandoned Sturgeon Bay in 1927.
Raised and towed to Summer Island

ALICE B. NORRIS:
See Lund Bio

ALICE E. WILDS

Official No: 106070
Type of Ship: propeller, wood, bulk freight
Place of Loss: 16 miles off Milwaukee
Type/Cause: collision
Cargo: lumber
More details:
Date Built: 1883
Builder: J. Oades
Where Built: Detroit
Size: 136x28x11, 293g 236n

ALLEGHENY

Official No: engine put into 379
Type of Ship: propeller, wood
Built: 1856, J.M. Jones, Milwaukee
Specs: 167x29x14 402g 267n [601 t. om]
Date of Loss: Oct. 29, 1896
Owner: American Transportation Co.
Place of Loss: at Milwaukee (listed as Summer Isl.)
Type/Cause: storm
Cargo: gen. merchandise, passengers
Details:
Anchored near the Milw. harbor entrance to seek shelter. Was unable to get steam up and was helpless. She was dragged close to the beach and was pounded to pieces.

She was dismanted and her cargo unloaded by the end of the month. The engine was installed in a new vessel of the same name built over the following winter to replace her. Owned by American Transportation Co.

ALMA

Type at loss: scow-schooner, wood, 2-mast
Built: 1887, H.S. Downer, Milwaukee
Specs: 57x16x3, 26g 25n
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Official No: 106517
Date of Loss: May 18, 1892
Place of Loss: near Bradford Beach, just north of Milwaukee
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost: none of 3
Cargo: gravel
Details: Driven into shallows, capsized and later sank in 15-20 feet of water. Her crew clung to her upturned hull for several hours until rescued by the fishing schooner PRINCE. Owned by A. Wronsted Roofing Co. of Milwaukee.

ANGELINE

Official No: prob none
Type of Ship: schooner, wood
Place of Loss: off North Point, Milwaukee
Type/Cause: storm
Cargo: ?
More details: An old man named "Daft," jumped overboard to swim
in to shore and was lost. The tug DAVIDSON and a volunteer crew
from the schooner NORWAY rescued the skipper.
Date Built: unknown
Builder:
Where Built: unknown
Size: 44 t.

Detroit Free Press, December 19, 1866
1866 disasters May
Schooner Angeline, ashore near Milwaukee; cargo lumber;
vessel and cargo lost.

Detroit Free Press, December 22, 1866
Vessels Passed out of Commission in 1866
Schooner Angeline, wrecked near Milwaukee; total loss, with one life.

Detroit Free press December 25, 1866
Loss of Lives
Charles Daft, seaman, drowned by the wrecking of schooner
Angeline, at Milwaukee.

ANGUS SMITH

Specs: 188x32x12,580t
Enrollment: Cleveland
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details: Abandoned Feb. 18 1910

ANNIE M. PETERSON

Detroit Post and Tribune, 16 Oct, 1883

ALL MATES
The schooner ANNIE M. PETERSON arrived in port Wednesday, says the Milwaukee Wisconsin, and in the afternoon the captain left the vessel, leaving a full crew on board. The jolly skipper met many friends and formed a number on new acquaintances during the afternoon, including several parties in quest of new employment. Before nightfall he had engaged three mates and two cooks, sending each aboard the schooner. The result was that on the return of the commander in the evening the vessel had five mates and three cooks. A conflict of authority followed, which at one time bade fair to terminate seriously. Upon the appearance of the captain the anxious candidates excitedly exclaimed in chorus, "Who is to be mate?" "We are all mates, my lads." Replied the skipper, "I couldn't spare any of you." The attention of a policeman was called to the matter and the officer repaired to the scene with the idea that trouble could ensue, but the utmost good nature prevailed. Yesterday the captain paid each of the five extra men one day's wages, $3, and they departed for shore well satisfied with the result of the captain's queer whim.

APPOMATTOX

Official No: 107236
Type of Ship: propeller, wood, bulk freight
Place of Loss: on North Point, near Milwaukee
Type/Cause: fog
Cargo: coal
More details: She was lost in a series of storms. Her
boilers were salvaged by Reid Wrecking and sat on a dock
at Milwaukee until 1922. Her engine is still in place.
Her loss made cause to uild new lighthouse on North Pt.
Date Built: 1896
Builder: Jas. Davidson
Where Built: W. Bay City, MI hull #77
Size: 320x42x23 2643g 2082n

APPRENTICE BOY

Specs: 118x26x9 208t
Enrollment:
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details: Still in operation as of 1899

ARCADIA

Type at loss: propeller, wood, bulk freight
Built: 1888, Milwaukee Ship Yard, Milwaukee
Specs: 119x26x9 230g 147n
Official No.: 106552
Date of Loss: April 12, 1907
Location of Loss: A few miles off Big Sable Point

St. Joseph Evening Herald, (St. Joseph, MI)

Manistee, Mich., April 23 - The wooden lumber barge Arcadia, which left this port on April 12 for Two Rivers, undoubtedly has been lost in Lake Michigan, with its Captain and owner, Harry May, and is wife and twelve other persons.

Marine men here have given the vessel up as lost and would not be surprised to hear that the wreck was caused by a boiler explosion. Some hold the theory that it went down as the result of the big storm of April 11.

The Arcadia was a wooden steamer 119 feet in length, 26 feet beam, and 9 feet draft, registering 230 tons, and was built in Milwaukee in 1888.

ARROW

Official No: 372
Type of Ship: schooner, wood
Place of Loss: 6 miles from Milwaukee, off Winnetka
Type/Cause: storm
Cargo: lumber
More details:
Date Built: 1857(or 59)
Builder: Geo. Hardison
Where Built: Erie, PA
Size: (281 t) 190 t.

ARTHUR

Specs: 119x26x9 230g 147n
Enrollment:
Date of Loss: April 12, 1907
Place of Loss: A few miles off Big Sable Point
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost: 14 (all)
Cargo: cargo

Details: Broke up and went down in a storm; exact cause unknown, but thought to have succumbed to a boiler explosion. Bound Manistee for Two Rivers, WI. A large quantity of wreckage came ashore near Pentwater, MI, the 17th. Owned by Capt. H. May of Arcadia, MI, the port which she was built for and had served for 19 years. Arcadia - Wooden bulk freight steamer of 230t. and 118 ft., launched at Milwaukee in 1888. Lake Michigan: Several contradictory reports exist concerning the loss of this steamer in a storm at Big Sable Point, Michigan, in 1907. The number of lives lost is reported as 4, 9, or 10, the date as April 11, April 23 or sometime in January, and the ship is said to have either foundered or gone aground and broken up in place.

ASHTABULA

Official No: 367
Type of Ship: schooner, wood, 2-mast
Place of Loss: off North Point, Milwaukee
Type/Cause: storm
Cargo: oil,salt, misc package frt
More details: Crew saved by tug STARKE BROS. Damaged and
one life lost in a collision, Nov 20, 1871. Major repairs
in 1862,1871,1872,1878.
Date Built: 1852
Builder: Geo. Thayer
Where Built: Ashtabula, OH
Size: 90x21x8, 95 t.

A.W. LAWRENCE

Official No: 105948
Type of Ship: propeller steam tug, wood
Place of Loss: off North Point, near Milwaukee
Type/Cause: explosion
Cargo: none
More details:
Date Built: 1880
Builder: Capt. J. Gregory
Where Built: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Size: 72x16x9, 51g 24n