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

JAMES DEMPSEY

Type at Loss: propeller, wood, bulk freighter
Official No.: 76392
Built: 1883, Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee
Specs: 183x32x13 841g 768n
Enrollment: Milwaukee, also Sandusky, Chicago
Date of Loss: Dec. 10, 1922
Place of Loss: at Manistee, MI (on Summer Island, mouth of Green Bay)
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: fire
Lives Lost: none
Cargo: unknown
Details: Destroyed by fire. No detail. As JIM SHERIFFS went ashore and wrecked at Big Summer Island, Death's Door, with schooner MATTIE C. BELL(qv), Nov 25, 1895. Declared a total loss and document surrendered, but recovered in May of 1896, rebuilt.

JAMES H. SHRIGLEY

Type at Loss: propeller, wood, bulk freight
Official No.: C134512
Built: 1881, Milwaukee Shipyard, Milwaukee US# 76214
Specs: 172x31x12, 460g 365n
Enrollment:
Date of Loss: August 18, 1920
Place of Loss: off Braddock Point, near Charlotte, NY
Lake Lost: Ontario
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost: none
Cargo: coal
Details: Foundered or beached 1/2 mile off Braddock Point light in gale. Her crew was rescued by U.S. Coast Guard. She survived a trip on lower Lake Huron during the Big Storm of 1913, coming through the gale when a number of large, new steel ships were destroyed in the same area. Sold/Registered Canadian, 1915

JAMES CHRISTIE

Specs: 160t
Enrollment: Milwaukee, also Sackets
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

JAMES MCGORDON

Specs: 77x18x7, 54gt 27nt
Enrollment:
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details: Abandoned 1914

JAMES MOWATT

Type at Loss: schooner-barge, wood
Official No.: 76518
Built: 1884, Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee
Specs: 166x33x13, 523g 497n
Enrollment: Milwaukee, also Detroit and Chicago
Date of Loss: Oct. 10, 1919
Place of Loss: in harbor at Alpena, MI
Lake Lost: Huron
Type/Cause: collision
Lives Lost: none
Cargo: lumber
Details: Rammed a stone jetty and sank, a total loss. Ashore near Eagle River, Mich, L. Superior, and thoroughly wrecked in September, 1893. She was hauled into drydock at Milwaukee but abandoned to her underwriters as a constructive total loss.

See also biography on James Mowatt a prominent citizen of Chicago
of whom the ship was named.

JAMES WADE

Specs: 273 g 212n
Enrollment: Sandusky, also Detroit
Date of Loss: 1883, Nov 15 or 5
Place of Loss: off Rondeau Point
Lake Lost: Erie
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost: 7
Cargo: 19,000 bu wheat
Details: Bound Detroit for Buffalo, she apparently foundered in a storm with just the tips of her masts visible. For several days it was not known what vessel it was, until someone recognized the masts of the missing WADE. She had started for Buffalo two weeks before, but had suffered a collision on L. Erie and had returned to Detroit for repairs. She reloaded and attempted the trip again and was lost. Owned by Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee.

JASON PARKR

Specs: 90x23x8, 100t
Enrollment:
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

J. & A. STRONACH

Specs: 110x24x8, 140t
Enrollment: Milwaukee, also Chicago
Owner: George Barber
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details: Very Large repairs in 61 Rebuilt at Milwaukee 1870, Known as A.B.C.F.M 1880-1902 Abandoned May 22, 1902

JENNIFER

Official No: C313980
Type of Ship: propeller, steel, bulk/package freight
Place of Loss: 30 mi NE of Milwaukee
Type/Cause: storm
Cargo: steel plates
More details: A US Coast Guard helicopter and the British freighter FORTUNA rescued her crew.
Date Built: 1846
Builder: Geo. Davie Shipyard
Where Built: Lauzon, Quebec
Size: 210 t.

J. EVENSON

Type at Loss: propeller steam tug, wood
Official No.: 76523
Built: 1884, John Evenson, Milwaukee
Specs: 54x14x7 33g 16n
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Date of Loss: June 5, 1895
Place of Loss: 5 mi N of Ahnapee, WI
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: collision
Lives Lost: 1
Cargo: none
Details: Sunk in a collision with new steamer I. WATSON STEVENSON. Tug had taken the steamer in tow, got tangled in the line and was drawn across the big ship's bow. She was rolled over and sunk in 300 ft. of water. Owned out of Sturgeon Bay.

JIM SHERIFFS

Type at Loss: propeller, wood, bulk freight
Official No.: 76392
Built: 1883, Milwaukee
Specs: 183x32x13, 841g 768n
Enrollment:
Date of Loss: 1895, Nov 25
Place of Loss: On Summer Island, mouth of Green Bay
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

J.M. ALLMENDINGER

Official No: 76411
Type of Ship: propeller, wood, bulk freight
Place of Loss: Fox Point, N of Milwaukee
Type/Cause: storm
Cargo: lumber
More details: All of the crew was rescued. Owned out of
Milwaukee by E.B. Simpson & Son
Date Built: 1883
Builder: G.H. Burgoyne
Where Built: Benton Harbor
Size: 105x24x9 183g 125n

J. M. JONES

Type at Loss: schooner, wood, 2-mast
Official No.: none
Built: 1855, J. M. Jones, Milwaukee
Specs: 92x24x8, 157 t. om
Enrollment: Milwaukee, also Chicago
owner: A.Lanson
Date of Loss: Sept 2 1861
Place of Loss: off Manitowoc, WI
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: collision
Lives Lost: none
Cargo: wood
Details: Bound for Chicago, she collided with the upbound grain schooner CONDOR (qv) and foundered quickly, being cut almost in two. Her crew were able to come aboard CONDOR, which wallowed about for a full day before being picked up by the propeller F.W. BACKUS.

JOHN B. MERRILL

Type at Loss: schooner, wood
Official No.: 75592
Built: 1873, Allen, McClelland & Co., Milwaukee
Specs: 189x34x13, 641g 609n
Enrollment: Milwaukee, also Buffalo
Date of Loss: Oct. 14 1893
Place of Loss: off Drummond Isl. MI
Lake Lost: Huron
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost: none
Cargo: unknown
Details: She broke up near Holdridge Shoal in a gale and sank. Her crew abandoned just before she went down. Hailed from Buffalo Ashore near Cleveland in Nov, 1883. Crew saved in a textbook "breeches’ buoy" rescue. Major repair in 1884

See also Allan bio in Marriage section

JOHN DAVIS

Specs: 125t
Enrollment:
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

JOHN EGGERS

Type at Loss: scow-schooner, wood
Official No.: 76714
Built: 1887, Milwaukee
Specs: 59x14x3 25g 24n
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Date of Loss: May 26, 1906
Place of Loss: Wind Point, Near Racine, WI
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: stranded
Lives Lost: none of 1
Cargo: unknown
Details: details unknown

JOHN F. PORTER

Official No: none
Type of Ship: schooner, wood
Place of Loss: off North Point, Milwaukee
Type/Cause: storm
Cargo: lumber camp provisions
More details: Her crew made it to shore in her boat. Also reported ashore and a total loss near Racine in 1850. Rebuilt from steamer to schooner in 1840 at Buffalo. Collided with the steamer CHESAPEAKE Jun 8, 1847 off Conneaut, OH. Both vessels sank.
Date Built: 1836
Builder: D. Dibble
Where Built: Sandusky as sidewheel steamer
Size: 94x20x8, 116 t.

JOHN MEE

Specs: 122x26x9,199t
Enrollment:
Date of Loss: yr 1914
Place of Loss: off Sheboygan
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: stranded
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details: wrecked, recovered as Edward E. Skeele, 1915

JOHN RUGEE

Specs: 216x35x19, 1217gt 950nt
Enrollment:
Date of Loss: Jan 18 1925
Place of Loss: Ogdensburg NY
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause: fire
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details: Canadian owned 1919-1925 (C141375), burned in layup, broken up in Ogdensburg shortly afterward

JOS. GOLDSMITH

Type at Loss: propeller steam tug, wood
Official No.: 76317
Built: 1882, Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee
Specs: 82x18x8, 60g 30n (before rebuild in May 1891
reported as 71x17x8, 52gt, 26nt)
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Date of Loss: July 1, 1901
Place of Loss: Toledo harbor, in the channel
Lake Lost: Erie
Type/Cause: unknown
Lives Lost: unknown
Cargo: none
Details: Loss not reported, but on the 28th the heavily-laden steamer CADILLAC struck her already-sunken wreckage, damaging both vessels.

JOSEPH E. RUMBELL, JR.

Type at Loss: propeller steam tug, wood
Official No.: 6720
Built: 1871, Brooks, Milwaukee
Specs: 16g 8n
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Date of Loss: Oct. 6 1888
Place of Loss: Manistee Lake
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: collision
Lives Lost: none
Cargo: none
Details: She collided with the tug WILLIAMS and sank in 60 feet of water. Owned out of Manistee.

JOSEPH PAIGE

(also spelled JOSEPH PAGE)
Type at Loss: schooner-barge, wood, bulk freight, 2-mast
Official No.: 75593
Built: 1872, Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee as a schooner
Specs: 190x32x12, 626g 595n
Enrollment: Milwaukee, also Cleveland
Date of Loss: Dec 1, 1897
Place of Loss: off Vermilion Point, MI
Lake Lost: Superior
Type/Cause: storm
Lives Lost: none of 9
Cargo: iron ore
Details: Tow of steamer H.B. TUTTLE, she broke her tow cable and drove onto a reef. A patrolling Lifesaver spotted her and the Vermilion Pt. Lifesaving Service managed to take her crew off before she broke up, even though the USLS boat was smashed in a most difficult rescue.

JOSEPH PAGE:
See Williams Bio

JOSEPH WARD

Specs: 216t
Enrollment: Detroit, Buffalo and Chicago
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

JOSEPHINE

Type at Loss: propeller sand scow, wood [also seen as a schooner]
Official No.: 75673
Built: 1874, Allan, McClelland & Co., Milwaukee
Specs: 99x25x6, 146g 133n
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Date of Loss: Apr 14, 1888
Place of Loss: N. of Milwaukee in Whitefish Bay
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: navigational error
Lives Lost: none
Cargo: sand
Details: She struck a rock and sank. Stripped and abandoned the next day. Her machinery was later recovered. Owned by Hiram Bond of Milwaukee

Detroit Free Press, December 19, 1866
1866 disasters
May Schooner Josephine, cargo lumber, sprung
a leak and went
ashore at Milwaukee; got off.

Sank Apr. 15, 1888
Wreck is in about 125' of water.

JOSEPHINE LAWRENCE

Type at Loss: schooner, wood, 2-mast
Official No.: 12976
Built: 1854, Farman & Barber, Milwaukee
Specs: 83x22x7, 88 t.
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Date of Loss: 1880, Oct 16
Place of Loss: near Bailey’s Harbor
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

JOYS

Type at Loss: propeller, wood, steam barge
Official No.: 76537
Built: 1884, Milwaukee Shipyard Co., Milwaukee
Specs: 131x28x8, 268gt, 222nt
Enrollment:
Date of Loss: December 25, 1898
Place of Loss: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: fire
Lives Lost: unknown
Cargo: unknown
Details: Burned, surrendered a few days later

J.P. DECONDRES

Official No: 75530
Type of Ship: schooner, wood, lumber
Place of Loss: 1 mi N of Milwaukee
Type/Cause: storm
Cargo: wood products
More details:
Date Built: 1873
Builder:
Where Built: Charlevoix, MI [also seen as Saugatuck, MI]
Size: 146g

J. STEINHART

Type at Loss: schooner, wood, 2-mast
Official No.: none
Built: 1853, E. Euniacke, Milwaukee
Specs: 72x18x5, 68 t.
Enrollment: Milwaukee
Owner: C. Harrison
Date of Loss: 1855, Oct 28
Place of Loss: 6 mi N of Milwaukee
Lake Lost: Michigan
Type/Cause: storm
Cargo: wood
Lives Lost: several [mate and crew] More details: Bound Green Bay for Chicago, she capsized in a gale. Reported as a total loss. Out of Milwaukee

JUNIATTA PATTEN (also J. PATTON)

Specs: 260t
Enrollment:
Owner: J. A. Helfenstein
Date of Loss:
Place of Loss:
Lake Lost:
Type/Cause:
Lives Lost:
Cargo:
Details:

JUNIATTA PATTON:
See Stamford Bio

J. W. EVISTON

Type at Loss: propeller fish tug, wood
Official No.: 75723
Built: 1872, McClelland, Milwaukee
Specs: 50x12x4, 16g 12n
Date of Loss: 1897, Jul 20
Place of Loss: at Duluth
Lake Lost: Superior