The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1899-11-25
Capt. John Parker Claims to be
the Only Surviving Master OF
Early Sailing Days.
SAILED IN THE FORTIEs
The Captain Claims Also to Have
Built the First Frame House
I'm OntODagon.

Ine iolioWRlS, udCco iIoiii oHtoh-
agon, is taken from the Detroit
Evening Journal of Monday
Capt. John Parker, of Ontonagon,
who is 78 years old, claims to be the
only surviving lake captain who was
master of vessel on Lake Superior
as far back as lS47. He was on the
Mississippi in lS44,running between
St. Louis and New Orleans, went on
the great lakes in '46, portrayed
around the 500 before the govern
ment had dug a canal, shot the
rapids, was overturned, and three
men wore drowned, and in his career
has explored every nook and corner
of the great lakes. ( !
Capt. John g. Parker left Mil
waukee with Capt. Calvin Ripley in
the spring of 1916 on the propeller
Genesee Chief, for Mackinac, then
took the steamer Franklin Capt.
Benjamin), for the Soc, where Capt.
Ripley had left the schooner Fur
Trader, which he hud hauled over
the portage in lS45.
'The season of 1916, y says Capt.
Parker, I'VE ran between the 500
and upper lake ports. Ia 1917
Capt. Ripley left NE in charge to
carry stone for the first lighthouse
on Lake Superior Whitetish
point. The next lighthouse was
built on Mantou Island, off Point
keweenaw. The next was at Copper
Harbor. Ia 1871 there was no light.
house on Lake Superior, as the
Lighthouse on WEitefsh point was
finished ia lS4S.
Martin Beaser and myself bought
the Fur Trader in the fall of 1919.
She was lost in Eagle Harbor in 1872
In the spring of 1858 bought the
schooner George w. Ford in com
pany with the Minnesota Copper
company and James Burteu shaw Of
Ontonagon. / hauled her over the
portage at the 500 and traded be-
tween the 500 and upper lake ports
The Ford was lost at Eagle Harbor
in 1870
'In the meantime sailed the pro-
peller Gen. Taylor in 80 and 60, the
Mineral Rock and Burlington in go
and 81. In the fall (or winter) of 1860
the Burlington landed at La Pointe
on Dec s, with L. f. Prince and his
winter supplies. Invent down to Ou-
tonagon and laid up the Burlington
on Dec. 3, and took her below to
Detroit in the spring Of 1861. l
then sailed the George w. Ford un-
til she was lost in 1370.
."In 1850 the 500 canal was open
ed The steamer Vllinois was the
first boat through on the way up,
and the North Star next. The George
w Ford was the first vessel locked
through on the way down, with load
of copper from the Minnesota mine.
II located ia OntGnagOn in 1S4S,
and built the first frame house there.
The lumber was cut by Irving Leihy,
on Bad river, and was taken to La
Pointe on battous. From there
took it to Ontonagon on the Fur
Trader. Ontonagon has been my
home since that time. / landed the
first barrel of freight at Carp River
(now Marquette) for the Jackson
iron mine in 1848, with the Fur
Trader.
''In 1916 the Fur Trader landed an
exploring party on Minnesota point
at the mouth of the st. Louis river
(now Duluth and West Superior) in
charge OF Capt. Peck. II was there
] met Mr.. Bungo, a full-blOoded
negro, who said he was the first
white man settled ia Superior.
"The following boats were in com
mission on Lake Superior in 1916:
Schooner Whitefsh, owned by
the Hudson Day Co., Capt. Lamp
shire. Traded principally on the
north shore for the Hudson Bay Co.
Steamer Julia Palmer, Capt.
Wood.