Christian Dahl

Christain Dahl, one of the well know marine engineers sailing out of Manistee, Mich., possesses all of the aquirements necessary to the skillful handling of his machinery; he has always been of good repute and in demand. He is a son of Peter and Christina (Rasmussen) Dahl, and was born in Christiania, Norway, on November 13, 1854, where he acquired his education. After leaving school he learned the tinsmith's trade, serving an apprenticeship of five years, after which he engaged in railroading for some time.

In January, 1871, Mr. Dahl came to the United States, first locating in Chicago, where he worked at his trade as tinsmith, going thence to Escanaba, where he was employed on a railroad until 1874, when he went to Manistee, Mich. In the spring of 1876 he entered the employ of the Canfield Tug Company as fireman on the tug Irma M. Wheeler, holding that berth three years, transferring to the tug Williams in 1879. In 1881 he joined the steamer James. A. Shrigley as fireman, but soon obtained an engineer's license, and was appointed first assistant of the same steamer. In 1883 Mr. Dahl again entered the employ of the Canfield Tug Company at Manistee, remaining with them several years, and engineering the tug Irma M. Wheeler, Williams, Ruby and Anna L. Smith. In the spring of 1890 he was appointed engineer of the steamer Susie Chipman, holding that office almost three seasons, followed by three seasons as chief of the steamer W.J. Carter. In the spring of 1896 he was appointed to the position which he now holds, as chief engineer of the steamer Maggie Marshall.

He is an active member of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, and is a charter member of No. 44 of Manistee, and has filled the office of vice-president of that body.

On December 22, 1882, Mr. Dahl was united in marriage to Miss Mary Perry, daughter of Charles Perry, of Quebec, Ont. The family homestead is in Manistee, Michigan.

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Volume I

This version of Volume II is based, with permission, on the work of the great volunteers at the Marine Captains Biographies site. To them goes the credit for reorganizing the content into some coherent order. The biographies in the original volume are in essentially random order.

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.