A. J. Davenport

A.J. Davenport, keeper of the Calumet lighthouse at South Chicago, comes from an ancestry that has been intimately associated with the development of the Great Lakes for several generations. He was born on the island of Mackinaw in 1854, and is the son of Ambrose and Susan (Decora) Davenport. Ambrose Davenport was born in Detroit in 1801. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and afterward settled on Mackinaw island, where he spent the remainder of his life. Ambrose was reared on this famous and historic island, and for many years was a clerk for one of the early fur companies that had large interests at that time in that region. Later in life he engaged in fishing, and was widely known in connection with that occupation. He lived throughout his life on the island, and his wife, who survived him, died there in 1890.

Mr. Davenport was reared and educated on Mackinaw island, and during the earlier years of his youth and manhood engaged in fishing in that vicinity. In 1878 he entered the service of the government as assistant keeper of the Waugochance lighthouse at the straits of Mackinaw, and five years later was promoted to the position of keeper of the lighthouse at Two Rivers. He retained this position for five years, and in 1888 was appointed keeper of the Calumet lighthouse at South Chicago, located on the north pier of Calumet river, and one of the oldest lighthouses on the lakes, and for the past ten years he has remained continuously in charge of this important lighthouse.

Mr. Davenport was married to Miss Clara Hammond, a native of Germany, and to them have been born four children, two sons and two daughters: Albert H., George C., Elsie and Edith. Mr. Davenport has from his earliest recollection been closely identified with the development of the Great Lakes region, and has been a close observer of the many changes that have occurred during the years of his life. He is efficient and thoroughly qualified to fill the position he holds, and is held in high esteem by those who know him.

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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.