Samuel Shaw

Samuel Shaw, an ex-lake captain, was for more than thirty years actively engaged on the lakes, but has recently retired from sailing, though he still retains interests in vessel property. He is well remembered as one of the old and efficient masters, and is now engaged in the flour and grain business at No. 288 Forty-third street, Chicago.

Captain Shaw was born in Ireland in 1836, the son of William and Catharine (Piper) Shaw, who were born, lived and died in Ireland, the mother dying in 1888. During his early life in the old country Samuel was engaged in farming and fishing, and at the age of twenty-three came to New York, and two years later, in 1861, he reached Oswego, and there began on the lakes a service which lasted for more than thirty years. He came to Chicago in 1863, and went before the mast on the schooner Muskegon, carrying wood; remained on her three months, and then joined the schooner Dawn, and later on the scow Beloit. The next season he shipped on the scow C. C. Butts, carrying wood and lumber, and the season of 1865 was on the William F. Allen, engaged in the grain trade.

In 1866 Captain Shaw and Nicholas Martin bought an interest in the schooner Enterprise, and sailed her until 1871, both acting as masters during the years 1869-70. They then purchased the schooner Glad Tidings, and sailed her until 1879, after which he became master of the Red, White and Blue, serving for seven or eight years. Following this he took charge of the Alice B. Norris for one year, and was then master of the Ada Medora for a season. Quitting the lakes for a time, Captain Shaw returned and sailed the Frank Miner. He retired permanently from the lakes in 1892, since which time he has been engaged in the grain, hay and feed business, although he still holds his interests in various vessels. He is part owner of the schooner Ada Medora, now in commission.

Captain Shaw was married in Milwaukee to Miss Sarah Colter, and to this union have been born four children: Margaret, Catharine, John (a sailor) and Sarah.

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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.