Alick J. Staley

Alick J. Staley, who is one of the most prominent marine engineers shipping out of Milwaukee, was born on South Manitou island, Michigan, in 1857. He is a son of John and Margaret Staley, and a brother John J., who is chief engineer of the steamer City of London. His parents located in Milwaukee in the pioneer days of 1842, where they acquired some real estate.

Alick Staley, the subject of this sketch, attended school in Milwaukee until he reached the age of sixteen years. He then went as an apprentice to learn the machinist's trade, and after having thoroughly mastered the business in all its mechanical branches, he resolved to enter on a marine life. Therefore, in the spring of 1873, he shipped on the wrecking tug Leviathan, hailing from Milwaukee, remaining on her four years, when, in the spring of 1877, he joined the tug Welcome. In the spring of 1878 he entered the employ of the D. & M. line, going on the passenger steamer Amazon, which plied between Milwaukee and Grand Haven, retaining that berth two years, and in the spring of 1880 took out engineer's license, and was appointed first assistant of the steamer Amazon.

The next two years Mr. Staley sailed as first assistant engineer on the steamer Ballentine, and during the season of 1883 was serving in the same capacity on the steamer City of Ludington. In the spring of 1884 he was appointed chief engineer of the steamer G. C. Markham, holding that berth three seasons, and in 1887 accepted the same position on the steamer Josephine. His next berth was on the steamer Omaha as chief engineer, which he held nine years, when in the spring of 1896 he was selected to perform the same duties on the fine steamer Pueblo, which position he held for some time. He has seventeen issues of marine engineer's licenses, and socially affiliates with the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association at Milwaukee.

In 1888 Mr. Staley was united in marriage to Miss Lena Siphers, of Sheboygan, Wis. The family residence is located at South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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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.