James Anderson

James Anderson, one of the oldest and best known engineers on the Great Lakes, is a son of James and Nancy (Armour) Anderson, farming people, who were natives of the North of Ireland.

Our subject was born in County Antrim, Ireland, March 2, 1842, and spent his early life on his parent's farm. In 1861 he emigrated to the United States, and immediately commenced life on the lakes, on which water he has since been employed. His first work was as fireman on the Oneida, where he remained for two seasons, following with one season each on the Empire State, Nebraska, Comet, and Idaho. After this he was oiler on the last-named steamer six seasons, second engineer thirteen seasons, and chief engineer of her eight seasons, making a total of twenty-seven consecutive seasons on the one boat. This is undoubtedly the record for length of service on one steamer and speaks volumes for his steadiness and efficiency. For the season of 1896, the Idaho having been laid up, Mr. Anderson accepted second engineer's berth on the Niko, remaining on her all of that season, and the season of 1897 filled the same position on the Montana. He has been unusually fortunate, never having been in a wreck or collision of any consequence. He is a member of No. 1, M. E. B. A., of Buffalo, of Red Jacket Lodge, I. O. F.[sic], and of Lake Erie Commandery No. 161, F. & A. M.

Mr. Anderson was married, in February, 1873, to Miss Mary Armour, of his native place, and they have one daughter, who is the wife of Henry Turner, of Buffalo. The family reside at No. 25 Lowell Place, Buffalo, New York.

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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.