Captain Charles Z. Montague

Captain Charles Z. Montague, although comparatively a young man, has attained good position as master of steamboats. He was born in Huron, Ohio, on July 7, 1857, and is the son of Capt. Robert Bruce and Sarah Jane (Johnson) Montague. His father will be remembered by many of the older class of lake mariners as a master of good repute, who attained his first command when but twenty-two years of age. This was the schooner Kanter, and on one voyage she was caught in a squall on Lake Michigan not far from the west shore, and rolled over. The Captain's wife, who was in the schooner at the time, and the entire crew, narrowly escaped death. Captain Montague then sailed the schooner Jura successfully nine consecutive seasons; the schooner J.B. Wilber eight seasons; the J.F. Card, two seasons, and closed his active life on shipboard as master of the steamer St. Paul. Upon his retirement, he returned to Duluth and opened a shipbroker's office, associating in partnership under the firm name of Miller & Montague, which he conducted up to that time of his death, which occurred in September, 1884, in Duluth, his wife following him to the world of rest November 18, 1897.

Capt. C.Z. Montague, whom this sketch more especially concerns, after acquiring a good public-school education in his native village, took up the lines of life followed by his father, shipping with him on the schooner J.B. Miller, when a boy, remaining nine years, during vacation of schools, finally attaining a position as mate, and in that capacity served until appointed master. In the spring of 1882 he was appointed master of the schooner Owasco, which he sailed two seasons, going thence onto the schooner Southwest. During the year 1885 the Captain engaged in business ashore. The next spring he entered the employ of the Republic Iron Company, of Cleveland, as master of the schooner Grace Holland, and sailed her three seasons. Captain Montague then superintended the construction of the steamer C.W. Elphicke, and having taken out master's papers, brought her out new in 1889, and sailed her four seasons. He then entered the employ of C.W. Elphicke & Co., of Chicago, as master of the new steamer Arthur Orr, which was built under his supervision, as was also the steamer George N. Orr. He sailed the former three and the latter two seasons, resigning in the spring of 1898 to accept the command of the fine steel steamer Pontiac, owned by the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company.

Captain Montague, since attaining to the command of vessels, has proved himself to be one of those masters usually designated as lucky, having always had a good boat under him, and meeting with no casualties. He owns a moneyed interest in the steamer C.W. Elphicke. He holds a composite interest in life, combining the duties of a sailor in summer with those of a farmer in winter, being assisted very materially by his accomplished wife in conducting the farm, which consists of two hundred acres in Huron township.

Socially, he is a member of the Ship Masters Association, and carries Pennant No. 278; is a Knight Templar of Erie Commandery No. 23, and a Knight of Pythias. Both the Captain and Mrs. Montague are active members of the Episcopal Church.

On April 15, 1884, Captain Montague was wedded to Miss Sarah, daughter of Isaac and Martha Newton, of Huron, Ohio. Two children, Newton Bruce and Edith, have blessed this union. The family homestead is in Huron, Ohio.

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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.