It is with deep regret that we report the death at Vermilion, Ohio, on Saturday, February 5th, of Captain H. Chesley Inches at age 95. Funeral services were held at Vermilion on February 9th and burial was at Algonac, Michigan, where Capt. Inches lived for most of his early years.

Capt. Inches was born at Port Huron and first sailed the lakes in 1901 as a deckhand. He retired from active service as master of the steamer FRANK ARMSTRONG of the Interlake Steamship Company in 1947 but continued to serve as a relief captain for the next 11 years.

Capt. Inches was a noted marine historian and author and served from 1958 until 1970 as curator of the Great Lakes Historical Society Museum at Vermilion. He was honoured in 1976 as the Marine Historian of the Year by the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. He was member no. 217 of T.M.H.S. and on many occasions had assisted us in the obtaining of information on various lake ships.

To the family of the late Capt. Inches, we express our deepest sympathy. Our Society, and indeed the entire lake shipping fraternity will be the poorer for his passing.

Return to Home Port or Toronto Marine Historical Society's Scanner

Reproduced for the Web with the permission of the Toronto Marine Historical Society.