Built 1873 – Wrecked November 17, 1886

Identification & Vessel Overview

  • Type: Two-masted wooden Schooner
  • Built: 1873 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, by J. M. Jones
  • Official Number: 15955
  • Dimensions: ~80 × 22 × 6 ft; 90 gt
  • Owner: Henderson & Peterson, Muskegon, Michigan
  • Master: Captain Thomas Smith (Muskegon)
    (us-data.org)

Final Voyage & Shipwreck

  • Date & Route: Wrecked November 17, 1886, bound from Chicago to Muskegon carrying corn and oats
  • Weather: Caught in a fierce storm/blizzard on Lake Michigan near Flower Creek, north of White Lake (~7 miles north of Whitehall)
  • Action Taken: Crew dropped three anchors but were unable to hold; vessel was driven ashore, smashed and torn apart by waves
  • Casualties: All 5 crew perished—crew washed ashore, some bodies found days later (including Captain Smith near Montague); a widow and four children were left behind
  • Value Loss: No insurance on vessel or cargo
    (Wikipedia, us-data.org)

Aftermath & Significance

  • The bodies and wreck were discovered several days after grounding; local bystanders noted the destruction
  • The loss—especially the uninsured cargo and crew fatalities—caused hardship for families and illustrated the dangers faced by small schooners
  • The wreckage likely broke up and disappeared quickly due to powerful wave action
    (us-data.org, Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Sources

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“L. J. Conway”)—build, ownership, loss details, storm description, Total Loss with fatalities
  • Contemporary Newspapers—Pentwater News (25 November 1886) and Bluffton Weekly Chronicle (2 December 1886) reporting crew loss and Captain Smith’s body recovery
    (us-data.org)

Research Gaps & Next Steps

  • Crew Rosters & Identities: Search maritime registry entries and Muskegon obituaries for crew names
  • Local Press: Obtain full archival copies of Pentwater News and Bluffton Weekly Chronicle for detailed witness accounts
  • Wreck Survey: Consider side-scan sonar in the probable shallow grounding area to confirm debris field
  • Family Descendants: Explore genealogical lines from Captain Smith’s family for personal records or letters about the disaster

Conclusion

The L. J. Conway succumbed to a violent November 17, 1886 blizzard on Lake Michigan while carrying corn and oats, stranded near Flower Creek. Despite attempts to anchor, all five aboard perished. The wreck remains emblematic of the hazards of late-season Great Lakes shipping and the vulnerabilities of small sail-powered freighters. Would you like me to gather crew lists, retrieve full articles, or Draft a site survey plan?