David R. Stebbins

David R. Stebbins was a prominent shipbuilder in Maumee, Ohio, during the mid-19th century, contributing significantly to Great Lakes maritime commerce.

Notable Vessels Constructed by David R. Stebbins:

1. Chesapeake (1838):

• Type: Wooden sidewheel steamer

• Dimensions: 172 feet in length, 24.5 feet in beam, 10.1 feet in depth

• Tonnage: 412 tons

• Details: Built in collaboration with master carpenter F. N. Jones, the Chesapeake was among the first Lake Erie steamers to feature a cabin. It operated between Detroit and Buffalo, connecting various Lake Erie ports. On June 9, 1847, it sank five miles off Conneaut, Ohio, following a collision with the John F. Porter, resulting in the loss of 13 lives. 

2. G.P. Griffith (1848):

• Type: Wooden sidewheel steamer

• Dimensions: 193 feet in length, 28.1 feet in beam, 11.3 feet in depth

• Tonnage: 587 tons

• Details: Launched at Maumee, the G.P. Griffith was a significant vessel of its time. Tragically, it burned and sank on Lake Erie on June 17, 1850, resulting in the loss of 241 to 289 lives, marking one of the greatest disasters on the Great Lakes until the Eastlanddisaster in 1915. 

3. James Wolcott (1844):

• Type: Sidewheel steamer

• Details: Built by Stebbins in Maumee, Ohio, the James Wolcott contributed to regional maritime activities. 

4. Globe (1st) (1846):

• Type: Vessel

• Details: Constructed in Toledo, Ohio, in partnership with Samuel Hubble, the Globe was among Stebbins’ notable projects. 

Stebbins’ shipbuilding endeavors were instrumental in advancing maritime transportation on the Great Lakes, reflecting the industrial growth and economic development of the region during that era.