E.M. MacDonald of Toronto

Background

E.M. MacDonald was a Canadian maritime entrepreneur based in Toronto, Ontario, who owned the City of Sheboygan during its later years. MacDonald likely used the schooner to engage in the burgeoning Great Lakes shipping trade during the early 20th century. His ownership reflected the era’s continued reliance on older sailing vessels like schooners for transporting goods, even as steam-powered ships became more prevalent.

Role in the City of Sheboygan’s History

By 1915, MacDonald owned the City of Sheboygan and had the vessel actively engaged in transporting cargo such as feldspar—a vital material for ceramics and glass manufacturing. His association with the schooner ended in August 1915 when he sold it to W.M. Schlosserof Milwaukee.