Moses Rogers and Associates: Overview

Moses Rogers was a prominent figure in the maritime and shipbuilding community of Marine City, Michigan, during the mid-to-late 19th century. He, along with his associates, played a key role in the ownership, operation, and financing of small cargo vessels that were vital to the bustling trade on the Great Lakes. The group’s involvement in vessels such as the Lizzie Bell highlights their contribution to regional maritime commerce, particularly in the transport of goods like lumber, grain, and coal.

Role in Maritime Trade

• Marine City, Michigan, during the 19th century, was a significant hub for shipbuilding and shipping along the St. Clair River. Entrepreneurs like Moses Rogers leveraged its strategic location to support and expand maritime activities.

• Rogers and his associates owned vessels like the Lizzie Bell, utilizing their compact design for economic transportation across the Great Lakes. These ships were typically built to service short-haul routes and handle various cargo types.

Involvement with the Lizzie Bell

• Year of Ownership: The Lizzie Bell was built in 1866 by G. W. Johnston in Marine City, Michigan, and registered under the ownership of Moses Rogers and his associates.

• Service Life: The vessel served as a scow schooner, a versatile and cost-effective vessel type for inland waterway transportation. The Lizzie Bell’s enrollment in Port Huron, Michigan, on October 15, 1866, indicates its active involvement in regional trade.

• End of Service: The Lizzie Bell’s history and eventual loss, potentially as early as 1870, reflect the inherent risks of operating wooden ships on the Great Lakes during that period.

Legacy in Marine City

• Rogers and his contemporaries contributed to Marine City’s reputation as a shipbuilding and maritime commerce hub during the 19th century.

• The vessels associated with Rogers exemplify the robust but perilous nature of Great Lakes shipping, where economic opportunity was matched by the ever-present risk of shipwrecks and financial loss.

Significance

Moses Rogers and his associates were representative of the entrepreneurial spirit that characterized the maritime industry on the Great Lakes. Their investment in vessels like the Lizzie Bell supported the infrastructure of commerce, transportation, and regional development. The risks they undertook—owning and operating vessels during an era of evolving maritime technology—underscore the dynamic and often dangerous world of 19th-century Great Lakes shipping.

Sources & Further Reading

• Great Lakes Ships Database: Information on scow schooners and their owners.

• David Swayze Shipwreck File: Historical records related to Great Lakes shipwrecks and vessel ownership.

• Marine City Maritime History Archives: Resources detailing the contributions of Marine City shipbuilders and vessel owners.

For more in-depth exploration, local historical societies and archives in Marine City and Port Huron may have additional details on Moses Rogers’ role in regional maritime commerce.