C. Wheeler – Shipbuilder of East Saginaw, Michigan

Overview

C. Wheeler was a shipbuilder based in East Saginaw, Michigan, known for constructing wooden steam tugs, schooners, and bulk freight vessels during the late 19th century. Saginaw was an important center for lumber and shipbuilding, with numerous shipyards producing vessels for Great Lakes commerce.

Notable Vessels Built, Owned or Operated by C. Wheeler

•  Fannie Tuthill (1873)Built: 1873 in East Saginaw, Michigan Specs: 60 ft long, 15 ft beam, 7 ft depth, 28 GT Final Fate: Destroyed in a collision with the 1,000-ton steamer D.C. Whitney in 1905 on the St. Clair Flats This tug was used in various capacities, including harbor work, towing, and later as a tender for canal construction.
• The W.S. CARKIN was a wooden canal tug, integral to maritime trade on the Great Lakes. Designed for towing and maneuvering larger vessels through ports, harbors, and canals, the tug featured a single screw propulsion system powered by a modest 1-cylinder engine. This type of vessel was crucial during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, ensuring the safe and efficient movement of goods and ships.

East Saginaw’s Role in Great Lakes Shipbuilding  East Saginaw, part of today’s Saginaw, Michigan, was a major lumber and shipbuilding hub in the late 19th century.  Shipyards in the region built tugs, barges, schooners, and steamers to support the timber trade and industrial expansion. Many vessels from East Saginaw were used for Great Lakes transportation, towing, and logging operations.

Conclusion

Although little is recorded about C. Wheeler individually, the Fannie Tuthill is a known example of his work. His shipbuilding contributions were part of a larger Great Lakes maritime industry that helped shape regional commerce in the late 19th century.