The Ralph Campbell was a wooden schooner built in 1855 by Peck & Masters in Cleveland, Ohio. It had an official number of 21179. The original owner was Ralph Campbell of Sheffield, Ohio. The schooner had a length of 104 feet 6.12 inches, a beam of 25 feet 9.24 inches, and a depth of 9 feet 8 inches. Its tonnage was recorded as 233 32/95 tons (old style).
Throughout its history, the Ralph Campbell encountered various incidents and changes in ownership. In 1855, while bound for Chicago, Illinois from Buffalo, New York, it struck White Shoal in Lake Michigan. To lighten the vessel, 2000 bushels of wheat were thrown overboard, and it managed to get off but was leaking.
In 1858, the Ralph Campbell ran ashore on Middle Island in Lake Huron while carrying a cargo of lumber. It was eventually freed from the shore. On April 28, 1859, it was reported to be hard on the rocks at Hog Island Reef. It was taken to Milwaukee for repairs by the vessel Leviathon on May 15 of the same year.
The ownership of the schooner changed over the years. It was owned by B.S. Sheppard of Chicago in 1860, then by Wm. Egan of Chicago in 1863, and later by Elkins & Merrill, also of Chicago, in 1866. The Ralph Campbell was involved in more incidents, such as running ashore in Hamilton, Ontario, on Lake Ontario in November 1861.
In 1862, the schooner was rebuilt. Thompson and others from Chicago became its owners in 1876. In October 1883, it collided with the tug Brothers on the Chicago River, resulting in damage that was later repaired.
By July 1905, the Ralph Campbell was owned by someone in Chicago and was condemned. It was sold and intended to be used as a houseboat around the harbor. However, on October 14, 1909, the schooner was wrecked near Long Point in Lake Erie after being swamped by a storm. It drifted ashore and was ultimately broken apart by the waves. There is no information available regarding loss of life or the cargo it was carrying at the time.
Throughout its 54-year career, the Ralph Campbell had a significant role in transporting lumber to Chicago. It was said to have brought enough lumber to build a small-sized city.
