Identification & Site Information #
- Vessel Name: Jessie H. Farwell (renamed James W. Follette in 1912)
- Also Known As: James W. Follette
- Year of Build: 1881
- Official Number: 76203 (Canadian registry C116816 post-1913)
- Built at: Gibraltar, Michigan
- Vessel Type: Bulk Freighter
- Hull Materials: Wood
- Number of Decks: 2 (reduced to 1 after 1912 rebuild)
- Builder Name: Linn & Craig, Gibraltar, MI
- Original Owner: Adams & Farwell, Detroit, Mi
- Power and Propulsion
- Number of Masts: 3 (reduced to 1 after 1912 rebuild)
- Propulsion: Screw-driven, steam-powered
- Engine Type: For-and-Aft Compound Engine
- Number of Cylinders: 2
- Number of Boilers: 1
- Propeller: 1
- Engine Specifications:
- 27 + 44 x 40” engine producing 400hp at 72rpm, built by Buhl Iron Works, Detroit
- Steam firebox boiler (9’ x 16’) with an 85psi pressure rating, also built by Buhl Iron Works
- Hull Dimensions
- Length: 212.2 feet
- Beam: 35.6 feet
- Depth: 19.6 feet
- Gross Tonnage: 1,200.96 tons (later reduced to 756 gross tons after 1912 rebuild)
- Net Tonnage: 997.65 tons
- Capacity: 1,326 tons
Vessel Type #
The Jessie H. Farwell was a wooden bulk freighter designed for transporting heavy bulk goods, such as coal, iron ore, and grain, which were critical to the industrial boom in the Midwest and Northeast United States. The vessel was a typical Great Lakes bulk freighter, screw-driven, with three masts initially (later reduced to one after its rebuild in 1912). Bulk freighters like the Farwell were a lifeline for industries, moving large quantities of raw materials across the Great Lakes.
Chronology #
April 1881: Launched at Gibraltar, Michigan by Linn & Craig. The Jessie H. Farwell began its career as a freighter running primarily iron ore routes between Escanaba, MI, and Ashtabula, OH.
May 23, 1881: The vessel was officially enrolled at Detroit, MI, and entered service under the ownership of Adams & Farwell of Detroit.
October 12, 1885: The Farwell ran aground on Fighting Island, located in the Detroit River. It was freed without major damage.
April 24, 1895: Ownership transferred to Thomas Adams of the Ecorse Transportation Co., Detroit, MI, and other partners. At this point, George Farwell was serving as the company secretary.
October 22, 1898: Continued service under Ecorse Transportation Co., with George Farwell as a key figure. The ship underwent routine maintenance, including fitting new gangways and steering gear.
April 6, 1904: Sold to William H. Follette of Tonawanda, NY, and continued to serve the bulk transport needs of the Great Lakes.
April 8, 1910: Ownership transferred to Pacific Despatch, Tonawanda, NY, with William Follette as president. The ship continued to haul bulk goods, mainly coal, across the lakes.
March 19, 1912: The Jessie H. Farwell was rebuilt as a steambarge. The number of decks was reduced to one, and the vessel was remeasured, now carrying a tonnage of 756 gross / 538 net tons. During this time, the ship’s masts were also reduced to one.
April 11, 1912: The vessel was officially renamed James W. Follette following the rebuild.
May 14, 1917: Ownership passed to George Plunkett of Cobourg, Ontario, where it was registered under the Canadian registry (C116816). By this time, the ship was mainly hauling coal.
1918: The vessel was acquired by George Hall Coal & Transportation Co., based in Ogdensburg, NY. The ship continued in service for coal transport between Lake Ontario ports.
May 16, 1923: The Jessie H. Farwell (James W. Follette) was dismantled and sunk in Lake Ontario. The ship’s final resting place remains unknown, and no confirmed wreck has been located.
Final Disposition #
The Jessie H. Farwell, renamed James W. Follette, was dismantled and sunk in Lake Ontario on May 16, 1923. The ship had served the Great Lakes shipping routes for over four decades, adapting to the changing needs of the industry by undergoing significant modifications, including its conversion into a steambarge. The exact location of the wreck has not been identified, and no navigational hazards related to the wreck have been reported.
Located By & Date #
There are no known modern records of the wreck being located or recovered in Lake Ontario. The ship was likely scuttled in deep waters, joining many other Great Lakes wrecks lost to time.
Notmars & Advisories #
No navigational hazards or markers are associated with the Jessie H. Farwell’s wreck, as its final location remains unknown.
Resources & Links #
- Great Lakes Vessels Database, BGSU: A detailed history of the Jessie H. Farwell.
- Milwaukee Public Library, H.G. Runge Collection: Marine collection archives for ship histories.
- Fr. Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit Mercy: Extensive collection of marine historical records.
- U.S. National Archives: Historical vessel enrollments and ownership records.
- William MacDonald Collection, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Detroit: Valuable records on Great Lakes vessels.
- Newspaper Clippings: Historical reports on incidents involving the Jessie H. Farwell.
Conclusion #
The Jessie H. Farwell was an integral part of the Great Lakes shipping industry for over 40 years, serving as a bulk freighter and later as a steambarge. Despite being rebuilt and renamed, the ship ultimately met its end in 1923 when it was scuttled in Lake Ontario. Though its wreck remains undiscovered, the ship’s history is well documented through collections and archives that preserve the maritime legacy of the Great Lakes.
