History
The Benton was originally built in 1867 by Hitchcock & Gibson in Buffalo, New York, as a passenger steamer. It had a length of 146.6 feet, a beam of 28.1 feet, and a depth of 8.7 feet. With a gross tonnage of 418.75 and a net tonnage of 304.78, it was constructed using wood.
The vessel’s early years saw several changes in ownership and operations. It initially belonged to John T. Edwards of St. Joseph, Michigan, and ran between Chicago, St. Joseph, and Benton Harbor. Ownership transferred to the Lake Michigan Transportation Company of St. Joseph in April 1868. In August of the same year, the Benton underwent an overhaul. Subsequently, it came under the ownership of Jonah Richards of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and operated between Chicago and Marquette starting in May 1869. The Benton Harbor & Chicago Transportation Company of Benton Harbor, Michigan, took ownership in April 1870. Later, in October 1870, it was acquired by the River & Lake Shore Steam Boat Line of Detroit, running between Toledo and Saginaw.
In August 1871, the Benton was owned by Charles A. Chamberlain and others based in Detroit. The vessel encountered an incident in October 1872 when it went ashore at Tawas City, Michigan. It underwent various repairs and updates over the years, including the addition of a new deck in 1874 and a rebuild in 1883, during which it likely underwent conversion to a bulk freighter.
The Benton faced another significant event in 1906 when it went ashore with damage on South Bass Island in Lake Erie. However, it was salvaged and repaired. In terms of ownership, the vessel changed hands multiple times throughout its history, with various individuals and companies from different locations taking ownership.
On August 1, 1909, tragedy struck the Benton when it was consumed by fire at the Ford Rouge plant near Detroit, Michigan. The vessel was unloading unfinished wooden automobile parts at the time. Unfortunately, there is no information available regarding any loss of life during this incident.
Following the fire, the Benton’s documents were surrendered in Detroit on March 10, 1910, indicating the end of its official registry. The vessel’s final cargo consisted of wood and auto parts.
Overall, the Benton had a long history of operations, ownership changes, and incidents. From its origins as a passenger steamer to its conversion into a bulk freighter, the vessel played a role in transportation and trade on the Great Lakes before meeting its fiery demise in 1909.
