Frank W. Wheeler & Co.

West Bay City MI

The Wheeler shipyard was started by Captain Frank W. Wheeler in 1876, as Wheeler & Crane, but became F. W. Wheeler Company in 1880 and Frank W. Wheeler & Co. In 1889. It was located on the Saginaw River, close to Third Street. In 1899, Captain Wheeler sold it to The American Ship Building Company, who renamed it West Bay City Shipbuilding, initially, and then AmShip West Bay City, but closed it in 1908.

O/N Name Customer Type GT LOA Built Notes
Built by Frank W. Wheeler & Co. (and predecessors)
1 90978 Mary Martini freighter 91 1877 built in Winona MI
2 140257 Luther Westover B. Boutel tugboat 125 1877
3 125649 Christina A Forbes tugboat 51 1878
4 42646 Hanna B barge 98 1879
5 91130 Marian Teller tugboat 33 1879
6 125812 Charles W. Liken tugboat 36 1879
7 140416 Lycoming Erie & Western Transportation freighter 1,609 1880 burned 1910
8 125858 Conemaugh Erie & Western Transportation freighter 1,609 1880 wrecked 1906
9 85638 Geo. W. Cuyler tugboat 46 1880
10 91383 Maud S tugboat 45 1881
11 115769 Saginaw Valley M. J. Galvin freighter 720 1881 later Meriden 1898, Kongo 1904, Overland 1917, breakwater 1925
12 120452 Fred McBrier James McBrier freighter 442 1881 collision and sank 1890
13 85709 Galatea Jennison & Miller freighter 606 1882 wrecked 1905
14 95683 Handy Boy ferry 25 1882
15 155063 Osceola T. R. Weight freighter 980 1882 later Golspie 1905, wrecked 1906
16 14413 Kittie M. Forbes C. McLachlan freighter 958 1883 burned 1902
17 115920 Sarah M. Smith tugboat 45 1883
18 120577 Frank W. Wheeler Frank W. Wheeler freighter 797 1884
19 106266 Alta J. B. Zerbe freighter 235 1884 wrecked 1905
20 145372 Tempest tugboat 14 1884
21 81048 Waldo A. Avery Hawgood & Avery freighter 1,294 1884 later Phenix 1895, Liberty 1918, scrapped 1924
22 145402 T. S. Christie A. Peterson freighter 769 1885 wrecked 1933
23 106368 A. Folsom Mitchell Transportation freighter 672 1885 later Trude R. Wiehe 1903, burned 1910
24 3333 B. W. Arnold Mills Transportation freighter 944 1885 burned 1896
25 95877 H. A. Hawgood Hawgood & Avery freighter 1,276 1886
26 155124 Ossifrage Smith, Fee & Co. passenger 432 1886 wrecked 1919
27 81120 William H. Stevens Wards Line freighter 1,332 1886 burned 1902
28 81126 W. R. Stafford Hopkins Transportation freighter 744 1886 scrapped 1931
29 91872 Mabel Wilson C. D. Waterman freighter 1,224 1886 foundered 1906
30 81145 Wm. H. Gratwick W. H. Gratwick freighter 1,688 1887 later Fleetwood 1900, scrapped 1926
31 120676 Frank W. Wheeler D. C. Whitney Jr freighter 1,688 1887 wrecked 1893
32 116174 Sitka Thos. Wilson freighter 1,790 1887 wrecked 1904
33 85977 Gogebic Mills Transportation freighter 1,620 1887 later Green River 1921, scuttled 1932
34 91983 Mecosta D. Whitney Jr. freighter 1,776 1888 scuttled 1922
35 135940 Elfin-Mere J. Gordon freighter 1,054 1888 later Charles B. Packard 1902, sank 1906
36 145481 Tom Adams Adams & Farwell freighter 1,810 1888 later Langham 1902, burned 1910
37 85990 Geo. W. Morley Hawgood & Avery freighter 1,054 1888 burned 1897
38 91986 Moravia Hawgood & Avery freighter 1,067 1888 later Brookdale, scrapped 1923
39 110766 Robert L. Freyer W. H. Gratwick passenger 1,810 1888 scuttled 1930
40 116217 Soo City Delta Transportation passenger 670 1888 foundered 1908
41 116221 Servia Hawgood & Avery freighter 1,425 1888 burned 1898
42 120710 Frank D. Ewen Hawgood & Avery freighter 882 1888 abandoned 1928
43 136001 Eber Ward Ward SS Line freighter 1,843 1888 foundered 1909
44 76748 John V. Moran Ward SS Line freighter 1,350 1888 sank 1899
45 86031 George W. Roby Roby Transportation freighter 1,843 1889 burned 1906
46 76786 John M. Nicol Crescent Transportation freighter 2,126 1889 wrecked 1906
47 76792 John Mitchell Gratwick, Smith & Fryer freighter 1,865 1889 later Major 1902, converted to dry-dock 1920, burned 1941
48 120746 Fedora Jas. McBrier freighter 1,848 1889 burned 1901
49 130432 News Boy King & Voight passenger 199 1889 scrapped 1919
50 92078 Monarch tugboat 95 1889
51 110815 Romeo freighter 61 1889
52 76795 Juliet freighter 61 1889
53 76798 John Plankington R. P. Fitzgerald freighter 1,821 1889 sank 1917
54 150391 Plow Boy T. A. Bishop passenger 114 1889
55 150428 Post Boy R. Armstrong passenger 123 1889
56 140922 Lulu Eddy tugboat 19 1889
57 120748 Fred B. tugboat 16 1889
58 86060 George F. Williams Hawgood & Avery freighter 1,888 1889 scrapped 1913
59 96006 H. Houghton H. Houghton freighter 332 1889 burned 1926
60 126550 Clarence J. Fillmore Mitchell & Co. freighter 410 1889 abandoned 1929
61 76815 John A. Francomb Wayne Transportation freighter 658 1889
62 Dredge No. 2 Bay City Dredging dredge 1889
63 130462 Nyanza Jas. McBrier freighter 1,888 1890 later Landbo 1917, sank 1920
64 106706 A. C. Tuxbury W. H. Sawyer freighter 680 1890 abandoned 1927
65 126609 C. E. Redfern W. H. Sawyer freighter 680 1890 sank 1937
66 81253 W. H. Sawyer W. H. Sawyer freighter 747 1890 sank 1928
67 136106 Edward Smith Wm. H. Gratwick freighter 748 1890 later Zillah 1899, foundered 1926
68 126627 City of Chicago Graham & Morton passenger 1,164 1890 later City of St. Joseph 1916, sank 1942
69 136129 Emily P. Weed Hollister & Woodruff freighter 2,362 Aug 1890 later Savona 1897, wrecked 1905
70 92226 Mackinaw Saginaw Steel freighter 2,578 Oct 1890 later Sawa Maru 1916, torpedoed and lost 1917
71 130647 Newell A. Eddy freighter 1,271 1890 lost 1893
72 155181 Olive Jeanette W. A. Hawgood freighter 1,272 1890 sank 1905
73 161010 Keweenaw Saginaw Steel freighter 2,511 May 1891 missing 1894
74 145555 Tampa D. C. Whitney Jr. freighter 1,972 1891 collision and sank 1923
75 126653 Charles H. Bradley Bradley Lumber freighter 894 1890 burned 1931
76 98904 Michigan Canadian Pacific RR ferry 1730 1891 wrecked 1943
77 120812 F. & P. M. No. 5 Flint & Pere Marquette RR passenger 1,722 1891 later Pere Marquette 5 1902, foundered 1917
78 81317 William F. Sauber Mitchell & Co. freighter 2,053 1891 sank 1903
79 116393 Sailor Boy R. Armstrong passenger 162 1891
80 100484 Iosco Mitchell & Co. freighter 2,051 May 1891 foundered 1905
81 Bay City Dredging 76' Scow 1891
82 Bay City Dredging 76' Scow 1891
83 27647 Yulu Geo. D. Emery tugboat 340 July 1891 later Nicaragua 1917, Rotarian 1919, deleted 1931
84 lightship No. 51 U.S. Lightship Service lightship 375 1892 rammed and sunk 1924
85 lightship No. 52 U.S. Lightship Service lightship 375 1892 sold 1932
86 lightship No. 53 U.S. Lightship Service lightship 375 1892 sold 1953
87 lightship No. 54 U.S. Lightship Service lightship 375 1892 sold 1947
88 25289 Uganda Jas. McBrier freighter 2,054 July 1892 foundered 1913
89 81382 W. H. Gilbert Empire Transportation freighter 2,856 1892 sank in collision 1914
90 77028 John C. Fitzpatrick John C. Fitzpatrick freighter 1,270 1892
91 126887 C. F. Biehlman Stewart Transport freighter 2,056 Aug 1892 scuttled 1926
92 81403 W. G. Wilmot W. G. Wilmot tugboat 150 1892
93 81427 William H. Gratwick Mitchell S.S. Co freighter 2,878 Apr 1893 later Minnekahta 1911, Glenyon 1914, wrecked 1924
94 116558 S. S. Curry Hawgood & Avery freighter 3,260 June 1893 later Elmore 1920, P. W. Sherman 1922, , E. G. Mathiott 1927, scrapped 1936
95 92514 Merida D. Whitney Jr. freighter 3,261 June 1893 foundered 1916
96 92503 Mary E. McLachlan C. McLachlan freighter 1,394 1893 sank 1921
97 141272 L. R. Doty W. A. Hawgood freighter 2056 June 1893 foundered 1898
98 86261 George Stone M. A. Bradley freighter 1,841 July 1893 wrecked 1909
99 136363 Ed McWilliams Hope Transportation freighter 744 1893 later Dan Proctor, scuttled 1937
100 126994 Centurion Hopkins Transportation freighter 3,401 1893 later Alex B. Uhrig 1920, scrapped 1946
101 27656 Yukon Forbes & Wilson freighter 1,602 1893 sank 1905
102 120929 Fashion tugboat 29 1893
103 150670 Pleasure Detroit BJ&W ferry ferry 489 1894 scrapped 1940
104 92601 Minnie E. Kelton P. C. Smith freighter 632 1894 later Rochelle 1913, wrecked 1914
105 77170 John J. McWilliams J. Mitchell freighter 3,400 May 1895 later Central West 1916, M. J. Barthelme 1928, wrecked 1928
106 81507 Wapiti yacht 83 1895
107 100597 J. Watson Stephenson Stephenson Transportation freighter 639 1895 scuttled 1935
108 150705 Penobscot Eddy Bros. & Co. freighter 3,402 Aug 1895 scrapped 1963
109 116676 Silver Spray tugboat 38 1895
110 116684 Simon J. Murphy Murphy Bros. freighter 1,381 Oct 1895 later Melville Dollar 1901, Tallac 1907, wrecked 1920
111 161078 Katahdin H. W. McCormick freighter 1,381 Oct 1895 collision and sank 1918
112 141481 L. C. Waldo Roby Tptn Co freighter 4244 Mar 1896 later Riverton 1916, Mohawk Deer 1944, wrecked 1967
113 127131 City of Bangor Eddy Bros. & Co. freighter 3,690 Mar 1896 wrecked 1926
114 136547 E. W. Oglebay D. C. Whitney freighter 3,666 May 1896 scuttled 1927
115 141432 Lagonda Etna SS Co. freighter 3,647 July 1896 scrapped 1958
116 86367 George Stephenson Bessemer S.S. Co freighter 4,584 Oct 1896 scrapped 1963
117 77231 James Nasmyth Bessemer S.S. Co barge 3,422 Aug 1896 later Merle H 1937, Pic River 1949, scrapped 1978
118 116741 Sir Isaac Lothian Bell Bessemer S.S.Co barge 3,418 Oct 1896 later Blanche H 1937, Black River 1949, Tuxpancliffe 1979, scrapped 1983
119 150740 Pere Marquette Flint & Pere Marquette RR ferry 5,580 Feb 1897 later Pere Marquette 15 1902, scrapped 1935
120 81561 W. LeBaron Jenney barge 3,422 1897 later Colindoc, scrapped 1973
121 130738 Niagara J. L. Crosthwaite freighter 1,951 1897
122 11163 Robert W. Wilmot W. G. Wilmot tugboat 407 1897 to USN 1898 as Potomac (AT-50), sold 1922, deleted 1981
123 81584 William H. Brown W. H. Brown & Co tugboat 470 Nov 1897 to USN 1898 as Piscataqua (AT-49), barge in Manila 1931
124 116841 Samuel F. B. Morse Bessemer S.S. Co laker 4,936 Aug 1898 later Wychem 105 1954, scrapped 1974
125 77308 John Fritz Bessemer S.S. Co barge 4,693 1898 scuttled 1968
126 77310 John A. Roebling Bessemer S.S.Co barge 4,693 1898 scuttled 1968
127 77362 Jesse Spalding Spalding Lumber Co freighter 1,043 July 1899 later Mooremack 1916, Vindal 1918, Cordova 1923, J. C. Pearson 1925, Rockwood 1935, scrapped 1963
After the sale of his shipyard to American Ship Building Wheeler ordered these next two hulls for himself from Craig Shipbuilding as their Hulls 85 & 86
128 3904 Buckman United Fruit SS Co. passenger 1,820 Dec 1901 subcontracted to Craig SB, Admiral Evans 1914, scrapped 1936
129 81788 Watson United Fruit SS Co. passenger 1,820 Dec 1901 subcontracted to Craig SB, Admiral Watson 1915, scrapped 1935
Built by West Bay City Shipbuilding/AmShip West Bay City
39 100707 Isaac L. Ellwood Pittsburgh S.S. Co. laker 5,085 May 1900 subcontract from Cleveland SB, scrapped 1961
40 81702 William Edenborn Pittsburgh S.S. Co. laker 5,085 June 1900 subcontract from Cleveland SB, scrapped 1962
600 117033 A. D. Werner Calumet Transportation barge 2,279 Apr 1901 scrapped 1950
601 107635 A. W. Thompson Calumet Transportation barge 2,279 Apr 1901 scrapped 1920
602 141717 Lake Shore J. C. Gilchrist laker 3,871 June 1901 later Indys 1913, Altadoc 1926, wrecked 1927
603 86569 Gilchrist J. C. Gilchrist laker 3,871 June 1901 later Lupus 1913, Prindoc 1926, sank 1943
604 136977 Etruria Robert B. Wallace laker 4,744 Apr 1902 collision and sank 1905
605 3925 Bransford H. A. Hawgood laker 4,744 Apr 1902 later John H. McLean 1916, Clifford F. Hood 1944, scrapped 1974
606 141793 L. C. Smith United States Transportation laker 4,744 May 1902 later Sweden 1916, scrapped 1961
607 107778 A. E. Stewart A. E. Stewart laker 3,943 July 1902 later Glenorchy 1919, sank after collision 1924
608 86667 G. Watson French C. W. Elphicke laker 3,883 Apr 1903 later Henry P. Werner 1923, John J. Boland Jr. 1937, Algoway 1940, scrapped 1964
609 117248 Sinaloa Superior S.S. Co laker 4,539 May 1903 later William F. Rapprich 1924, Sinaloa 1928, Stonefax 1960, scrapped 1971
610 117266 Sonoma Duluth S.S. Co laker 4,539 June 1903 later David S. Troxel 1924, Sonoma 1928, Fred L. Hewitt 1947, scrapped 1962
611 200378 Frank W. Gilchrist Gilchrist Tptn Co laker 4,551 Oct 1903 later Cepheus 1913, Mantadoc 1926, R. G. Sanderson 1963, scrapped 1983
612 200479 J. L. Weeks Gilchrist Tptn Co laker 4,551 Nov 1903 later Corvus 1913, scrapped 1950
613 201840 Sylvania Duluth S.S. Co laker 6,272 Apr 1905 later D. M. Philbin 1915, Sylvania 1930, scrapped 1983
614 202088 Socapa Superior S.S. Co laker 6,272 June 1905 later George G. Barnum 1915, Hennepin 1937, scrapped 1975
615 202443 Henry C. Frick Pittsburgh S.S. Co laker 6,490 Sep 1905 later Michipicoten 1964, scrapped 1972
616 202867 James B. Wood Gilchrist Tptn Co laker 7,159 Mar 1906 later Arcturus 1913, sank under tow 1962
617 202910 John Sherwin Gilchrist Tptn Co laker 7,159 Mar 1906 later Saturn 1958, George M. Steinbrenner 1958, Kinsman Venture 1969, scuttled 1970
618 203184 Charles Weston Tonawanda Transit laker 6,996 June 1906 later J. Leonard Replogle 1916, Saucon 1925, scrapped 1950
619 203507 Daniel J. Morrell Cambria S.S.Co laker 7,239 Sep 1906 broke in two and sank 1966
620 203658 James S. Dunham Chicago Nav Co laker 4,795 Nov 1906 later Lynford E. Geer 1926, Otto M. Reiss 1934, scrapped 1972
621 203974 General Garretson Wilson Transit Co. laker 6,765 Apr 1907 later E. J. Kulas 1935, Powhatan 1936, Charles A. Paul 1937, B. F. Jones 1956, scrapped 1973
622 203980 H. P. McIntosh Wilson Transit Co. laker 6,765 Apr 1907 later Edward S. Kendrick 1934, scrapped 1973
623 204136 Henry Phipps Pittsburgh S.S. Co laker 7,240 1907 scrapped 1976
624 204346 Hemlock Interlake S.S. Co laker 4,796 July 1907 scrapped 1960
76 204631 Arthur H. Hawgood H. A. Hawgood laker 6,486 1907 subcontract from Chicago SB, scrapped 1978
173 204864 Caldera Croxton SS Co. laker 6,328 1908 subcontract from Detroit SB, scrapped 1968
625 205106 Alexis W. Thompson Valley S.S. Co laker 6,436 July 1908 later W. H. Becker 1922, Edward N. Saunders Jr. 1933, Ernest R. Johnson 1955, scrapped 1962
626 205250 W. R. Woodford Hawgood S.S. Co laker 6,929 June 1908 later N. F. Leopold 1912, E. J. Block 1944, scrapped 1987

Printed from shipbuildinghistory.njscuba.net