Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of the Great Lakes Illustrated, In Two Volumes, Vol. II Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1899 Page 28 CAPTAIN JOHN PRINDIVILLE is one of the oldest and best known vessel men in Chicago. His career on the lakes, which has been one of interesting incident and com- mercial success, began in 1837 when he was a lad of eleven years. Captain Prindiville was born September 7, 1826, in County Kerry, Ireland twelve miles from the lakes of Killarney. In 1835 he came to the United States, and after one year spent in Detroit he, in 1836, removed to Chicago. His education was received in the private schools of that city, which pre- ceded the public institutions, Edward Mur- phy being his first teacher. But the edu- cation of the young lad was directed largely to the practical affairs of life, an instance of which was that he could understand the language of the Indian tribes then dwelling on the shores of the lakes. In 1837 our subject became cabin boy in the schooner Hiram Pierson, the first vessel built in Chi- cago. He continued to sail in various ves- sels till, in 1845, he became master of the schooner Liberty. During the three follow- ing seasons he was successively master of the schooners Ark, Col. Benton and Out- ward Bound, and in 1849 of the brigantine Scammon. An important incident in the life of Cap- tain Prindiville during the season of 1850 was the charter of the brigantine Minne- sota, of which he was then master and part owner, to sail from the lakes to Europe. The Minnesota received from England per- mission to take the trip, and leaving Chi- cago October 15, 1850, sailed from the Bruce Mines, Georgian Bay, where she loaded with copper ore, destined for Swan- sea, Wales. She reached Montreal No- vember 12, but the pilot ran the vessel on the rocks while about entering the LaChine canal. By unloading the vessel she was got off and repaired, December 12, but it was then too late to put to sea, and she lay for the winter in Montreal. Thus a Chi- cago-built vessel, commanded by a Chicago boy, twenty-four years of age, was the first American vessel from the American side to attempt the voyage from the lakes to Eng- land. The ore was reshipped from Mon- treal, and the Minnesota returned to the lakes. Captain Prindiville continued to sail her until 1855. In that year he became interested in the propeller Adriatic, and thereafter confined his lake property to steam vessels. He later became interested in the first line of lake tugs in Chicago. He possessed and practiced in his daily life the traits of unselfishness and generosity, and became one of the most popular mas- ters on the lakes. Captain Prindiville closed his active sail- ing upon the lakes in 1869, and since that time he has been interested mainly in vessel property, at one time owning part and di- Page 31 HISTORY OF THE GREAT LAKES recting one of the largest fleets upon the lakes. As a master he was fearless in dan- ger, and for his bravery he is widely known as the "storm king." He is a splendid speciman of the old-time captain and ves- selman, and there is not upon the lakes a sailor of many years who does not know and admire his typical sailing qualities. Off Chicago he has saved many lives, for which he never claimed either praise nor pay; in fact, the greater the danger, the more pleas- ure there was for him. ===========================================================================