Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read USGenNet Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= USGenNet 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 91-92 C. L. BARRON, Detroit, Mich., chief engineer of the steamer City of Milwaukee, was born on the Michigan side of the St. Clair river. His parents, BENJAMIN and CATHARINE (YAX) BARRON, were French Canadian, the former a native of Montreal, and the latter born on the St. Clair river. The father was a blacksmith by occupation, and carried on that business at Marine City, formerly Newport, Mich., where he settled and raised his family, and at which place his death occurred in 1855. His wife died two years previous. Our subject passed his boyhood at Newport, where he received training in the common schools, and there learned the trade of a blacksmith with his father. At the age of twenty years he entered the machine shop of E. B. WARD, in Newport, where he remained three years and completed his trade. At about this time, MR. WARD built and ran the largest line of boats on the lakes, Newport being then head- quarters for steamboats, and at this point he established large re- pairing and erecting shops. In 1855, on leaving these shops, young BARRON sailed on the steamer Huron as second engineer, his first experience in steamboating. The Huron was the property of MR. WARD, and ran between Detroit and Saginaw. The following season (1856) he took charge of the steamer Samuel Ward as chief engineer, and was with her two years, running the same route. The three seasons fol- lowing he was on the steamer Ruby between Detroit and Lexington, and then for eight years he was with the steamer Susan Ward, owned by E. WARD & STRACHAN, of Detroit, which was in the trade between Detroit, Saginaw and Toledo. He was then on the propeller Annie L. Craig for four seasons, which ran between Buffalo and Chicago. From the Annie L. Craig he went to the steamer Dove, which ran between Detroit and Amherstburg, and remained on her three years. After this he took charge of CAPT. DARIUS COLE'S line of steamers — the Alpena and Green Bay City, plying between Bay City and Alpena. He remained with CAPTAIN COLE six years. For a period of ten years following he was in the employ of JOHN P. CLARK as chief engineer on the steamer Pearl, which plied between Put-in-Bay and Cleveland. From the Pearl he went into the service of the D. & M. R. R. line, taking charge of the City of Milwaukee, and has been with her for the past ten years, it being understood that when the boat was leased to the Graham & Morton Transportation Co., that the engineer and captain were to go with her. In 1891 he moved from Detroit to Grand Haven, where he remained till 1896, when he removed to Benton Harbor, still remaining in charge of the steamer City of Milwaukee, running between Benton Harbor and Chicago in the interests of the Graham & Morton line. During the year of 1854 MR. BARRON was married to Miss CLARISSA, daughter of WILLIAM C. and CATHERINE (DROULARD) CRAMPTON, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Canada, and to this marriage were born the following children: WILLIAM, CHARLES, JAMES, KATE, CARRIE and ELLA, all of whom are living. The mother of these children died September 2, 1893, and in September, 1895, he married his second wife, Mrs. MARY O'DELL, of Detroit, born in that city of Irish des- cent, and on December 9, 1897, a son named ROBERT was born to them. Our subject is now in his forty-second year of service of sailing on the lakes, during which time he has encountered many storms, but met with no serious accidents. He also possesses forty issues of license as marine engineer, the last one being for five years. He is hale and hearty, and to all appearances is good for many years more of active life. Socially, he is a member of Star Lodge No. 13, of Detroit, A. O. U. W.; of Crescent Lodge (sick benefit) of the same city; of the National Dotare of Grand Haven, and the M. E. B. A., No. 3, of Detroit. In politics he is a Republican. He resides at No. 122 Church street, Benton Harbor, ========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more information about Great Lakes Maritime History by by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/mi/glm/ ==========================================================================