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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
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History of Manistee, MASON and Oceana counties, Michigan
H. R. Page & Co., Chicago - 1882

-54-

                   UNITED STATES LIFE SAVING STATION
                   
        In November, 1879, the Life Saving Station at this point was
   completed and Capt. J. J. BROWN placed in charge.
        The station is a neat two-story structure, and everything about
   it is kept neat as wax-work.  The situation of the station, however,
   shows a reprehensible degree of ignorance, or a stupendous blunder
   on the part of whoever had charge of its location.  Instead of being
   at a convenient point, it is situated on Pere Marquette Lake, several
   rods below the channel, thus necessitating a long row before Lake
   Michigan is reached.
        In 1880 there was a crew of six men.  The crew was increased
   to seven in 1881, and to eight men in 1882.  All members of the
   crew are of the same rank, but are designated by numbers.  The
   present crew is as follows.
        J. J. BROWN, Captain; JESSE T. BROWN, No. 1; HENRY W. BEAUPRE,
   No. 2; CHARLES LUFTS, No. 3; WILLIAM LUFTS, No. 4; WILLIAM WISHART,
   No. 5; DANIEL D. LUDWIG, No. 6; VAN B. LUDWIG, No. 7; JOHN STRAM, No. 8.
        The station is what is called a "Complete Station," and is
   equipped with a self-bailing and self-righting boat, one Long Branch
   surf boat, a life car, and beach apparatus.
        The station has assisted six wrecks since it was established,
   three in 1879, two in 1880 and one in 1881.
        Capt. J. J. BROWN, who has charge of the station, was born at
   Sheboygan, Wis., in 1844.  In 1861 he went to Chicago, and from
   there followed sailing on the lake for several years.  In 1877 he
   returned to Sheboygan and remained there until coming here in 1879.
   He is a courteous gentleman and a brave, competent officer.
        JESSE T. BROWN, No. 1 surfman, is a brother of Capt. BROWN,
   and was born in Sheboygan, Wis., in 1841.  At sixteen years of
   age he began sailing on the lakes and continued at that until 1862,
   when he enlisted in Company M. Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry, and
   was in the service until the close of the war.  After returning
   North he sailed the lakes until 1880, when he came to Ludington
   and has been continued in the Life Saving Service since that time.
   
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