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 33 CAPTAIN CHARLES TYLER MORELY, one of the early shipmasters, has been instu- mental in making history on the Great American Lakes, although he has not con- tributed a single vessel to the beach or a man to the depths of the water. He is a highly esteemed and honored citizen of Marine City, and has been elected mayor two successive terms. He is closely identi- fied with the business prosperity of the city, and believes in paternal government. He is not a narrow minded partisan, but re- gards his party as the representative of certain constitutional principals, which he ardently supports. Loyal and amiable in all relations of life, there is a piquant dash of caviare in his character which makes him a charming companion. He is a son of HORACE and MARY (KELLOGG) MORELY, and was born at Sodus Point, N.Y., January 10, 1840. His father was a vessel owner and master on the lakes for many years, and his brother, W. B. MORELY, was a noted shipbuilder at Marine City. TYLER, as he is familiarly known, received but a limited school education by direct attendance in school, but, after he began his life as sailor, he went to school during the winter months and profited well by the opportunities he had. His first experience on the lakes was in 1850 in the schooner Enterprise (owned by his father), as cook, and he seemed to ex- cell in the culinary department, as he was kept in that humble capacity four years, the last two in the schooners Isabella and Australia. He then shipped on various schooners before the mast, and in 1856, he was in the schooner B. R. Lummis with Capt. Andrew Holling, when he rescued the crew of the steamer Northern Indiana, destroyed by fire near Point Pelee, Lake Erie. In 1857 and 1858 he shipped as seaman in the schooner A. B. Williams; 1859, as mate of the schooner B. R. Lummins; 1860, as mate of the Mediterrane- an, and remained on her until the fall of 1861, when he was appointed master of the schooner Mail. He then sailed the schooner Colonel A. B. Williams until the summer of 1863, and then joined the schooner Mediterranean, owned by Rogers & Bates, and sailed her until the close of the season of 1866, when he turned her over to his brother, and stopped ashore the next year. In the spring of 1868 Captain MORELY and his brother, W. B. MORELY, purchased the lake tug Balize, which he sailed two seasons. In 1870 he was appointed master of the George W. Holt, and the next season he sailed the bark Lotus. He then turned his attention entirely to steam, and brought out the new vessel built by Morely & Hill at their shipyard at Marine City. In 1872 he brought out the new steamer D. W. Powers, plying between Marquette and Cleveland in the ore trade; the last trip down that fall he had a cargo of 600 tons Page 34 of ore, the freight rate on which was $6.50 per ton. He was in command of the Powers when she delivered the first cargo of coal ever taken to Duluth by steamboat. In the spring of 1873 he brought out the steamer Jarvis Lord, new, for the Ward Lake Super- ior line, and sailed her two seasons; she was the first steamer to pass Connors Point, at Duluth. The next spring he was appointed master of the steamer N. K. Fairbanks, which was new that season, and commanded her until the close of the season of 1883. The next year he went to Cleveland and opened a ship brokerage office. Returning to the lakes, he sailed the steamer Cumberland during the season of 1885, and the next spring brought out the steamer Samuel F. Hodge, closing the season as master of the new steamer William H. Stevens. In 1887 he assumed the command of the new steamer Louisiana, in which he owned an interest, and sailed her two years. In 1889 he associated himself in the ship- building business of Morely & Hill, at Marine City, and after constructing the steamer St. Lawrence he brought her out new in the spring of 1890, and sailed her that season. He then retired from active life on shipboard and assumed his place in the shipyard as financial manager, since which time they have built the steamers J. J. Hill and W. B. Morely, the firm owning controlling interests in the last three steamers built, and which are managed by Capt. Tyler Morely. He also has a pleasure yacht, on which he enjoys an escape from business cares. His is a 32d-degree Mason, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, a Knight of Pythias, and a mem- ber of the Ship Masters Association, holding Pennant No. 465. In January, 1881, Captain MORELY was wedded to Miss ALICE, daughter of WILLIAM R. PETTIT, of Cleveland. The children born to this union are HORACE W. and HELEN. The family homestead is on Main street, Marine City, Michigan.