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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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History of the Great Lakes
Illustrated, In Two Volumes, Vol. II
Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1899

           [197-198]

                   CAPTAIN JOHN MINER, one of Detroit's best known masters
                and vessel owners has been sailing on the lakes over fifty
                years, forty-two years of which he continuously owned and
                commanded vessels.
                   CAPTAIN MINER was born in Montreal in the year 1831, and
                removed with his parents to Detroit, Mich., in 1834. At the
                age of fourteen he went on the lakes, andat the age of
                twenty he built the sloop Sweeper. He thereafter, in suc-
                cession, built, owned and commanded the Michigan Flower,
                Storm, Whittlesey, J. B. Chapin, schooner Kate Hinchman,
                bark John Miner; beside these he built three for others,
                owned with others the Victory, Star and brig Concord.
                   After the schooner John Miner, he purchased and command-
                ed the large and powerful tug William Goodnow. with which
                for a number of years he was engaged in towing, through the
                rivers and lakes, vessels and rafts, some of which were
                record breakers for large and heavy tows. He subsequently
                owned and was master of the following named steamers and
                schooners: The Magnet, steamers Benton, Mary Mills,
                schooner George Worthington, steamer Henry Howard, schooner
                Morton, steamer Empire, schooner John S. Richards. He then
                designed and built the fast passenger propeller Skater,
                which after commanding two seasons he sold.
                   In all these years he has not lost a man by accident,
                nor any of the twenty-two boats commanded by him. His remi-
                niscences of the early days of sailing, and his experience
                on the lakes are most interesting. It can be said for the
                Captain that he has never been addicted to the use of
                tobacco or liquors of any kind, and in his business deal-
                ings he has always been most conscientious and honest. With
                just pride he has always been much interested in the art of
                fancy ice skating, in which his ability has been excelled
                by none in his days as is testified by many prizes, such as
                medals and other trophies won by him in contests. In this
                he has earned a high reputation throughout all the princi-
                pal cities of the United States and Canada, and though well
                advanced in years he practices every winter, and is so
                surprisingly skillful as to be always an attraction to the
                public.
                   He is now interested in a patented skate, capable of the
                most efficient speed. He was also the inventor of the
                balance rudder, so extensively used on steamers, besides
                several other patented improvements.
                   In 1851 CAPTAIN MINER was married to Miss JULIA BUSHA,
                of Grosse Isle, Mich., and they have living three children,
                now all married (the younger son JOHN, then twenty years
                old, died in 1891); CAPT. FRANK J. MINER, who was on the
                lakes for a number of years, is at present in business in
                Detroit; the daughters are Mrs. JENNIE PARKER and Mrs. IDA
                SEIDLER, all residing in Detroit.

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