Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2017 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Buffalo Courier Monday, February 28, 1876 IN MEMORIAM THE LATE CAPT. WM. T. PEASE - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH by an OLD CITIZEN. Contributed to the Courier. The old landmarks and the men who moved and took an active part in the early trade and commerce of the lakes, are fast passing away, one of whom, the subject of this article, is worthy of more than a passing notice. The late CAPT. WM. T. PEASE was born in Derby, Conn., an inland town at the junction of Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers and seven miles from Stratford, where the Housatonic enters Long Island Sound, seven miles from Bridgeport and ten miles from New Haven. His immediate relations on his mother's side were sailors. CAPT. SHELDEN THOMPSON, one of the most prominent and early pioneers of lake navigation, was his mother's brother. Another brother, WILLIAM THOMPSON, was a shipmaster. CAPT. PEASE, when quite a youth, went from New Haven, Ct., on a voyage to Spain and Ireland in the ship Kesiah with him, he was only eight years old when he returned home. BOYS IN THOSE DAYS earned their living much younger than at the present time. CAPT. PEASE came out from Derby to try his fortunes upon the lakes in 1817 in company with our townsman, JOHN L. KIMBERLY. They came by the way of Oswego and took passage on a schooner commanded by a CAPT. KING, thence to Lewiston, from which place they WALKED TO BLACK ROCK twenty-seven miles, stopping a short time to see Niagara Falls. His uncle, SHELDON THOMPSON, had been out some time before, living at Black Rock, having previously lived at Lewiston. He shipped at once on board the schooner Michigan as cabin boy, with CAPT. WALTER NORTON, who, commanded her, and who was also from Connecti- cut, and had known CAPT. PEASE'S family there. The Michigan was owned by Sill, Thompson & Co., of Black Rock. Buffalo was NOT THEN A SHIPPING PORT, the Niagara river at Black Rock affording all the shipping facilities then known. from that time, 1817, he went through all the grades from cabin boy, cook, seaman before the mast, to 2d mate, 1st mate, and to Captain, all in the same employ. In 1822 or 1823, he took the command of the schooner Erie, at the age of 19 or 20 years, trading from Black Rock to Detroit and intermediate ports, and occasion- ally to Mackinaw, the American Fur Co. and the war department transporting soldiers and provisions furnishing most of the business. At that early age, CAPT. PEASE showed that NATURAL APTITUDE for his profession that in after years placed him at the head of it - in command of the finest steamers upon our lakes. He was in command of several vessels the fol- lowing years; he was 1st mate of the steamer Superior previous to taking command of the Pioneer, his first steamer, and about the third one built upon the lakes. The Pioneer was lost at Fairport, Ohio, while under his command. He commanded the steamer Superior several years, also the Niagara and Michi- gan. At this time, and for a while, he RETIRED FROM THE LAKES and lived at Detroit 1837 and 1838, having bought out Dorr & Jones, forwarding and shipping merchants at that place, their interest in steamers and sail vessels. The firm was Pease, Chester & Co., TARLETON JONES being the junior partner, CAPT. E. P. DORR having in 1838 commanded two vessels in their employ, the schooners White Pigeon and Juliette. The changes of trade caused the firm to dissolve, and CAPT. PEASE again RETURNED TO THE LAKES He commanded the steamers Boston, Alabama, (Reed's) Niagara, the Crescent City, and the Western Metropolis. After changing from side wheel to screw vessels, he sailed the propellers Mendota, Dacotah, and Fountain City. About 1866 he was APPOINTED U. S. INSPECTOR of steamboats at Buffalo, a place he re- tained until his death. He was a genial kind-hearted man, an efficient good sailor, and will long be remembered and regretted from our midst. His time went back to the early days of sailing and navigation upon these western lakes. There are but few left, going back to that time, and very soon there will be none left. ==========================================================================