Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, 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. =========================================================================== Source: The Milwaukee Journal January 9, 1947 VETERAN LAKE CAPTAIN DEAD --------------- Herman Oertling A white haired Lake Michigan captain who retired just about when high powered machinery superseded the old sailors' work, died Wednes- day at his home. Capt. Herman Oertling, 1539 N. 50th st., who was in his eighty-third year and retired the last 14, saw the giant cranes of this day empty a 10,000 ton ore boat in 10 hours and knew, not without regret, that the cranes heralded the end of his era. When Mr. Oertling first sailed, back in the 1870's, a man did his own unloading. The small, crane propelled buckets lifted the top layers out of the wooden sailing craft, but the coal in the bottom of the hold was shoveled by a sailor. At the age of 19, Mr. Oertling captained his first cargo boat, a small sailing vessel built by his father, the late Herman Oertling, sr. For the next 50 years, the son com- manded lumber, iron ore, grain and coal ships moving to Superior and Buffalo, N.Y., and through the low- er lakes region. He played a part in the change from the wood to the steel age. Before the turn of the century he distributed lumber from 19 sawmills in Ashland to business- men and builders in the lower lake region. He watched the sawmills close up one by one. Surviving Capt. Oertling are his daughter, Lucile Oertling, and a sis- ter, Mrs. H. C. Burger, Milwaukee. Services will be held at 1:45 p.m. Saturday at the Schmidt & Bartelt funeral home, 5050 W. Vliet st., un- der the auspices of Excelsior lodge, No. 175, F. & A. M., to which Mr. Oertling belonged. Burial will be in Forest Home cemetery. =========================================================================== ===========================================================================