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. =========================================================================== St. Joseph Herald Saturday, April 14, 1888 A dispatch from Burlington, Wis., of April 6th, says: "FRANCIS McCUMBER, the oldest Lake captain residing in the United States, died here yester- day, aged 82 years. In a letter to 'Long John' Wentworth, of Chicago, CAPT. McCUMBER said: 'I came to Chicago in July, 1834, in command of the schooner Thomas Hart, of Carthage, on the Genesee river; there was no harbor then, and we lay one mile from the mouth of the river and discharged our cargo with a scow at the forks of the river - mostly Indian goods. There were many Indians at Chicago at that time. We went from Chicago to St. Joseph, got into the river, and discharged he rest of our cargo there - Indian supplies - shoveled in sand for ballast, and left for Buf- falo. I think the first shipment of wheat from Lake Michigan was made in that year. The wheat was stored at St. Joseph. I tried to get it; went up the river to Cassopolis on the steamer Davy Crockett to find the owner, but he had con- tracted with one of OLIVER NEWBERRY'S vessels, the Marengo, CAPT. DINGLEY, master, who died the same year of cholera at Detroit. I am 82 years old and my memory is failing. I am here on a little farm quietly waiting the end.' " ===========================================================================