My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. NELSON W. NAPIER. This sketch would be incomplete were no mention made of the brave Capt. Nelson W. Napier. He was born near Ashtabula, Ohio, in 1822, and when quite young he came to St. Joseph, of which city he was ever afterward a resident. Early in life he went to sea, and his bravery and the excellent service rendered his superiors secured his promotion from time to time. At the age of twenty-one he was captain of a vessel. In 1842, during a terrible gale, the schooner he was then sailing went to pieces, but he and his crew succeeded in getting off. Afterward he sailed the brig “Scott” out of St. Joseph, later had one of Naghten’s brigs, and then a Buffalo steamer called the “Baltic.” Subsequently he entered the service of the Western Transportation Company and sailed the “Free Trade” for a number of years, and later was Captain of the “Forest Queen” for a number of years. He was successively Captain of the “Montezuma” and the “Favorite,” both built by the old Chicago jewelry firm of Edwards Bros., and after that he entered the employ of the Goodrich Transportation Company, with which he remained actively connected, with the exception of one year, until the time of his death.

In 1882, at the opening of the season, Capt. Napier was put in command of the “Alpena,” which on the 16th of October, the same year, on the trip between Grand Haven and Chicago, went down with all on board. A terrible gale set in on Friday night, and continued through Saturday and Sunday, carrying destruction with it. The citizens of St. Joseph were fearful that when the storm subsided a dreadful tale of disaster would be told by the mighty waters of Lake Michigan. As soon as the storm ceased on Tuesday, reports began to come in over the wires from different points, telling of the safety of this or that vessel, or stating that no tidings had been received of certain steamers, and in the last-named list the attention of the citizens of this section of the State was centered upon the gallant steamer “Alpena,” belonging to the Goodrich Transportation Company, and commanded by the noble Capt. Nelson W. Napier.

On Monday afternoon dispatches were received stating that a portion of the upper deck of the “Alpena” had been found near Holland, also that a stair-railing and pail marked “Alpena” had been discovered off Holland. Still the friends of those on board would not give up hope. Late Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Nye, of Holland, sent a message to Supt. Lawler, of St. Joseph, that portions of the wrecked steamer were fast coming to shore at that point, and requesting that if any friends of those on board desired to come, they should take the 7:15 train. This telegram destroyed the last hope. Dr. L. I. McLin, son-in-law of the Captain, Don Morrison and Frank H. Platt took the first train to Holland, and the Captain’s sons followed the next day.

The “Alpena” had left Grand Haven Friday evening about nine o’clock with a good cargo of freight and a crew and passenger list of between sixty and eighty, and during the fiercest part of the storm, disabled and buffeted by the waves, she went to pieces amid the wild waters not many miles from Holland. It may be supposed that the noble Captain was cool and undaunted in the midst of the horrors of the scene, and that even at the last his voice rang out clear and calm above the roar of the tempest. But none from that fated vessel ever lived to tell the story of its wreck. All found a grave beneath the surging billows on that dreadful October day.

The noble woman who for many years was the devoted helpmate of the Captain, and who now resides in St. Joseph, was a native of Connecticut and bore the maiden name of Henrietta H. Scoville. There was a family of nine children, of whom four are living: Edward, Arthur and Nelson W., who are all sailing on the Lakes; and Frank L., of St. Joseph. The children deceased are: Jack H.; Addie, who became the wife of Dr. L. I. McLin, and at her death left one son, Hubert; Emma, Elizabeth and Emma. It will be observed that two of the deceased daughters were named Emma. In person, the Captain was tall and well-proportioned, with a kindly, genial face, dark eyes, and hair frosted with the snows of many winters — a fine-looking, well-preserved man. He was descended from a long line of Scotch ancestry, and seemed good for many years of contact with the elements of wind and wave, among which so large a part of his busy life had been spent. In his long career on the Lakes, he had many a narrow escape from the fury of the elements, but in spite of his frequent contact with the dangers of the deep, he scarcely knew what danger was, and yet he was not of the dare-devil, reckless sort, but simply fearless, though at the same time prudent and mindful of the responsibility which rested upon him. Probably no better tribute could be paid him than those simple words of his lake companion for many years, “He was a good man.” Politically, he was a Republican.

Frank L. Napier, son of our subject. Clerk of the city of St. Joseph, and Deputy Sheriff of Berrien County, is a young man of exceptional ability and great promise. He has been a lifelong resident of St. Joseph, where he was born on the 23d of September, 1866. In his childhood he gained the rudiments of his education in the city schools, and later entered Olivet (Mich.) College, where he carried on his studies for a period of two and one-half years. At the close of his literary studies, he entered upon a seafaring life, and for a time sailed on Lakes Michigan, Huron, Superior and Erie, spending six years altogether in this way. At one time he was wrecked on Lake Huron, off Sioux River, on the steamer “Joseph L. Herd,” and drifted for four days and three nights before being rescued. He had received successive promotions until he had worked his way up to the position of first mate on the Goodrich line.

Retiring from the Lakes, Mr. Napier engaged in the real-estate business at St. Joseph. As a member of the Republican party he has always taken a prominent part in politics, and has officiated as City Clerk for one year. In 1893 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff for a period of two years, and is the present incumbent of that office. Socially, he is identified with Twin City Lodge, K. P., and is also a member of the National Union.