My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. SAMUEL G. LANGLEY. Pleasantly located on Langley Avenue and commanding a fine view of the St. Joseph River stands an elegant and commodious residence, which is considered one of the loveliest of St. Joseph’s many attractive homes. This was the residence of the late Capt. Langley and is now occupied by his widow. The family name is a very familiar one to the people of Berrien County, not only through Capt. Langley‘s close association with its progress, but also through Langley Avenue, which was laid out by him and donated to the city, and is now one of its principal thoroughfares.

Our subject was descended from a long line of patriotic forefathers, who traced their ancestry to Scotland and England. His maternal grandfather, Gov. Hilton, is remembered as the first Governor of the State of Massachusetts and was a man of great ability. Our subject was born in Lee County, N. Y., August 11, 1813, and was the son of Samuel G. and Sallie (Hilton) Langley, natives respectively of New York and Massachusetts. When a mere child he shipped as cabin boy on an ocean steamer and was on the sea until 1832, when he came to St. Joseph and sailed the brig “Napoleon,” which was the first steam brig used on Lake Michigan. He sailed the “Earl of Cathcart” from Kingston to Detroit, when she was bought by C. B. Backus, of Detroit, and took his name, being afterwards called the propeller “C. B. Backus.” She was the first propeller on the Lakes. Afterward he built and partly owned several steam brigs which he sailed on the lake. At the same time, in partnership with Capt. Hilton, he was engaged in the elevator business at St. Joseph.

At the time of his death our subject was the oldest Captain on Lake Michigan. During the years in which he was engaged on the lake he received several medals, presented to him as a token of appreciation for brave and efficient service on the lake at various times. He received a fine silver service for saving and rescuing the crew of the steamer “E. H. Collins,” burned in Detroit River October 8, 1854. He also saved the lives of the crews of four vessels on Lake Erie the same year. Mrs. Langley has in her possession a gold-headed cane presented to the Captain in 1861 by Prince Napoleon for service rendered him while on the Captain’s vessel. His death occurred on the propellor “Favorite” in the Chicago harbor from heart disease, June 4, 1870.

On February 2, 1843, Capt. Langley was united in marriage with Miss Sara M. Fitzgerald, of Albany, N. Y., the ceremony being performed by Bishop McCloskey, of Detroit. The bride was the daughter of Edmond A. and Sarah A. (Hilton) Fitzgerald, natives of Ireland, who emigrated early in life to the United States when they were both single. The marriage of Capt. and Mrs. Langley was blessed by the birth of four children: Capt. John H.; Samuel G., Jr.; Frank F., who is at home; and Emma A., wife of J. J. McLeod, of Detroit, Mich. Mrs. Langley is a member of the Universalist Church, with which her husband was identified for many years. In addition to her residence in St. Joseph, she is the owner of ninety-seven acres in the suburbs of the city, the value of which is rapidly increasing. Capt. Langley was a charter member of Occidental Lodge No. 56, A. F. & A. M., and was one of its active workers until the time of his death. In politics he was a stanch Republican.