Captain Jonathan "John" Wallace Archer

3 Jan 1905 Kalamazoo Gazette Famous Old Sea Captain Dead John W. Archer, half century, master of vessels Was in 7 Wrecks Storm Tossed on Atlantic Last Voyage at 72

Captain John W Archer, one of the most remarkable in point of experience who ever resided in Kalamazoo, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Sheppard Oliver, at 116 Catherine St., Monday afternoon, aged 77 years. Captain Archer was born in France and when 14 years old came to America locating Shaftesburg (Shaftsbury), Vermont, where for a number of years he went to school winters and sailed in the coast fishing fleet in summer. He left the seminary to follow the sea and at the age of 21 was captain of a vessel, the schooner Laura, in the West Indian Trade. 15 years he sailed the ocean, both in the New Foundland fishing and the foreign trade. In the former service Captain Archer brought the first cargo of frozen herring from New Foundland to the New York market. In the employ of the great New York merchants he brought cargoes from the Mediterranean, the west Africa coast, the Indian Ocean, and China, Japan, and South America. 7 times in the 15 years of his ocean sailing he was wrecked. The first was when the schooner Morris enroute for New York was shattered in a fierce gale off the Jersey coast. 3 men out of the crew of 29 reached shore--washed upon the beach as they clung to a floating hatch. The captain lay half frozen on the sand for hours before he was able to make his way to shelter. Captain Archer left the salt water in 1861 to sail the Lakes, and in the 40 years of work that followed became one of the most famous navigators of the inland seas. He was employed by a number of the lumber and mineral kings of Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio, and weathered the gales of every bay and cape on the Lakes. In 1869 while master of the Arrow crossing from Saugatuck to Milwaukee, he encountered a storm that blew out the upper riggings and booms. A flying boom struck him on the head and hurled him almost over the side when his jaw was caught by a hook that held him on board. He was in the hospital for months and carried the scars of his awful experience during the rest of his life. The captain was several years master of the FS Stockbridge, owned by the late US Senator Stockbridge, and by him sold to Lewis Hutt of Chicago and rechristened the LS Hutt. Under the new ownership he sailed her 15 years longer. It was while reading of the funeral of Mr. Hutt that the Captain was stricken and 10 minutes after was dead. His last voyage before retiring 5 years ago, was when he took the Starke from Chicago through the Lakes and St. Lawrence River down the Atlantic coast and through the tropic gulf to Galveston (Texas). It was a fitting close to his long and stormy sea career. During the winters, when Lake navigation was closed, the old sailor became a skillful hunter and trapper, spending a month in Delta county at this occupation nearly every year. A souvenir of his last trip in 1901, is a beautiful silver lynx skin which he presented to his daughter Mrs. Sheppard Oliver, with whom he has made his home since retiring. It was on this last hunting excursion that paralysis put an end to his active work. There survive 5 daughters: Mrs. S. J. Herron of Chicago, editor of an art journal being the oldest. The younger daughters are Mrs. Walter Oliver of Cloverdale, Mrs. Charles Ford of Austin, Illinois, Mrs. Sheppard Oliver of Kalamazoo, and Miss Lillian Archer of Battle Creek. No funeral arrangements have yet been made.

2 days later:

Funeral today. Captain Archer's remains to be buried at Otsego. The funeral of Captain John W. Archer will be held at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Sheppard Oliver, 216 Catherine St., at 3:00 this afternoon. Services will be private for relatives and friends. The Rev. J E Smith of the First Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will take place Thursday morning at Otsego where have been Mrs. Archer and several of their children.

5 Jan 1905: Otsego Union; only including information not in Kalamazoo article since it appears that much was copied from the Kalamazoo Telegraph: Captain Archer Dead Remains interred in Mt. Home Cemetery this afternoon The wife and 2 children of the deceased are buried here. He was once a member of Otsego Lodge F&AM (mason) and of the Otsego Baptist Church.