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1930; Inland Lloyd's Vessel Register Canadian Hulls 1890, 1892 and 1897; Marine Museum of the Great Lakes Canadian Ship Registers on line; Metcalfe Canvas and Steam on Quinte Waters; Milwaukee Public Library Great Lakes Marine Collection; British Whig 26 April and 28 May 1890; Marine Review 24 March and 14 July 1898; Neilson "Montreal Transportation Company" Freshwater 1989; Scanner January 1973. 94 MINNESOTA ex HECTOR river barge. 1883-1895. 371 tons new measurement, 322 tons register, 138.8'. Capacity 20,000 bushels. As rebuilt was 325.82 tons gross and 137.42'. Built in 1862 at Quebec City by Tait. Round stern. No masts. 1873 rated A2 and valued at $6,500. 1878 rated 2 and still valued at $6,500. 1884 rated B1. 1886 classed coarse freight only [see definitions]. Her owner was probably J.H. Henderson in 1869-70. She was rebuilt at Montreal in 1871 (Mills said 1873 and the 1878 register said 1874) and renamed at about that time. She had become a St. Lawrence & Chicago Forwarding Co. (Coulthurst) vessel by 1873 and came to Montreal Transportation Co. when they took over that firm. She was apparently not active on the upper river in 1884 but was given some new frames in 1885. Not active on the upper river 1886. Broken up. She was removed from the register on 27 April 1899. Minnesota was newly open for white settlement in the 1860s and was expected to be a large grain producing area. J. Gaskin Letter Book 1884-86; Alpena Public Library Great Lakes Maritime Database; Association of Canadian Lake Underwriters Lake Vessel Registry 1873; Board of Lake Underwriters Lake Vessel Register 1878; Canada List of Shipping 1877 and 1895; Directory of the Marine Interests of the Great Lakes 1884; Mills Barges and Scows Before 1890; Register of Ships of the Lakes and river St. Lawrence 1864; British Whig 24 May 1881 and 14 March 1882; Kingston Daily News various references in 1869, 1870, 1873, 1875, 1876 and 1878; Marine Record 7 April 1887. 95 MINNIE E. ORTON lake barge ex schooner (C 141754 ex U 91666). 1919-21. 433.72 tons gross, 410.18 net, 172' (US register). 424 tons gross/net, 178.5' (Canadian register). Capacity 700,000 board feet (all as of 1903). Initially three masts, later two. Built by D. Lester at Marine City Michigan 1884. A sister ship of J.R. EDWARDS. 1907 valued at $6,000 and rated A2. 1913-21 insurance rating = 80 coarse freight only [see definitions]. The Toledo and Saginaw Transportation Co. was ORTON's first owner, followed by the Pawnee Boat Co. in 1884-1900. Both these firms appear to have been owned by H. McMorran. He kept her employed in the coal, ore and lumber trades. In 1890 she arrived at Port Huron Michigan downbound in tow by PAWNEE (U 150455, 639.9 tons gross). ORTON was waterlogged. She received a new steel keelson in 1895. In 1900 she and two other barges were again being towed by PAWNEE when PAWNEE went aground on Gull Island Reef. None of the barges were harmed. ORTON was dry docked in 1903. 160