City of Chicago (Schooner), U4272, 27 Mar 1861

Peck & Masters are building four vessels and a tug at Cleveland. Three of the vessels are intended to be precisely like the NAOMI. They are for Lockwood & Kinne and other parties in Buffalo. They will be about 430 tons each, 140 feet on deck, 30 feet beam, and 11 1/2 feet hold. The fourth is for Stephen V.R. Watson of Buffalo. Its capacity will be about 500 tons. It will be 150 feet on deck, 30 feet beam, 12 feet hold. Two of the above vessels will be launched, fully rigged and complete about the 20th. They are all very handsome vessels. The tug named the E.M. PECK, is for the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers. It is 112 feet long, 20 feet beam, and 10 feet hold. The bow is very sharp, and the model beautiful. It is intended to be one of the swiftest tugs in the river service. All the above vessels will be ready for the spring business.
      Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
      March 5, 1861

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      Two of the vessels now being built at Cleveland for Lockwood and Kinne, of Buffalo -- the CITY OF CHICAGO and the CITY OF MILWAUKEE -- will be launched within ten days. Their spars have been put in, and they are now receiving rigging. The huls are painted black, ribboned with red and white. The third vessel, the CITY OF BUFFALO, is not so far advanced.
      Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
      March 16, 1861

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      VESSELS FOR BUFFALO PARTIES. - The large barque now being built by Peck & Masters, Cleveland, for S.V.R. Watson, of this city, is to be called the "COLORADO," and she will be commanded by Capt. Branch. Her building will be most complete. The Herald says that on her bottom, four inch planking is used; she has six streaks of bilge keelson, each six inches wide, and the balance of her ceiling, from keelson to deck, is four inch plank. Arches, four streaks of a foot in width, extend from deadwood forward to deadwood aft. She has beams midway between the deck and the bottom of the hold, kneed off to her sides, from stem to stern. These as well as the deck beams and carlings, are secured by a hanging and bosom knee to every beam. She looks now a very paragon of strength and able to bear a great amount of thumping on rocks. The utmost care has been taken to make everything perfect, and she will be one of the staunchest vessels ever put afloat on the Lakes.
      As an instance of the care taken, it may be stated that one hundred barrels of salt have been used in her frame, every crevice receiving a quantity of the preserving agent. Her masts will soon be put in place, and work pushed forward for an early launching.
The three barques for Lockwood & Kinney, also building by Peck & Masters, are constructed in a manner nearly as strong as that mentioned above. The beams in the hold are not carried the entire length of the vessel, as in the COLORADO, and some other differences exist. Still they will take their rank among the staunchest of lake vessels.
      Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
      March 27, 1861

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The barque CITY OF CHICAGO, built by Peck & Masters, Cleveland, for Messrs. Lockwood & Kinne, of this city, was launched from the yard on saturday afternoon. The barque CITY OF MILWAUKEE, owned and built by the same parties, will be launched next Saturday
      Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
      April 2, 1861
     
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      NEW VESSELS AT CLEVELAND. - Schooner CITY OF CHICAGO, built by Peck and Masters, for Lockwood & Kinney, of Buffalo. Length 140.56 feet; beam 30.14 feet; depth 11.25 feet; burthen 437 50-95 tons.
Schooner CITY OF MILWAUKEE, built by Peck & Masters for Lockwood & Kinney, of Buffalo. Length 140.55 feet; beam 29.94 feet; depth 11.30 feet; 436 53-95 tons burthen.
Schooner CITY OF BUFFALO, built by Peck & Masters, for Lockwood & Kinney of Buffalo. Length 143.78 feet; beam 30.17 feet; depth 11.4 feet; burthern 455 tons.
      Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
      April 15, 1861



Bark CITY OF CHICAGO. U. S. No. 4272. Of 327.17 tons. Home port, Chicago, Ill.
      Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1871