J. P. Ward (Steamboat), fire, 22 Jul 1865

The steamer J.P. WARD, which the telegraph of yesterday announced destroyed by fire on the Saginaw River, was built at Detroit by G. Campbell & Co. in 1857 for the U.S. Government, to be used as a tug boat for the surveyors engaged on the St. Clair flats in dredging that locality. Some time after she was launched she was sold to Capt. Pridgeon, who placed in her the engine formerly in the steamer GORE, and subsequently engaged her in towing on the rivers. Latterly she was purchased by Capt. W. Caverly, who in 1864 sold her to parties on Lake Michigan. Early during the past spring she was transferred to the Saginaw, where she has remained up to the time of her disaster.
      Detroit Free Press
      July 23, 1865
     
     
     
This little boat [ J.P. WARD] had a colorful history. She was built at Detroit by J. L. Wolverton in 1857 as a sidewheel tug and was in use as a boom tug on the Saginaw River until she caught fire in July of 1865. She was raised and converted to a schooner (US#12791) locally, at a total cost of $40,000.
She was towed to Saugatuck after the accident above and her hull was was used by Brittain to build a passenger propeller named J. S. SEAVERNS (US#76152), being launched anew in 1880. The SEAVERNS was sold Canadian in 1884 and was owned on Lake Superior when she backed onto a reef in Michipicoten Harbor in May of the same year. She foundered after being pulled free, a total loss.] Dave Swayze note.