The following is taken from Links To The Past website (http://linkstothepast.com/marine/captainsMi.html), and the info for that website was pulled from "History of the Great Lakes, Vol. 2 by J.B. Mansfield Published Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co. 1899":
GEORGE B. MILNE
Forty years or more have been spent by George Bannerman Milne, chief engineer of the J.H. Devereux, in the commercial marine of the Great Lakes. He was born in Glenburnie, New York, his mother being in that city on a visit, in 1838. His father was Alexander Milne, a Scotch engineer who came to America a short time after the year 1830 to become chief engineer of the Royal Mail line, and who resided at that time, in Canada. George B. Milne spent his early days in school, afterward becoming time-keeper in the Dry Dock Engine Works of Montreal, which were owned by the firm Milne & Milne, his uncle, John A. Milne, being one of the proprietors. He spent eight years at various times in this establishment, becoming a skillful machinist and engineer. He commenced sailing in 1856, that year placing the engines in the new steamer Tinto, and running them for three months afterward. After the Tinto burned, which occurred while she was on her way up Lake Ontario, seventeen lives being lost at the time, he returned to Oswego where he made his headquarters for some time, and became engineer of the steamer Cincinnati, whose name was afterward changed to the City of Hamilton. He spent five years in this vessel, after which he was engineer successively of the steamers Avon, which later had the Tinto's engines, and the Jacques Cartier. After being with the Cartier for two seasons, he accepted a contract with the firm of Gilbert & Bartley, engine builders, to the lake St. John to place a pair of engines in the steamer Metabetchouen. He remained with this boat two seasons. Her name was later changed to The Pioneer. In 1861 he assumed charge of the engine room of the steamer Nicolet, being made master after he had been in her two months. He spent two years in Vermont and the East as contractor, building docks, piers, etc., and one steamer, after which he went to Quebec and commanded successively the steamers Conqueror No. 1, James G. Ross, Progress and M. Stevenson. For a time he was engineer of the St. Lawrence Steam Navigation Company, which operated thirty-eight vessels. He changed from one vessel to another very often, as his duties required, and thus saw service on nearly all the fleet. Then he went to Oswego again and took the steamer Flora, leaving her at the close of the season, and sailing as chief in the steamer Samuel Marshall for the two seasons following. In 1892 and 1893 he had charge of the engine room of the Viking, and in 1894 he was chief in the Elfin-Mere and the Arundel successively. During a part of the season of 1895 he was in the employ of the Detroit Ferry Company, in the steamer Fortune, being in the steamer Chisholm the remainder of the year. He was chief engineer of the Devereux during the season of 1896 and 1897. In 1868 Mr. Milne was married to Miss Margaret D. McBean, of Athol Mills, Prescott county, Ontario. Their children are McBean, a Baptist clergyman in Detroit; George M., a marine engineer; Mortimer, Annie, Charles, Russell, Christina, Lorne, William and Inez. A daughter, Addie, is deceased.
The following are notes taken from the Milne Family Bible:
George Bannerman Milne met Maggie McBean when he returned to Quebec from an exploration of Hudson Bay. He was an ocean captain. She fell in love with him and her father disowned her for marrying someone without money and social standing. They went through the great depression or panic of the 1800's and had to take flour, lard, etc in lieu of money. This was in Oswego, N.Y. Charles Alexander Milne and George Malcom Milne always referred to the children as the "orphanage".
12. McBean Milne
McBean or McBain Milne was a baptist clergyman in Detroit.
The following is taken from Links To The Past website (http://linkstothepast.com/marine/captainsMi.html), and the info for that website was pulled from "History of the Great Lakes, Vol. 2 by J.B. Mansfield Published Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co. 1899":
GEORGE M. MILNE
One of a race of marine engineers, and with the examples of his father, his father's brothers and his grandfather before him, it was more than natural that George Malcolm Milne should early aspire to holding the throttle on a big lake carrier. His grandfather, Alexander Milne, who was born in Scotland in 1809, came to America in the thirties to become engineer-in-chief of the Royal Mail line, and his father, George B. Milne, has been a marine engineer for forty years, being now chief engineer of the Devereux.
George M. Milne was born in 1871 in Rigaud, Province of Quebec, near the site of the Rigaud Cement Works, which were and are still the property of his father. He was educated in the public schools of Detroit and Oswego, in which cities his parents lived while he was a youth. He spent some time in the locomotive works of the D.L. & W. railroad, in Oswego, and in the year 1890 he began sailing on the Great Lakes. During his first season he was oiler on the propeller Onoko. Then he served in the same capacity on the Philip Minch, later assuming charge of the electric plant of the "Clifton House" in Chicago. He did not hold his position long as he was desirous of returning to the lakes, and the next year he became second engineer of the propeller Elfin-Mere. From this vessel he went to the Arundel, also as second engineer, and thence to the propeller Garland, as chief. The following year, 1895, he was chief engineer of the propeller Germania, during 1896, he was chief engineer of the Devereux, under his father, and in 1898 again chief engineer of the steamer Garland for the Detroit, Belle Isle & Windsor Ferry Company.Newspaper clippings as found on Maritime History of the Great Lakes (http://www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes/):
Buffalo Evening News, Wednesday, January 4, 1911
BOSTON , (Prop.), 1910Year: 1910
Date: Sept. 22
Location: Grosse Point Cut
Lake: Lake Superior?
Reason: collision
Lives: nil
Remarks: Repaired
LICENSES OF MASTERS SUSPENDED FOR COLLISION
Detroit, Jan. 4. -- Investigation conducted by Capt. Fred J. Meno and George M. Milne, local United States Inspectors of steam vessels, has been followed by suspension of the licenses of two masters on whom responsibility is placed for the collision of Sept. 22, of the steamers BOSTON and PANAY in Grosse Point Cut. Capt. John Davis of Buffalo, N. Y., master of the BOSTON of the Western Transit Line, is found guilty of reckless navigation, and Capt. Charles Wilson, Jr., of Erie. Pa., master of the PANAY of the E. D. Carter fleet, is held to have been "hogging the road." The master and the pilot's license of Capt. Davis is suspended 30 days, and that of Capt. Wilson for 60 days. The collision took place at night, neither vessel was seriously damaged and each immediately continued on its way. Buffalo Evening News
Wednesday, January 4, 1911
14. Addie Vair Milne
Addie Vair Milne died of Cholera on August 16, 1878 at the age of 5. Addie died the same
day of the same disease as her 3-year-old sister, Annie.
Addie and Annie were buried in the same grave, and the following is noted in the Milne Family Bible:The two loving sisters and darling children
cut off in a few short hours by one fell swoopIn life They were beautiful
In death They were not separated.
Annie McDonald Milne was Mortimer's twin; she died of Cholera on August 16, 1878 - just 15 days short of her 3rd birthday. Annie died the same day as her older sister Addie Vair Milne.
It is interesting to note that another set of fraternal twins was born to Annie's mother just two months previous to Annie's death. Those twins were Christine "Dolly" and Athol Russell Milne. Christine was called Dolly all of her life because mommy had promised Annie a little dolly.
Christine was called "Dolly" all of her life because Mommy had promised older sister Annie a little "dolly", but 3 year-old Annie died when her "dolly" Christina was 2 months old.
Willie died of Diptheria, 11 days after Lorne died...right before Christmas, 1891. Willie was 8 years old.
Innis Bannerman Milne died of Diptheria at the age of 5 months on Aug. 12, 1885.
Lorne died of Diptheria at the age 2 on December 3, 1891. His brother Willie followed 11 days later.
The following is taken from Links To The Past website (http://linkstothepast.com/marine/captainsMi.html), and the info for that website was pulled from "History of the Great Lakes, Vol. 2 by J.B. Mansfield Published Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co. 1899":
A.R. MILNE
A.R. Milne was born in the historic old town of Kingston, Ont., in 1842. He attended the public schools of his native place until he began his career as a mechanical engineer, at the age of fourteen years becoming an apprentice in the Kingston Locomotive & Car Works. Here he remained four years, until the different parts of the locomotive engine, and their relations to one another, became as familiar to him as the rising and setting of the sun, and then he went to Montreal and took up marine engineering in the shops of E.E. Gilbert, returning to Kingston after two years' experience in this line. Mr. Milne passed his examination as engineer in 1860, but as he was not yet of age, the inspectors were compelled, by law, to withhold his certificate until he reached his majority. Very shortly afterward he took charge of the engines of the steamers Pierpont and Gazelle, which ran between Kingston and Wolf Island, from these boats transferring to the steamers Montreal and Ottawa, of the Jacques & Tracy line, running between Hamilton and Montreal. Later on he took charge of the engines of the Rochester, afterward called the Hastings, and now familiar to Toronto people as the Eurydice; she at that time ran between Cobourg and Charlotte. Following his service on this boat he took charge of the engines of the Bay of Quinte, a steamer owned by Charles F. Gildersleeve, the present general manager of the Richelieu line.
About this time Mr. Milne (then only twenty-eight years of age) returned to Kingston and built the fine steamer Pierpont. From this boat he went on the Norseman, now the North King, which runs between Port Hope and Charlotte, remaining on her until he was sent for to fit out the steamer Vanderbilt at Lindsay, Ont.,a boat which was designed to ply on the Scugog and Sturgeon Lakes. This work completed, Mr. Milne went to St. Catharines to complete the steamer Lothair, in which the second compound engine on Lake Ontario was placed. The following six years he was engaged on the steamer Alexandria, running between Montreal and Charlotte, which was owned at that time by Mr. Walter Ross, of Picton, and is now the property of Mr. A. W. Hepburn, of the same place. For fourteen years following the last-named engagement Mr. Milne was chief trade instructor of the Kingston Asylum. Always fertile in original, and at the same time practical, ideas, this gentleman became the inventor and designer of the Sanitary Gas Machine, which, both in theory and practice, has proved a brilliant success, and is now in operation in the Kingston Asylum, the town of Brampten, and at other points. For about a year Mr. Milne traveled for Messrs. George Bertram & Sons, the well-known shipbuilders of Toronto, and afterward visited the United States on business connected with his own invention. On his return he again took charge of the Alexandria, and continued on her until the end of the last season, when he accepted his present position, that of first engineer on the Passport, one of the finest steames(sic) in the Richelieu line. Mr. Milne has a fine family of six sons, all of whom are launched successfully on the sea of life. The eldest, William O., is editor and proprietor of the monthly financial journal, Money and Risks, Toronto; T. J. and Frank E. have a steam laundry in Kingston; Frederick E. is manager of the wholesale house of Fred E. Saul, Syracuse, N.Y.; A.C. is paying teller in the Peterboro branch of the Canadian Bank of Commerce; Melville E. is studying medicine at Queen's University, Kingston.
Mr. Milne has done considerable traveling in America, and two years ago visited Scotland with the Independent Order of Foresters, of which organization he is past high chief ranger. He is also a past president of St. Andrews Society. So well is Mr. Milne known and so highly respected in Kingston, he was chosen by the largest and most influential ward in that city to represent her citizens in the municipal council. His career has been successful and highly honorable, and is worthy of more than ordinary notice.
The following is taken from Prominent Men on the Great Lakes (http://www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes/):Engineer Alex. R. Milne
Engineer Alexander R. Milne, chief engineer of the steamer Passport, was born in Kingston in 1842. Apprenticed to the Kingston Locomotive & Car Works at the age of fourteen, after serving four years he went to Montreal in the shops of E. E. Gilbert. After two years experience in this work he returned to Kingston and in 1860 passed his examination as engineer. Shortly after receiving his certificate, Mr. Milne took charge of the engines of the steamers Pierrepont and Gazelle, which ran between Kingston and Wolfe Island. From these boats he went on to the steamers Ottawa and Montreal for the Jaques & Tracy Line, running between Hamilton and Montreal, later on taking charge of the engines of the Rochester, afterward called the Hastings, and now the Eurydice.Mr. Milne returned to Kingston and built the present steamer Pierrepont. Then he took charge of the engines of the Bay of Quinte, a steamer owned by Mr. Charles F. Gildersleeve, the present General Manager of the Richelieu & Ontario Line. From that boat he went on the Norseman, now the North King, between Port Hope and Charlotte, and remained on her until he was sent for to fit up the new steamer Vanderbilt at Lindsay, a boat designed to ply on Scugog and Sturgeon Lakes. Then he went to St. Catharines and completed the steamer Lothair, which had the second compound engine on Lake Ontario. Following, six years were spent by him on the steamer Alexandria, on the run between Montreal and Charlotte. For fourteen years Engineer Milne was chief trade instructor in the Kingston Asylum.
Newspaper clippings as found on Maritime History of the Great Lakes (http://www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes/):
Daily News, (Kingston), April 10, 1866
Police Court - boy charged with stealing lead from steamer Rochester; Mr. Alexander Milne, Engineer, testified to the lead having been ripped off the stair steps during the night.Daily News, (Kingston), May 2, 1868
To The Editor of the Daily News
Sir - I should feel obliged by your publishing the following explanations in relation to my relinquishing the duties of Engineer of the steamer Bay of Quinte. My reason for the request is that there are various rumors current in the city respecting the affair, many of which are not only absurd, but absolutely injurious to my standing in my profession.On Monday last, when in Belleville, the signal bell for starting was rung by the mate some five minutes in advance of the regular time, which, of course, I obeyed. This action upon my part displeased Captain Comer, who appeared very angry, and, notwithstanding, I referred him to the mate for explanations; some angry words passed between us, but ultimately the matter dropped and appeared to be amicably settled; what then was my astonishment, upon my arrival at Kingston next day, to be informed by Captain Comer that myself and Mr. Agnew, the purser, were discharged from our duties on the boat without the slightest reason being assigned for this precipitate action. The owner of the steamer, Mr. Gildersleeve, being at Montreal at the time, I refused to accept my discharge from Captain Comer until I had received a direct communication to that effect from the former gentleman, and accordingly tied up the boat until a telegram could be received. After the vessel had been detained for a couple of hours the message arrived confirming the discharge, when I of course left.
Upon since entering into explanations with Mr. Gildersleeve, the only reason he assigned for his strange conduct was, that he must sustain Captain Comer at all hazards, who had said that he could not run the boat with any confidence so long as the purser and myself remained on board.
I beg to append a certificate of character, etc., given to me by Mr. Gildersleeve since my discharge.
Copy of Certificate given me by C.F.G.
Kingston, 30th April, 1868.
Alexander Milne has been in my employment since January 1867, as first Engineer of the Passenger Steamer Bay of Quinte.
He has kept everything under his control in more than usual good order and condition, and is a competent and excellent Engineer.
C.F. Gildersleeve
I remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, Alex. Milne Kingston, May 1st, 1868.
Daily News, (Kingston), Sept. 4, 1871
Shipping News - At J.H. Henderson & Co's wharf the propeller Georgian last night lightened 20,000 feet of walnut lumber from Toledo, and proceeded downwards. The schooner Mariner took on board for Toronto 110 tons railway iron, at 70 cents, gold, f.o.b.At Carruthers' wharf the schooner Gazelle is engaged in adding to her appearance by a thorough course of painting. The steamer Rochester left this morning for Stella Point, Amherst Island, with the Orangemen's picnic.
At Swift's wharf yesterday the following touched on their passage down:- The steamer Athenian, propeller America, steamer Osprey, propeller Indian and propeller Georgian, and the steamer Corinthian passed up. The propellers Brantford and Cowie passed up this morning.
At Gurney and Glidden's wharf the schooner Mariner took on board a cargo of cordwood, and left for Toronto on Saturday evening. The schooner Royal Oak arrived from Oswego on Saturday night with 260 tons of coal. The schooner Mariner is filling up her cargo with cordwood for Toronto, and will leave today.
THE LAUNCH
Mr. Kinghorn's new steamboat was successfully launched on Saturday afternoon, from Messrs. Power & Son's shipyard. It was publicly known in the city that the launch would take place at two o'clock, and some time previous to that hour a large number of persons had assembled to witness a sight which has always a certain amount of excitement connected with it, and which is always a source of more or less anxiety to the owners and builders of the vessel to be launched. The vessel upon the stocks was, as befitted the importance of her position, decorated from stem to stern with flags and streamers, while to do honour to the occasion all the neighbouring vessels put on their best holiday attire. The booms and timbers in the yard, the decks of the vessels and barges near by and every spot which presented an eligible site to view the proceedings were crowded with spectators, and the spectacle altogether was one unusually gay and animated.
When it was determined to build the present vessel the composite plan was determined upon, a plan first advocated and adopted in Canada by Mr. Power, the builder of the vessel, and which consists in a union of iron frame and hull upon a wooden bottom. Mr. John Kinghorn was sent to Scotland to make arrangements for the iron work, which was ultimately given to a celebrated Glasgow firm to construct. There was no delay in the manufacture of this portion of the vessel, which was received in Kingston early in the spring and on the 24th of May the vessel's keel was laid and
"Day by day the vessel grew,
With timbers fashioned strong and true."
and with praiseworthy speed, the vessel was completed for launching on Saturday last, and
"All is finished! and at length
Has come the bridal day
Of beauty and of strength,
Today the vessel shall be launched!"
Punctually at two o'clock Mr. Power gave notice that all was ready, and Mr. Kinghorn with his daughter, Miss Dinah Kinghorn, and a number of friends went on board, and almost immediately after the vessel began to glide off her cradle, and amid the shouts and cheers of the spectators, Miss Kinghorn dashed the baptismal bottle of champagne against her stem, and as the vessel rapidly glided down the ways and boldly took the water it was known that she should bear the old Pierrepont's name -
"__ Of another form indeed;
Built for freight and yet for speed
A beautiful and gallant craft."
With the launch ended the labours of the shipwrights for the day, and they at once prepared to regale themselves with a supply of eatables and an unlimited allowance of beer; and the gusto which they displayed in their discussion of the good things provided, seemed to show that they would consider a launch each Saturday no bad termination of the week's work. Mr. G.M. Kinghorn entertained a large number of friends to lunch.
The vessel is 128 feet keel, or 130 feet over all, 32 feet beam, and 8 feet depth of hold, and now she is in the water she looks remarkably well, and is a credit to all connected with her build. The superintendence of the construction of the iron work was committed to the care of Mr. Alexander Milne, a practical engineer and a gentleman every way fitted for the work so successfully carried out. The vessel was towed to Messrs. Davidson and Doran's wharf, and she received her boiler on board, and her machinery will be put in without loss of time.
-It is stated that in view of the rapid increase of the grain trade by the St. Lawrence, the Montreal Transportation Company has decided to increase its Capital Stock, and to add largely to its stock of barges, which with an additional elevator now in course of construction for use in Kingston will assure despatch, and it is presumed may remove the objection sometimes entertained by vessel owners against this route. [Montreal News]
British Whig, (Kingston), April 9, 1886
The steamer Pierrepont will go to Cape Vincent tomorrow, the weather beng favorable.Navigation Resumed - The steamer Pierrepont reached Garden Island yesterday afternoon, after a difficult passage through the ice. She started out about 1:30 o'clock, but could not get more than a third of the way, so strong was the ice. Later she made another trial, and broke and cut her way through easily. She has now resumed her daily trips.
British Whig, (Kingston), March 5, 1887
Captain Maitland, of the str. Bruno, fell into the hold of the barge Lothair, at Port Colborne. He fell a distance of 14 feet, striking upon a pile of stone. His escape was most fortunate.
British Whig, (Kingston), Sept. 11, 1889
The yacht W.B., of Alexandria Bay, has been down the Rideau with a fishing party on board. Alexander Milne, who knows the river well, piloted the yacht and took the party to good fishing grounds.