The wooden two masted schooner Kate E. Howard was built at Holland, Michigan in 1867 at the shipyard of Andrew Anderson. In 1867 the Kate E. Howard was first enrolled at Grand Haven, Michigan at a cost of $11,000. In 1874 the vessel was valued at $4,500 and rated B1. Her official registry number was 14169.

June 1877: Beached at Holland, Michigan, received repairs to her sails.

1878: Rebuilt.

May 1883: Heavily damaged when she capsized near Evanston. Repairs were made at Chicago.

Last Document Of Enrollment Surrendered:Grand Haven, 5/01/1911: "Vessel Lost".
"TWO-MASTER NEARLY FOUNDERS. Milwaukee May 3, 1911. - The crew of the two-masted schooner Kate E. Howard, consisting of the captain and three men, had a harrowing experience off North Point before they were saved from death by the steamer Bessemer, which hove in sight at 5 o'clock, just as the unfortunate sailors were about to give up all hope, and were taken aboard and brought into port yesterday... The Howard filled with water and almost turned turtle." Buffalo Evening News, May 3, 1911.

After the Kate E Howard capsized northeast of Milwaukee, she was taken to the Milwaukee River where her cargo of lumber was removed. She was then stripped of anything valuable and towed to Bay View, just north of St. Francis in Milwaukee, and beached.
The remains of the wrecked Kate E. Howard have not been found, but most likely still lie in the area.