Service History
The wooden two masted schooner
L.B. Sheppard was built in Buffalo, New York by Laveya in 1855. In 1861 the vessel was valued at $7,700 and rated A2, by 1874 it was valued at $4,500 and rated B2. The official registry number was 14676.
July 1858: Sprung a leak off Point AuSable in Lake Michigan. Was loaded with corn.
1862: Major repairs.
April 1869: Aground at Milwaukee harbor. Recovered.
1881: Aground near Two Rivers and rebuilt in October at the Milwaukee Company yard.
Last Document Of Enrollment Surrendered: Milwaukee: 10/15/1898: "Total Loss".
Final Voyage
The schooner
L.B. Shepard "bound up the lake from Marinette", was caught in a heavy gale on the night of October 12, 1898. She became waterlogged, and approximately 3 am on October 14th, while off Two Rivers, she capsized. The seven member crew barely had time to get into the yawl and get clear. Eventually, they successfully reached Manitowoc. Meanwhile, the
Shepard drifted toward Manitowoc, and on 10/14/1898, she was reported drifting off shore opposite the harbor. Hirthe believes she grounded on 10/14/1898. In any case, the Manitowoc Pilot of 10/27/1898, reported that the
Shepard was "on the beach south of the piers.
"The schooner
Shepard, which is on the beach south of the piers, has been stripped and a portion of her cargo has been rescued." Manitowoc Pilot 10/27/1898.