The Manistee was a wooden freight and passenger propeller built in 1867 by E.M. Peck in Cleveland, Ohio for the original owner Engleman of Milwaukee. She originally worked the South Shore of Lake Superior for the Duluth Lake Transportation Company. She was lengthened in 1874 from 155 feet, 561 gross tons to 184 feet and 625 gross tons. Also at this time, she was given the big arch trusses which were so prominent . In 1876 she was sold at auction to Leopold and Austrian of Chicago after the previous owner, Culver and Stone of Duluth, went broke.

1867: Received addition of a cabin and upper works.

1868, March: Ran Grand Haven, Muskegon, Pentwater, Pere Marquette, Manistee, Michigan.

1869, August: Collided at Ludington, Michigan.

1871, February: Aground at Milwaukee.

1871, May: Rebuilt by Campbell and Owen Company. Received new arches and lengthened.

1872, January: Became waterlogged in Milwaukee Harbor after breaking a bottom plank.

1872, May: Ran down the schooner S. Robinson east of Milwaukee.

1873, February: Trapped in ice pack and released in northern Lake Michigan.

1874, April: Refitted.

1874, October: Aground at Neebish Rapids, St. Mary's River.

1881, June: Strengthen and refastened.

1883, April: Received a new smokestack.

Last Document Of Enrollment Surrendered: Chicago: December 3, 1883.
The Manistee's final voyage started at Duluth, Minnesota on November 10, 1883 and she disappeared. Vessels had seen her, but the Manistee never arrived at her destination. The vessel was bound for Ontonagon with a 400 ton cargo and a crew of twenty three along with seven passengers. A gale descended on the area forcing the Manistee to seek shelter at Bayfield on the 11th. Captain McKay choose to weather out the storm until Thursday when it looked safe to proceed. The City of Duluth had taken some of the Manistee's passengers. The Manistee was never seen again and is believed to have foundered somewhere between Bay field and Ontonagon on November 16, 1883. Supposed wreckage was reported near Keweenaw and Outer Island. Her mast was found in Sand Bay and wreckage appeared at Isle Royal. She probably went down east of the Apostle Islands.

Indeed, much wreckage was found strewn all the way from the Apostle Islands to the Keweenaw. None of the as many as thirty people on board were ever found.