The W.L.Brown was built originally in 1856 for the Western Transportation Company as the passenger steamer Neptune. In 1874 the Neptune burned at East Saginaw, Michigan and the partially burned hull was taken to Green Bay, Wisconsin. There the steamer was rebuilt as a freighter in 1880 at the shipyard of Andrew A. Johnson for the National Furnace Company of Green Bay and renamed the W.L. Brown The rebuilt was so extensive that many thought the Brown was an origianl construction. At the time of its loss, the vessel was owned by the National Iron Company. The winder before the vessel foundered it was equpped with a new boiler.
On October 21, 1886 the W.L. Brown sprang a leak while in a storm and foundered close to Green Island off Pestigo, Wisconsin. The vessel was hauling a cargo of pig iron from Escanaba, Michigan to DePere, Wisconsin. Both steam and hand pumps could not keep up with the in rushing water, so the Captain and the crew launched the lifeboat. They just got away when the Brown sank with a loud explosion as the superstructure was blown off. The tug John Leathem managed to pick up the survivors and deliver them to safety in Menominee. The engine, boiler, machinery and anchors along with chain were eventually recovered. The engine and boiler were later installed in the boat Fannie C. Hart that was built in Manitowoc.
"The W.L. Brown lies intact and upright in 80 feet of water; the hull is imbedded in the bottom. As noted, boilers, engines, and machinery were salvaged, but the two masts remain intact and upright. The cabin is missing. There is an open hold on the forward deck; a bilge pump is located on the starboard side. Wooden rails and artifacts are noted at the site."