Libbie Nau
In the 1880s
The two-masted schooner Libbie Nau (US No. 14808) was built on 5 June 1867 in Green Bay, WI. She was of modest length at 129 feet, but weighed 231 tons. The Mary A. Gregory was twenty feet longer but was considerably lighter at 87 tons.
This ship was owned by Peter Peterson who was in partnership with Lambert Nau and Lars Olsen and was to be used for the next five years in their lumber and grain trade. In some records Mr. Peterson was credited along with Mr. Gregory as the builder of record. Mr. Peterson has been a shipbuilder as well as a captain and promoter as well as a master craftsman and expert sailor. In 1873 Mr. Peterson was credited of building the Anna M. Peterson (US No. 105472) which was not only one of the largest schooners on the lakes, but was the fastest as well. This schooner won the first unofficial race to Mackinaw Island against three other fully loaded schooners in 1881.
Chicago Evening Post, August 16, 1867
Sales Last Evening.
Cargo schr Libbie Nau, from Green Bay, 624 A sawed shingles, at $3.50. Sold by Blanchard & Borland.
Her value in 1871 was estimated at $15,000 and was rated in A-1 condition.
Detroit Free Press, October 3, 1872
Collision on Lake Huron.—The schooner Libbie Nau, grain loaded from Chicago, has arrived at this port disabled. On Sunday night, while on Lake Huron during the severe gale, she came in collision with an unknown fore and aft vessel painted white, when off Thunder Bay some fifteen miles. The strange vessel is reported to have had no lights visible. It is quite probable that this vessel was the White Squall (US No. 26248), as the description thus far agrees with that vehicle’s precisely.
September 1872 had a collision with White Squall (US No. 26248), which sank 10 miles off Fish Point, 7 miles north of Tawas, MI, Lake Huron.
New deck in 1874..
On 8 June 1876 she was waterlogged off Menominee, WI; towed to Manitowoc, WI dry dock by Kitty Smoke (US No. 14254) Jun 15.
General repairs, new masts were performed on 8 Sept 1880.
The Libbie Nau was converted from two masts to three masts at Chicago on 9 July, 1892. She was remeasured on 14 March 1893 to 115 feet length, 25.58 feet width and her depth remained at 8 feet. Her gross tonnage was reduced to 149 tons and net to 138.
Libbie Nau
Boyne City, Michigan
1910
Sheboygan Press, March 12, 1913
The old schooner, Libbie Nau, which has been in order at this port just above the 8th street bridge for the past three years was sold last Thursday when the papers were filed in the custom house at Milwaukee. Ole Halverson of Milwaukee, the former owner, sold the schooner to Captain Theodore Isabel of Sturgeon Bay. The price paid was $400. As soon as the weather permits she will be raised and taken to Sturgeon. As soon as the weather permits she will be raised and taken to Sturgeon Bay where she will be dismantled and converted into a tow barge. The Libbie Nau will be equipped with two small pole spars with a small sail on each spat. She will then be used in the lumber trade and will be towed by the steamer City of Baltimore of Green Bay.
Sheboygan Press, April 21, 1913
Saturday afternoon the steamer City of New Baltimore arrived here from Sturgeon Bay and commenced at once the work of pumping out the schooner Libbie Nau, which has been in a water-logged condition in the harbor and resting on the bottom of the river during the past winter. The water was removed by means of a steam syphon. Steam was furnished by the boiler of the steamer and after working all night Saturday the Libbie Nau was floated early Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon she left for Sturgeon Bay in tow of the steamer City of New Baltimore. The schooner was purchased the past winter by Capt. Anton Isabell, who is master of the steamer, the consideration being $400. She will be towed to Sturgeon Bay where she will be dismantled and converted into a lumber barge, after a general overhauling, and will be engaged in the lumber trade, The Libbie Nau will tow behind the steamer City of New Baltimore, and at present is under the command of Capt. Fred Lampher, who has been ship-keeper on the schooner the past winter.
She was abandoned in 1918.
Green Bay State Gazette, December 3, 1881
Death of Mr. Nau.
The death of Mr. Lambert Nau, on Saturday afternoon last, carried with it much of a shock. While it has since transpired that he had not been in accustomed health since his return from Europe, something over a year since, his appearance had not denoted that he was less robust as usual. It seems that he has had some trouble with his heart. About a week before his death he contracted a cold, which developed into inflammation of the lungs and it was from this complication of disease that his death was hastened.
Mr. Nau was a native of Germany, having been born at Bingen-on-the-Rhine in the year 1821, making him now 60 years old. He was a watchmaker by trade, and had been accounted a skillful workman in his day. He came to Green Bay about the year 1852, at first embarking in the grocery business and making shingle dealing a large feature of trade. Subsequently he became interested in shipping and at times alone, and again with others, built a number of vessels at this point. The schooner Mary Nau and Libby Nau he originally built and owned, and among other crafts he was part owner of the fine schooner Annie M. Peterson.
During the past season in company with Capt. Anderson he built the Mentor, destined to be a steam barge. Mr. Nau was possessed of considerable means and had some property investments here, including a three story block on Washington street. His wife died four years ago since, leaving a family of eight children, one of whom has since died. The deceased was an upright man and a respected citizen.
Escanaba Free Press, April 12, 1913
Pioneer Lake Captain Dies.
Green Bay, Wis., April 11.—Captain Peter Peterson, a pioneer among the navigators of the great lakes, died in a hospital here last evening after a lingering illness of paralysis at the age of 78 years. He had sailed on the lakes for nearly 50 years.
While operating boats on the lakes he was part owner in schooners, Alleghany, Mary Nau, Libbie Nau. The steamer T. S. Christie was the last boat he sailed. Captain Peterson retired in 1900.
It is planned to conduct a funeral service for Captain Peterson Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the home, 832 South Madison street. The Masonic fraternity will have charge of the funeral. The remains of the mariner will be laid at rest at Woodlawn cemetery.
Mr. Peterson was born in Hardinger, Norway, Feb. 10, 1835. He was educated in the schools of his home town and git his first insight into marine life at home. As a lad he acquired a love for the water
Owner History
1870, Jul 19 Owned Mark English.
1871 Owned Nau & Peterson, Green Bay.
1879 Owned Niels Nelson et al, Chicago, IL.
1887 Owned John Johnson, Sturgeon Bay.
1891 Owned W.D. Hitchcock, Chicago.
1900 Owned Thomas Williams, Chicago.
1908 Owned Peter Halverson et al, Chicago.
1913 Made a barge by Thomas Isbell, Sturgeon Bay.
1917 Abandoned, Sturgeon Bay.
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