- John B. Macy
John B. Macy (born
March 25 ,1799 - diedSeptember 24 1856 ) was a U.S. Representative fromWisconsin .Macy was born in
Nantucket, Massachusetts , where he received a liberal education. He moved to New York City in 1826 and later in that year toBuffalo, New York . He resided inCincinnati, Ohio from 1842 to 1845. Macy was one of the founders ofToledo, Ohio , and one of the proprietors of theRock River Valley Union Railroad (the state line to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin). This line was the beginning of theChicago and North Western Railway . Macy moved toFond du Lac, Wisconsin , in 1845 and engaged in the real estate business, acquiring land fromPhilip Hone , the mayor ofNew York City . Several street names in Fond du Lac, such as "Macy Street", are named for Macy and members of his family. [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=div&did=WI.FONDHISTORY.I0017&isize=text] He moved with his family to the town ofEmpire, Wisconsin , near Lake de Neveu, in 1850. Macy's home, built near what became Highway 45, still stands. Its original outbuildings include a hexagonal library. [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=turn&entity=WI.FondHistory.p0062&isize=text]Macy was elected as a Democrat to the
33rd United States Congress (March 4 ,1853 -March 3 ,1855 ), but was unsuccessful for re-election in 1854 to the 34th Congress. Following his failure to be re-elected, he resumed his former business pursuits.Macy lost his life in the burning of the steamer "Niagara", near
Port Washington, Wisconsin onLake Michigan onSeptember 24 ,1856 . The "Niagara" was a sidewheel passenger steamer, one of the luxury vessels known as 'palace steamers', which sailed the Great Lakes in the years from 1844 to 1857. OnSeptember 23 ,1856 , the "Niagara" leftSheboygan, Wisconsin , for Port Washington. Fire broke out on board at around 4pm, causing the steam engines and the ship's giant paddlewheels to stop. The steamer, which was 4-5 miles offshore, quickly became engulfed in flames and smoke, and the passengers panicked while trying to board the lifeboats. Many jumped overboard into the water, which was reported to be too cold for anyone to survive in it. [cite news |title=Dreadful Lake Disaster! 100 Lives Lost! |work=The Daily Ohio Statesman |page=3 |date=1856-09-26] Despite rescue efforts, over 60 people died in what was one of Wisconsin's deadliest transportation disasters. The wreck of the "Niagara" lies in 55 feet of water one mile offBelgium, Wisconsin . Macy was last seen on board exclaiming "We're lost! Oh God! We're lost!" [cite news |title=The Burning of the Streamer Niagara -- Further Particulars. |work=The Sun (Baltimore, MD) |page=1 |date=1856-09-30] His body was never recovered.References
Other Sources
* [http://www.maritimetrails.org/visit_trails_details.cfm?RESOURCEID=27 Maritime Trails account of the "Niagara" disaster]
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