This sand sucker steamer was built in 1921. The AMERICAN worked in Chicago until 1980. One of her crew for many years was Godford Christian Olson, who died at age 87. Born in Milwaukee, he began working on the Great Lakes at age 15, according to the Great Lakes News of August 1950.

This sand sucker, the JOHN M. McKERCHEY, built in 1906, collided with the FLORA with 100 passengers near Belle Isle in the Detroit River in 1907. All were saved after the crew promptly passed out life preservers. The McKERCHEY capsized near Lorain, Ohio, in a fall storm in 1950.

The sand sucker L. G. POWELL was built in 1903 and was renamed GEORGE W. POWELL in 1920-21. She was reported abandoned by the 1927 Merchant Vessels of the US.