The little island of St. Helena is situated about fifteen miles from
Mackinac Island, in Lake Michigan. Two brothers, named Archie and Carl
Newton had located at this little island; they bought the land around
the little harbor and put out a good dock, built a large store and house
and prepared to establish a business with the fishermen of lower Lake
Michigan. They needed a good vessel for their trading purposes and
concluded to have one built for themselves. My father being a ship
carpenter, signed a contract to build their ship, which was to be named
"Eliza Caroline," in honor of both brothers' wives, who were sisters.
And long the "Eliza Caroline" sailed on Lake Michigan, carrying
thousands of dollars worth of merchandise and fish, doing her work nobly
and well. The building of the ship brought our family to the dear little
island of St. Helena.