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Little could have Ambrose Davenport Jr. (1801-1888) a fur trader and fisherman have realized when he became a lighthouse keeper in 1853 at Michigan’s Skillagalee – Ile Aux Galets Lighthouse he would start a family lighthouse legacy that would continue into the 21st century.
Three of Ambrose Davenport Jr.’s sons, James Davenport and Andrew Jackson Davenport would follow in their father’s footsteps, as would daughter Julia Davenport who married lighthouse keeper William Henry Duncan. Later, grandsons of Ambrose Davenport; James Davenport, Jr. and Albert would also join the Lighthouse Service.
On April 19, 1871, James Davenport, son of Ambrose Davenport, Jr., was appointed assistant keeper at Waugoshance Lighthouse in Michigan. He was transferred to Little Sable Point Lighthouse, also in Michigan on December 26, 1873. From there he went to McGulpin’s Point Lighthouse in 1879 and finally to Mission Point Lighthouse in 1907 where he remained until he retired in 1918 to Mackinaw City, Michigan.
Andrew Jackson Davenport, son of lighthouse keeper Ambrose Davenport, Jr. was born on Mackinac Island in Michigan and also grew up to follow in his father’s footsteps and served an illustrious career at a number of Great Lakes Lighthouses.
John Davenport, also a son of lighthouse keeper Ambrose Davenport, Jr., joined the Lighthouse Service. He served under his father at Michigan’s Skillagalee Lighthouse that is also known as Ile Aux Galets Lighthouse from July 1853 to June 1854 when for reasons unknown they both resigned their positions. However, in May of 1855 both John and his father Ambrose returned as keepers of the Skillagalee Lighthouse and they served until November of 1861 when they again reportedly resigned their positions.
In 1873 he was offered the position as the keeper of the Pentwater Pier Lighthousem, but declined the position.
Julia Davenport, daughter of lighthouse keeper Ambrose Davenport, Jr. married William Henry Duclon who joined the U.S. Lighthouse Service sometime after 1870 and served at Waugoshance Lighthouse and then at Beaver Island Lighthouse in Michigan from 1877 to 1881. He and his wife also served for 35 years with their seven sons at Eagle Bluff Lighthouse near Fish Creek, Wisconsin where they retired from in 1918.
Keeping the family tradition, David A Dietrich, the great-great grandson of Ambrose Davenport and maternal great grandson of Andrew Jackson Davenport, served as a volunteer lighthouse keeper at Michigan’s Big Sable Lighthouse in 2002. Dietrich then volunteered at Little Sable Lighthouse in 2006 and 2007 where his great-great uncle James Davenport had served as the first keeper of the lighthouse in 1873.
If they were alive today, the Davenport family of lighthouse keepers would most likely be thoroughly disgusted that many of the lighthouses, or parts thereof, that they served at and strived to take such good care of were allowed to be destroyed in the so called name of progress.
Pentwater Pier Lighthouse: Destroyed
Skillagalee Lighthouse: All buildings destroyed except the tower.
Calumet Harbor Lighthouse: Destroyed.
Calumet Pier Lighthouse: Destroyed.
Waugoshance Lighthouse: In ruins.
Rawley Point Lighthouse: Tower topped off and new tower installed.
McGulpin’s Point Lighthouse: Sold and lantern room removed
Little Sable Point Lighthouse: Keeper’s house demolished,
tower still standing
However, they would also be pleased that concerned citizens would step forward to save some of the others lighthouses where they served so faithfully. Ambrose Davenport and his descendants left a legacy of service that can be used as an example to all.
This story appeared in the
August 2008 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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