The Muskegon was built as the Peerless in 1872, in Cleveland, Ohio by Ira Lafrinnier.
She was launched on June 15, 1872.
She had an overall length of 220 feet (67 m), and a between perpendiculars length of 211 feet (64 m).
Her beam was 39.8 feet (12.1 m) wide, and her hull was 23 feet (7.0 m) deep.
She had a gross tonnage of 1275.57 tons.
She was powered by a 700 horsepower high pressure condensing engine, and fueled by two coal-fired Scotch marine boilers.

She entered service on July 3, 1872 with the Leopold & Austrian’s Lake Superior Line of Chicago, Illinois, and was given the registration number US20470.
In September 1877 she jettisoned a cargo of flour, feed and sundries, about 26 of cattle and about 70 sheep.

The Peerless received repairs in August 1882.
On November 26, 1884 she caught fire in Chicago, Illinois, and was repaired and overhauled the following year by the Chicago Dry Dock Company.

In November 1894 she was detained at Sault Ste.
Marie, Michigan because of smallpox.
In 1896 Peerless was sold to the Lake Michigan & Lake Superior Transportation Company of Chicago.
On October 27, 1895 she broke her piston rod near St. Joseph, Michigan, and was rescued by the tug Perfection.
In October 1898 her machinery became disabled, and she was towed to Marquette, Michigan.
On September 7, 1899 the Peerless collided with the schooner A. Stewart and sank.
She was raised four days later, and was repaired Howard's Bay, West Superior, Wisconsin.

In 1906 she was sold to the Chicago Transportation Company of Chicago.
Around this time she was moored off Chicago, and used as a gambling vessel.
In 1907 she was sold to the Muskegon & Chicago Navigation Company of Muskegon, Michigan, and was renamed Muskegon.
In 1908 the Muskegon was converted to a bulk freighter by the Ship Owners Dry Dock Company of Chicago.
In 1909 the Muskegon was sold to the Independent Sand Company of Chicago, she was also converted to a sandsucker in Muskegon.
The Muskegon was built as the Peerless in 1872, in Cleveland, Ohio by Ira Lafrinnier. She was launched on June 15, 1872. She had an overall length of 220 feet (67 m), and a between perpendiculars length of 211 feet (64 m). Her beam was 39.8 feet (12.1 m) wide, and her hull was 23 feet (7.0 m) deep. She had a gross tonnage of 1275.57 tons. She was powered by a 700 horsepower high pressure condensing engine, and fueled by two coal-fired Scotch marine boilers.
She entered service on July 3, 1872 with the Leopold & Austrian’s Lake Superior Line of Chicago, Illinois, and was given the registration number US20470. In September 1877 she jettisoned a cargo of flour, feed and sundries, about 26 of cattle and about 70 sheep. 
The Peerless received repairs in August 1882. On November 26, 1884 she caught fire in Chicago, Illinois, and was repaired and overhauled the following year by the Chicago Dry Dock Company.
In November 1894 she was detained at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan because of smallpox. In 1896 Peerless was sold to the Lake Michigan & Lake Superior Transportation Company of Chicago. On October 27, 1895 she broke her piston rod near St. Joseph, Michigan, and was rescued by the tug Perfection. In October 1898 her machinery became disabled, and she was towed to Marquette, Michigan. On September 7, 1899 the Peerless collided with the schooner A. Stewart and sank. She was raised four days later, and was repaired Howard's Bay, West Superior, Wisconsin.
In 1906 she was sold to the Chicago Transportation Company of Chicago. Around this time she was moored off Chicago, and used as a gambling vessel. In 1907 she was sold to the Muskegon & Chicago Navigation Company of Muskegon, Michigan, and was renamed Muskegon. In 1908 the Muskegon was converted to a bulk freighter by the Ship Owners Dry Dock Company of Chicago. In 1909 the Muskegon was sold to the Independent Sand Company of Chicago, she was also converted to a sandsucker in Muskegon.
SS Muskegon