There Are Several Ships Named For Macoupin County Figures

By TOM EMERY

Having a ship named after you is a big deal. In Macoupin County, several former residents can claim that honor.

At least five ships have been named for people from the county, and served the nation in major wars. Four that honored area figures were Liberty ships, a series of mass-produced vessels that were often used for cargo.

Some 2,710 Liberty ships were built by eighteen shipyards nationwide at a cost of $2 million each. The ships were usually 441 feet long, with a 57-foot beam and 27 feet of draft. Each vessel weighed 14,474 tons, and could carry the equivalent of four trains...