Isaac M. Scott was built in 1909 at the American Shipbuilding Co. shipyard in Lorain, Ohio, United States and launched on 12 June 1909.

At 4:00 AM on 12 July 1909, while traveling northwest about two miles (3.2 km) off the Whitefish Point lighthouse in a dense fog, Isaac M. Scott rammed SS John B. Cowle.

In March 1910, the Virginia Steamship Company settled claims filed by relatives of men lost in the sinking of John B. Cowle in the amount of $20,000.

Following an investigation and hearings, the United States Steamboat Inspectors at Marquette suspended Captain Rogers of John B. Cowle, as well as its pilot, Edward E. Carlton, for 30 days.

The storm of heavy snow, bitter cold winds and frightening high waves took the lives of an estimated 235 mariners, 178 of which were lost on Lake Huron alone.

Located by divers in 1976 about six miles (9.7 km) off Northpoint, Michigan, she rests upside down and is half buried in mud under 55 metres (180 ft 5 in) of water with her nose still pointed into the storm.

Her final resting place is now part of the 448 square miles (1,160 km2) Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve.