The Active was a wooden schooner built in Green Bay in 1845. The ship often carried a cargo of lumber, typically shingles, throughout its decade-long service on Lake Michigan. In June of 1855, the Active struck a bar in Manitowoc between the north and south piers while attempting to enter the Manitowoc River. It was freed in slightly damaged condition; however, its cargo was considerably damaged.
The Active, loaded with shingles, was bound from Manitowoc for Chicago on October 10, 1855. Around midnight, the ship was struck by a squall and instantly capsized off of Port Washington. Captain A. Rogers and the two crewmembers clung to the rigging for another six hours, until rescued by Captain White of the the Thornton. An article from the Manitowoc Herald on October 20, 1855 reads, "At the time Capt. White came to their relief, they were ten miles from the shore, and still drifting further into the lake." The vessel and its cargo were owned by Chas. Esslinger of Manitowoc, valued at $2,500, and uninsured.

The Sciota reported seeing the Active two days later, floating bottom-up 15 miles off of Milwaukee. The final report was made by Captain Corbit of the Stronach on October 18, 1855, which saw "a boat bottom uppermost off Oak Creek," to be the Active, according to the Milwaukee Sentinel. There are no entries after 1855 for Active until late in 1872. A few entries for a schooner named Active show up in the Manitowoc Pilot, which likely is not the same vessel.
The "Active" was last seen floating capsized 15 miles off of Milwaukee. After the 13th of October 1855, there is no record of the vessel.