Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-05-13
Charles A. Single.

Charles A. Single.
Since our last issue it has become
our painful duty to chronicle the de-
mise of an old and widely known resi-
dent of the pinery, Charles A. Single
of Wausau. When such a man pass
es away we deem it to be the duty O.
the Press to give more than the ordi
nary obituary notice of him, and while
we shall not attempt anything like an
exhaustive biographical history Of the
deceased we cam 0t 1orbare giving
briefly the impressions that a some
what intimate acquaintance of nearly
forty years have given US of him, and
we consider it not only duty but a
privilege to bear testimony of his worth
as man and his sterling good quail
ties of heart and mind.
c. A. Single was born in England
and emisrated to America, and first
settled in Milwaukee, remaining there
until about the year 1915 when he
came to the Wisconsin pinery where he
had been preceded by his brother,
Benja Single, then, and still, one
of the most prominent and widely
known citizens of the country. In
1849 he began keeping small hotel
at Wausau on the site afterward and
for many years occupied by the "For-
est House." The first hotel was a
modest wooden building, say 16x24
feet with some necessary leantos, but
sufficient for the time, but his general
hospitality and kindness to everybody
speedily drew to the modest inn bus
mess its dimensions could not accom-.
mouaUe ana therefore in process OF
tine was constructed the Forest
House, the largest and best appointe ed
hotel in the northern part of the
State, and from the time he be gan the
hotel business until the burning of the
Forest House two years ago, except
for a season or two when the property
was leased, Mr.. Single was himself the
landlord and personally superintendent
every part of the large establishment,
and no man better knew how or took
more pleasure in ministcring to every
want of those who partook Of his hos
pitality Nature done much for him ;
in addition to a constitution of iron il
endowed him with large and varied
ability with the most unmeasured in.
duStry and unfaging zeal in the &C
complishment of his purposes. He
had large and comprehensive publ:
spirit which made him prominent in,
and a liberal contributor to all public
enterprises designed to improve the
country or benefit the people of the
locality in which he lived, and to al
measures meeting his approval he gave
his active support and counted neither
time or money so expended as lost.
In politics he WAS Wing and then
a Republican, ardently so, always fore
most in the councils Of his party and
always ready to make any needed sac
ri6ce of time and money for it. He
was one Of those men who when rep
resenting the public had only to know
what was needed to be done to forth
with do it or provide way to do it
and with Single he usually volunteer
ed to do the required service himself.
ever on the alert and always ready {
perfect wheel-horse in his party. II
his deal with his fellow men he wa
upright and honorable, and his bust
ness necessarily brought him in contac
with great many individuals but W
can truthfully say that in the Ions
period of orr acquaintance with hin
we have not only never known him t,
be guilty of mean thing, but W
never heard him so much as accuses
, of mean action or his truthrulness o
: integrity questioned.
, But it was his social qualities an
kindness of heart that most endeare,
: him to his friends and for which b
will be longest remembered. His wa
5 nature full Of the milk Of human
r kindness. He was constant watche
t at the bed of suffering. his the steady
$ careful hand, the gentle voice, and hi
4 the sound and discriminating judg
: mcnt that made his presence so vel