Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-10-07
A Short Account Of Some Of the Most
Important Events in Its Life, and
n Brief Mention of Some of Its Lead.
ing Business Men. Both Past
and Present. by
Rev. Father Goepfert.
CONTINUED from last week. J

| Yes! our Eagle River locality, with
| it's charming surroundings, is "a thing
of beauty and a joy forever" But it
requires mind to understand and a
feeling heart to fully appreciate even a
part of the blessings which the Al
mighty has showered upon the land in
which we live.
Many people come and 60, some al
ways remain. The former are blind to
the advantages of this new country,
and later on, will deplore the steps
they have taken on leaving place
where Providence had prepared hap
ply home for themselves and their chill
dren, whilst elsewhere they may fare
worse; the latter more prudent and
more patiently farseeing, adhere to
their soil of adoption, and before long
reap the rich harvest and enjoy bene-
fits which but few now dare to dream
Of in this hitherto, apparently un-
known, promised land. Eagle River,
|
winters are long; frosts come early;
crops may be damaged; business is not
stirring; money not plentiful; fortunes
grow slowly; the wealthy as yet are
few and far between. But let people
only bear in mind that our latitude is
below that of England and Scotland,
| and even parts of France where, GEN.
turtles ago, people had to struggle
against the same obstacles and against
the same elements, to till the hard
soil, to establish home, and, happy
/ homes they did create for themselves.
With the clearing and cultivation Of
the land change is effected in the
temperature; the cold becomes less bit
ing; crops are more secure; commerce
more thriving; and money circulates
more freely, especially when a region
is inhabited by virtuous, conscientious
and Industrious settlers, who take a
deep interest in their holdings and
families. By such settlers the Old
World was transformed and civilized
history will repeat itself in Northern
Wisconsin.
It is a great state at the present day.
The Almighty had laid out our i'm
mense American regions, like SO many
gardens to be cultivated, in these lat
ter days, by His children; and, He
wishes them to derive profit from the
stores He has SO lovingly treasured up
for all. The transformation of uncul-
tivated regions into civilized, Chris
tian states or kingdoms, like that of
Wisconsin, is the combined product
and result of Gods omnipotent power
and of the feeble efforts of His enter
prising creatures. God supplies the
place and the means of operation and
allows the free will of men and their
genius of industry to carry out His de-
signs, for His glory and their own tenn
poral and eternal prosperity.
But a few years ago, the site now oc-
cupied by our city of Eagle River, was
| DuU d ucIoc IOIcoU VI uIdJCoClC p1uC
trees that, for hundreds of years, had
taken deep root in their native soil and
proudly swung their heads in the
breeze and storms of the elements.
The red Indian would pass beneath
with respect: and the deer and other
denizens of the woods, roamed about
in undisturbed freedom.
Fifty years ago Northern Wisconsin
was an unbounded, timber-covered
wilderness, refreshed by powerful
streams and lakes innumerable, rich in
scenery, land and home waiting for
men to be it's king and occupant. The
reign of savagery was not to last al
ways: the wild beasts were not to be
always the jewellers and witnesses of
such vast districts and of such silvery
waters, of such unsurpassed beauties,
when many other states had already
been raised into mighty common
wealths, our great region with its in
exhaustible resources, was no longer
to rest asleep, Wisconsin saw the day,
an infant gladdened the American fam
lily.
This state was christened Wisconsin
from the river of the same name.
Wisconsin is an Indian word which