Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-12-02

The ruins of the shanties and quaint
| and shapeless buildings of the lumber
ing camps of forty years ago, and of
| the primitive ''bank'', are likewise
still to be found at a point not mile
distant from Fred Morey's, now, E. A.
Eyerett's summer resort, erected only
in 1897, so glorious1y situated on the
woody slopes that crown the smiling
bay between Cat Fish and Cranberry
lakes, within five miles from the old
military road that runs from Green
Bay to Ontonagan.
Two years after the coming of Jas.
Hall, G. L. Perry, veteran pioneer,
still hale and hearty in our midst, To-
Gated on farm near Yellow Birch,
which is also not far from Eagle River
About the same time, Daniel Gagen
began to clear a farm on the land
which is now known as Gagen Hill
In 1884, Judge Daniel Graham settled
at this place permanently, although he
had visited in this neighborhood when
the Milwaukee, Lake Shore q Vest
ern, now well known as the Chicago g.
Northwestern R'y. company's termi-
nus was yet at Clintonville and Anti
go. It is Mr.. Graham that planned
and laid out the original plat of our
city, and divided it sol regularly into
our broad, beautiful streets, leaving
ample room for increase and extension
in every direction. Few cities are
laid out with such perfection, nor draw
more the attention of the travellers.
Much OF the future progress depends
on the beginning: a good start is half
of the whole, says the proverb. Rail
road street, later on, was laid out by
the railroad engineers of the Milwau-
kee, Lake Shore & Western R'y. COM
pany.
On the 18th day of April, 1883, came
John O'Connor, the pioneer, the foun-
der and father OF Eagle River, at
which time the railway, which had al
ready been extended northward,
through Monico, Rhinelander to ASH
land, was built out from Monico to
Three Lakes, reaching Eagle River
during the June following. Mr..
|O'Conaor was one OF the first white
settlers in this vicinity, who by hard
and incessant toll, accumulated about
him considerable landed property,
about one thousand acres, of which in
cluded the original plat of Eagle Riv-
er City. Mr.. O'Connor was also large
" engaged in mercantile business as
we'll as in logging and farming pur-
suits. He died in 1889, deeply regret
ted by the entire community, leaving a
widow and ten children: five sons and
five daughters. Later on we shall
publish detailed history of the O'Con-
nor family.
During the same year, 1883, there al
SO came to this settlement, Thomas B.
Walsh and William ]. Walsh, BROTH
ers, whose efforts, untiring energy, in
dustry and enterprise in business, as
well as in many civil and legal capaci-
ties, have been crowned with marked
success. Their parents, as well as
many relatives and friends, have since
moved to Eagle River and, with the
O'Connor family, have become induen-
tial and rank among the main supper.
tiers Of Catholic interests in the par
ish.
Messrs Cook and Dickinson were
two other enterprising spirits who, at
an early date, located at Eagle River:
they first opened store in tent
across the river where now stands Mr..
Cooks residence. Then they removed
to a log shanty on the southern side of
the river on the place where in 1889
the city water-works were erected to
which our electric plant was attached
in 1897. Thus our settlement contin-
ued to grow; numerous enterprises of
an extensive character, from time to
to time, locating here, among which
the Gerry Lumber Co.'S. mills in 1886.
At the end of this article, we wish
all our readers to perfectly understand
that we write the history of Eagle Riv-
er and of Villas county, in no spirit of
bigotry, that we shall deal out justice
to all creeds and classes; and that we
shall literally bestow honor wherever
honor is due.
ITO be continued.)