Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-12-09
A Short Account Of Some Of the Most
Important Events in Its Life, and
n Brief Mention of Some of tie Lead
ing Business Men, Both Pact
and Present. by
Rev. Father Goepfe TT.
Continued from last weekly

Eagle Rivers town organization was
effected in the spring Of 1885, when it
passed the state legislature and took
its place among the American cities.
Our district, then, belonged to Lin
coin county, with Merrill as the county
seat. Soon after it was ceded to Onei-
da county, with the fourishing city of
Rhinelander as the head of administra-
ton. The separation from Lincoln to
Oneida county took place in 1887.
This was bright period for Eagle
River: settlers came from all sides;
camps were many, with crews numer-
Gus; lots and lands were high in and
around the city; and the immortal dol
lars were plentiful everywhere. Dur
ing this year, 1887, Peter St.Peter To-
Gated at Eagle River, where he has
since carried on thriving business,
giving the greatest satisfaction to his
customers by strict justice and homes
ty.
In 1889 MIR. and Mrs. Samuel w.
Smith reached our city and purchased
the Denton House, which has been, ev-
er since, as it is today, the best Hotel
of Eagle and the favorite resort of
travellers and tourists.
There are now in 1897, three Church
es in Eagle River: 1st:-St. Peters
Catholic church, with commodious
presbytery, lawns and gardens, and a
resident priest, Rev'd. Prosper Coop
fert, C. S. Sp. neutrality-suspicious.
church, with comfortable parsonage
and resident pastor, Rev. H.stss Tod J.
3rd:-G German Lutheran church, a nice
neat building with suitable grounds
and appendages, attended by Rev. John
DeJung from Rhinelander.
Detailed history of these churches
will appear in their own time.
The year 1890 was made memorable
by the erection of ST. Peters church,
which was built at cost of 1925. To
noble enterprise every one was eager
to contribute his mite, but foremost
among the workers was Mr.. Samuel
W. Smith, who then became exceed
ingly active, visiting all the surround
ing lumber camps, mo light task dur
ing the winter months) and calling up
on all the settlers for aid. In this Mr..
Smith was eminently successful, peo-
pie of all denominations contributing
literally to the undertaking. It is one
of the bright and striking features of
our Eagle River community, that, on
all occasions, we live in perfect har-
mony, and help one another. When
we ourselves visited the camps, many
a time, we were pleased to hear from
our hard working friends in the woods:
"Good, Father Goepfert, put down my
name for dollar towards your pare
chial house purchase and the furnish
ing of church and presbytery: I gave
SIS fer the building OF Eagle Rivers
church." And when these good, gen
erous fellows pass by, after their hard
work, they look with pride, to both
church and parsonage. repeating with
in themselves: 81 helped to erect these
buildings, now an honor and an orna-
ment to Eagle River City; now do not
miss the few dollars I contributed; [
am proud of having done good work:
God will bless me for what [ have
done" What we give to the church
we lend to the Lord, who, in return,
will repay us abundant interest in
health, vigor and grace, to enable us
to continue LIES journey heavenward.
A noble deed done for God will never
be forgotten and will always be richly
rewarded, both in time and in eterni-
ty.
Besides the liberal contributions in
money, Mr.. O'Connor donated all of
the land upon which now stands the
three churches of Eagle River. Sam.
w. Smith, Thos. B. Walsh, VIM. j.
Walsh, M. Holland, Frank Stein, Jos.
Deckert, John Bresnan, r. Slattery,
Joseph and John Tooley, Aug. Des-
champs, VIM. McGrath, and many 9TH
ers, whose names we would like to
know and publish, also afforded much