Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-12-26
A FRIENDS TRIBUTE.
C. X. Elilnssoh's Impressions of the
Late r. E. Parsher.

L. N. Aiilne8Ct impressions Oh luS
Late r. E. Parsher.
/ At the Parcher memorial exercises
held in tie city library, November
18th, at the dedication of the beauti
full lamps presented by Mrs. Parcher
several short addresses were made
| Chris X. Ellingson, formerly of Wau
sau but now of Hawkins, Wisconsin
was one of the speakers. Manuscripts
were furnished to the press by the
| other speakers, and their addresses
were published the following day
but Mr.. Ellingson did not provide 9
copy at that time. Friends who
we're present were greatly pleased
with his address, and have urged hin
| to permit its publication, and all are
| gratified that he has finally consented
Mr.. Ellingsons narrative is most in
terestingly told and his tribute is
most sincere. 1t tittingly illustrates
one of the many splendid traits OF
Mr.. Parchers character. We are
pleased to present this address to oul
readers.
1--WE find in our travels through life
great many people, who call US
| friends, speak of us as such, and in.
| troduce US to others as their very
best friends. Yet few, yes very few
are the persons we meet in life, who
4 h ctfn 10 fxrFNc
of friend that Emerson describes
| when he says. "A friend is a person
with whom | may be sincere. Be
fore him | may think aloud. l am
arrived at last in the presence of a
man SO real and equal, that / rnay
| drop even those undermoSt garments
of Discrimination, courtesy, and sec
| ond thought, and may deal with him
with that simplicity and wholesome
! ness, with which one chemical atom
| meets another
Rambler says: "There can be nc
| friendship without confidence, and nc
confidence without integrity" 1t is
this type of a friend that r. E.
Parcher was. The type whose in
| tegrity is bound to inspire an unlim-
tied confidence. Hence very solid
basis to build friendship upon.
| Parcher was a very good man to
tie too. If he gave anyone his con-
| fidence, it was not in half hearted,
or hesitating way, but he gave it in
full rounding measure. l believe here
/ can best illustrate what / mean, by
telling you some of my personal ex.
periences with the 'Grand Old MAN.
| q Wausau.
In the fall of 1891, Parcher, j. & A.
| Stewart Company ceased operation in
the mill, generally known as Par
cher's mill. For ten years preced-
ing | had been employed there as
yard foreman. Hence now looked
about for an opportunity to do some
| thing on my own account. / looked
over and purchased a small deserted
sawmill at StetSonyille, where oppcr.
tunities to get logs and timber at
moderate prices seemed very favor.
able But | was confronted with the
fact that all the capital | was able tC
| get together was $500. OF this
amount ] paid 81, 500 for the mill, and
estimated it would take the other
! 81, 900 to put the mill in running or
der. Hence / arranged for an inter
| view with r. Z. Parcher. j laid the
| whole proposition before him as clear
| ly as | was able to, and showed him
| the prices at which | expected to buy
logs, and asked for his opinion as tC
the feasibility to get the necessary
! money from the bank, to buy logs
| by putting up the logs and timber as
| security. His reply in substance was
"Small mills as rule have not beer
1 successful, but there are two points
! in your favor.
zone is, you have had considerable
/ experience around sawmiliS logging
and lumber.
'The other, and strongest point is
You are absolutely honest, and thai
| in itself is better capital than cash OF
bank accounts, because you cannot
lose it through trade or barter. Now
! about this loan, It's little out of tn,
banks line, but I'll furnish you shar
money you want TO buy logs, at Jhos,
! prices YOU have named"
This seemed too good to be true
| The idea that / had succeeded il
earning Mr. Parcher's confidence I,
such an extent that he would trus
me with large amounts of money, wa
beyond nay greatest hopes, and reall,
was beyond my power TO g1asc or be
lieve. Hence after due affection,
went back to him, and put it TO hin
in this manner. Now Mr.. P.lrche
you said you would furnish the neces
Sary money to buy logs. L wild hay
the mill in running order, out it vii
take large amounts Of money to man
ufactare these logs, and market tn
lumber. Now / vii. have no mean
by which to do that
Mr.. parcher turned and looked a
me with his keen, penetrating eyes
and sand: when promised you that
| meant / would furnish the neces
sary money to run your business with
Now does that cover the groundg
Such was the wholehearted way i
which Mr.. Parcher treated his friends
There was not a syllable in writin
between US, but based upon m
knowledge of Parcher's absolute In
!. | tegrity, knowing that his word was 9
good as his bond, | went 70 WORK
repaired the mill, piled up all the log
We could get, hired the mill crew, an
started saving, and agreed TO pay fc
it ali on q fixed day in March. Nhe
that pay day drew nigh, Parcher wa
sick abed. and doctors haG forbidde
ans intrusion of business matters a
that critical time This caused me {
write 10 Mr.. Parcher about like TIM