Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1914-01-09
OBITUHR Y.

The dawn of the New Year brought
sad news to the people of Phelps, when
it became known by wire that Mr..
William A. Phelps, President of the
Company, had passed away at Grand
Rapids, Michigan. in the early hours
of the morning. The grief manifested
was general and in mills and yards
and woods many a toil-worn hand was
drawn acreSSsmisty eyes when the
news was impaired of the passing of
the kindly and much respected head of
the Company.
| William Phelps was born at Law
renee, Van Buren, County. Michigan,
in 1843 of Scotch-I Irish parents. There
his early youth was spent on the farm
and later in assisting his father in
conducting general store. Here was
| laid the foundation of his subsequent
| highly successful business career. In
few years he was operating gener-
al store on his own account at Hart
| ford and also at Whitehall, Michigan,
finally branching out into the tanbark
and timber business which grew to
considerable proportions in the course
of time. Seeking wider field his at
tention was drawn to Northern Wis
consin and he in conjunction with his
son Charles, Mr.. John Bonnell and
Aothers organized the Wisconsin Bark
and Lumber Company and purchased
| the tract of timber upon which the
company is now operating. Then in
1901, accompanied by an old and
faithful employee, Mr.. John Bushey,
still a resident of Phelps, he landed at
Big Twin Lake, selected the present
mill site and with a crew Of men UNI
derbrushed and cleared the land, as
also the site of the Wisconsin Chem
ical Company In 1908 he built the
present fine store, second to none in
Northern Wisconsin, and to the con-
Quoting Of this he especially devoted
his energies. leaving the management
of the numbering to his son Charles.
Quiet and transformations in manner
never seeking the lime-light-William
Phelps was ever the genial, kindly
gentleman, always ready to welcome
the tourist, the traveller or the home
seeker to the town Wllscn
he had large share in founding and
upbuilding. Devoted to his business,
his only recreation and thorough en-
joyment was fishing, and at this
sport he was an expert. But with the
passing years age was creeping upon
the veteran merchant and lumber
man, and during the late fall this
year he contracted cold from which
he never fully recovered. On Dec.
18th Mr.. Charles Phelps took him
home to Grand Rapids where from
day to day he grew weaker. Slowly
dying with the dying year his Soul
went out to the Great Beyond ere the
light of the New Year dawned. When
the sad message reached us of his
passing we who knew him and loved
and respected him, silently and sor-
roWfully bowed our heads, as the
bells of the village churches tolled
out his requiem over the white
wastes of Big Twin Lake-the Lake
which would know the premier fish
erman no more.
Gathered in spirit around his last
resting place, we followers Of the for
est, mourn deeply the passing of our
good, our true friend. His hand was
ever outstretched to the needy and
helpless and his wise counsel was
ever given in all kindliness to the err
ing and the faltering. AS a final
tribute we breathe over his tomb a
feryent, simple, God bless you Will
liam Phelps, you were a good just |
man and true friend Of the toiler.
EOUGHERNE.