Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1919-03-06
VIM. SLAI'IERY
PASSES On
(COntributed).

Birth and death define the eX-
tremes of life, but it is the fill
ing in of the years that counts,
that really interpret life and its
profound meaning. The pioneer
of the middle west is entitled to
take his place as a common
wealth builder with the Puritan
and Cavalier, combining as he
did the love of adventure and the
valOr of the one, and the sturdy
/ character and infleXible purpose
| of the other. Today we are a
gain called upon to chronicle the
death of another of the pioneer
settlers of Central Wisconsin.
William Slattery departed this
| life at his home on First Street
North on Monday morning, leav-
ing his widow and the following
children surviving him, VIA
Ison, Emmett, who resides on a
farm in the Town of Carson,
Portage County. and four daugh-
ters, Eleanor, Matte and Mrs. J.
L. Reinhart of this city, and Mrs.
| c. P. Gross Of Reedsburg. In
| this happy family circle it may
well be said the ambitions of his
life were most WOrthily centered
and that as a husband and faith
er, Mr.. Slattery approached the
domain Of perfect man; and so
today legion of friends extend to
the bereaved family their heart
felt sympathy.
The character of such a man
as William Slattery is entitled to
much more than a passing word.
Our lives are guide posts to 9TH
ers in the iournev along the path
way Of life, and Mr.. Slattery's
whole life exemplifed what may
be accomplished by answering
honesty and heroic determina-
ton to make a success Of what
ever we undertake. Born in St.
Bazille, Canada, on January 18th
1852, he, early in life, came to
the Town of Carson, in Portage
| County, and with many of the
pioneers, who have already gone
commenced the development of
that region then covered with
vast forests, formidable and un-
| inviting, with a courage that has
never been eXcelled, a steadiness
Of purpose seldom eQualled, until
they mastered all and gave to us
an empire Of untold wealth. Such
was the accomplishment of the
early settlers of Central Wiscon-
sin, and no pen has vet paid just
| tribute to their work and worth.
We, Of the present generation
are so engrossed in exploiting
and enjOying the splendid estate
they built up that we are ant to
eVince little concern in conmem-
Grating the excellent qualities Of
those who built it. The result Of
their work we know, but the per-
sonal history of these remark
able men, the suffering, the for
titude, the clear sighted, broad
minded patriotism are to live, it
seems in many cases, by the
treacherOus tongue of tradition
b11t Of Mr.. Slattery and his asso-
ciates in an early day it may be
truly said that no braver. more
resOurceful. no bolder, more per
sistent band of explorers ever
Wrung from the stubborn GRASP
of nature. a universally prosper
ous and wholesome civilization
Nothing can be said that reflects
Imore to a mans credit than that
he was a pioneer in usefulness
It is not often that the pioneer
who enters the forest lives tc
see and enjoy the fruits of his
labor. Lowell saws: "The settlers
axe and the builders trowel are
seldom welded by the self same
hand" But this was not true O.
William Slattery. He laid, or as