Page 257 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

COMMERCIAL HISTORY OF MTLWAUI<EE.
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Opening of the Chainber of Cornmeroe.
Addresses bg IIon. EDWARD D. HOLTON. Dr. LEMUWL W. WEEKS, and J. B.D.
COGBWELL, Esq., Kovcrnber 22d, 1558.
AT an early hour the spacious room of the CEAXBER OF
COMMERCE, in the first story of the Free Democrat Building,
was filled to overflowing, by a large concourse of the most sub-
stantial business men, merchants and citizens of Milwaukee.
The meeting was then called to order by L. J. HIGBY,
President, who introduced Mr. E. D. HOLTON, who spoke as
follows :-
Mr. President and Gentlemen:
I shall detain you, in part, with reminiscences concerning
the commercial interests of Milwaukee, which have mainly
come under my own observation. The very limited time
afforded, has allowed me but small opportunity for research
and consequent exactitude, and what I speak of is mainly from
memory, and may vary slightly as to details. But as the
object of these allusions to the past, is to bring to the mind a
view of the rapid growth of our city, and some of the causes
which have produced it, the periods of time stated, will be
sufficiently accurate.
When a boy of fifteen or sixteen years of age, I read the
history of the Valley of the Mississippi, by the Rev. TIMOTHY
FLINT, who, from his own account, was cLn itinerant missionary
of the Presbyterian Church. Never will the impressions of
hie graphic and delightful descriptions of our own portion of
the great valley pass from my mind. I longed to depart from
my New England mountain home, and be a citizen of that fair
land. Following the open door of opportunity, I made my
way first to Wisconsin in the fall of 1838. I spent one day
in Milwaukee. It was then, as now, a period of high water