DAILY INDEPENDENT
By the Chippewa Valley Pub. Co.

The death of Charles Ermatinger, aged 74 years, at St. Paul, Tuesday morning at 2:35, will cause general sorrow among the early residents of this city and county. Mr. Ermatinger was a quiet, effective citizen, who during his long residence in this city, lived a life of usefulness and service. With every movement for public betterment and advancement he was aligned and gave to it generously of his aid and cooperation.
Mr. Ermatinger left Canada with a companion, John Cameron, for St. Paul, in the winter of 1857. The boat was caught in the ice at Reeds Landing, and could proceed no further, so the young men started on foot for Chippewa Falls, where Mr. Ermatinger had an Uncle, James Ermatinger, who was in the employ of the American Fur Company, and after whom Jim Falls is named. In 1857 Chippewa Falls had a saw mill, a boarding house and a few Indian cabins.
A few years later he returned to his old home, Glengary County, Ontario, and was married to Miss Lizzie Kennedy, also of Glengary. The young people moved to Chippewa Falls, and began a life that proved a happy one.
Mr. Ermatinger was one of the first Aldermen of the city, Sheriff and Register of Deeds, and Clerk of the Town of Anson. In 1891 he was called to Madison, and for four years held an important office under the Peck administration. Ten years later he removed to St. Paul.
He is survived by two brothers, Daniel of Chippewa Falls, and Angus of North Dakota; a sister, Mrs. D.F. Carroll, and Mrs. H.D. McDonald, of Chippewa Falls, a wife Mrs. C.G. Ermatinger and eight children, Mrs. D. McDonell, Superior; Mrs. W.T. Tyler, Springfield, Missouri; Mrs. C.J. Jostevin, Chicago; Mrs. T.W. Running, St. Paul; George R. Ermatinger, Oklahoma City; Albert Ermatinger, San Antonio, Texas; Peter Ermatinger and Charles A. Ermatinger, St. Paul.
The remains arrived in the city last night over the Soo line and were taken to the home of his brother, Daniel Ermatinger. This morning at 10 o'clock he will be buried from St. Mary's Catholic church.
And thus another jovial, honest pioneer has gone to his reward, a man who has been prominent in the building of this city, who has helped to lay Chippewa Falls' foundation, who had watched the expanding miracle of her growth from the day when the print of the red man's foot was still fresh in the forest. He saw the buildings rise and the streets multiply in number and trade for various parts of the county move towards Chippewa Falls. He witnessed every event of any importance which transpired in Chippewa Falls since the beginning. What experience he could narrate--what tales he could tell--what inspiration and encouragement he could impart to the younger spirits who have come upon the scene by the unvarnished recital of what he has witnessed. Peace to his ashes; bliss eternal to his soul.