ECHO RESORT, EAGLE RIVER, WI: AN ARNS FAMILY HISTORY: By Bill E. Arns III (Version #9: Nov 2025)

Our family’s story about Eagle River begins on Jan 15, 1922, Chicago Police SRGT Patrick Shearin (1) died after 36-years with the Chicago Police. He was born in Enniskillen, Ireland (N. Ireland today) in 1859. In 1866 his parents emigrated to America, and settling in Chicago. In 1886 (Age 27) he joined the Chicago Police, and 2 years later married Ida Howard, an Irish lady from Richmond, Virginia. Together they had 7 children, the 3rd of whom was Mabelle E. Shearin. On March 7, 1916, she married a hard-working, industrious German Newspaper man, son of German immigrants Judge Joseph Arns & Marie Yahnke (2), named Peter Joseph “PJ” Arns.

After PJ served in “The Great War” (3), i.e. WWI, PJ and Mabelle settled into their new life. He worked as a printer at The Chicago Examiner newspaper. Soon they had 2 girls, Elizabeth (Betty) and Patricia (Pat). PJ had contracted tuberculosis during WWI, it is said by sharing a water ladle. To alleviate his condition, he sought treatment at higher elevation. In 1920 he went to a TB clinic in Colorado Springs. Being too far away, so he sought a closer location, and Eagle River at 1600 feet still seemed to do the trick.

So, after the passing of SGT Shearin, they used the inheritance as “seed money” to get into the Outfitter Business and headed up to the Northwoods with their 2 young daughters, Betty and Patricia (4). On July 15, 1922, PJ and Mabe put $100 down on a “Land Contract” (i.e. obliged to improve the land - see below) with a Mr. Jackson Reuter, of Madison, WI, and continue with $100 every 6 months, with 6% interest, starting on Jan 15, 1923, until the $1100 balance was paid. Business must have been good, as they were able to make 11 monthly payments of $100 from Jan 15 to Nov 15, 1923, when they obtained The Deed for the property. 

GRANTEE DEEDS on Pages 10 and 11 on Vilas County “Land Contract” Records Dated 1922 and “Warranty Deed” Dated 1923:

PJ and Mabe, while working hard to build their cabin and outbuildings with wood and tar paper, and tilling the soil (5), they welcomed their 1st son, John Howard Arns on May 24, 1923. Not quite being settled, they traveled back to Chicago for the birthing process. By 1924 their cabin was complete, along with a barn for livestock, and a hennery for fresh eggs. ASIDE: I have a theory that they named the cow “Lucky” because they had no intention of killing it for meat; rather used her for milk and butter… They also had a calf, and a dog named Mitzi (AKA “The Wonder Dog”), who was a gift from PJ’s father (6). Then Mitzi had 2 puppies to everyone’s delight, especially the children (7).

On Sept 11, 1924, PJ and Mabe welcomed their 4th child, Joseph Frances Arns (8), who was born at the cabin at Echo Resort, probably with the help of their neighbor, a divorced Lady named Doctor Spencer (Unknown 1st name - there are photos of her kids playing with the Arns kids). They named him Joseph, after PJ’s father, who had died that February in Wilmette, a suburb of Chicago. ASIDE: Joseph emigrated from Reil, Germany at the age of 10, with his mother, Anna, 3 stepsiblings, and stepfather, Peter Leister, in 1867 to Chicago. Joseph would go on to father 16 children between 2 wives!!

Now with 4 children in tow, and physically demanding work, PJ and Mabelle could only persevere until about 1926. Bill E. Arns was born in Chicago, and they purchased a house at 4618 W Patterson Street in Portage Park, Chicago. They had lots of family support nearby, and wanted to continue having kids.

In 1929, they donated the property to the “Aid for Lutheran Society” (see below) ASIDE: For reasons unknown to the author - they were both Catholics after all) and moved back to Chicago, just in time for “The Great Depression” and continued Mafia shoot outs…

It turned out to be a stroke of luck to get out of the resort/outfitter business in Jan 1929, because after “Black Friday”: Oct 29, 1929, nobody would have the money to visit a resort; let alone $400 buy a vacation cabin! Even back in Chicago, everyone at the time had a tough go of it. But PJ had many skills and a great work ethic, so he would find gainful employment in Chicago. Mabelle was also an extremely capable home maker, and knew how to “stretch a dollar”, or rather a nickel. Through and through, as a “Good Christian”, she never stopped giving to those less fortunate. She “tithed” (gave 10% to The Church) all through her life and always had an open space to sleep, and a seat at the dinner table, for those in need. “There is always room for more” she was known to say. Her 9 kids were keenly aware of her code words: “FHB” for “Family Hold Back” so their guests could eat to their fill. A happier phrase “MIK” meant More in Kitchen; enough for everyone. The kids were also instructed to collect the lumps of coal which would fall from the trains going by at the end of the street, to use for heating the house.

Mabe was and great Matriarch of the Arns Family, and I still have yet to hear a disparaging word about her from any of her 70 kids + Grandkids! She no doubt learned the ropes from her mother, a fine Irish Lady herself; Ida “Mummy” Howard Shearin. It’s been said that she preferred to be called “Mummy” because “granny” or “Grandma” sounded “too old”. PJ and Mabelle went on to have 5 more children in Chicago: Bill, Jim, Ida, Madge, and Bobby. They have all heard the stories about “The Cabin” in Eagle River, and Joe always got a twinkle in his eye whenever anyone asked him “Where were you born?”

1) SGT Patrick Searin Death Notice Jan 15, 1922

2) Judge Jospeh C. Arns c1905, Wilmette, IL

4) 1922: Mother’s Day @ Ida Shearin’s house, Chicago: Betty, PJ, Pat & Mabel Arns

7) 1923 L->R: Betty w puppy, Mitzi (Proud Mom), Pat w puppy, & Mabe Arns

Eagle River’s own Joseph Arns, AKA “Unka Joe”, fought in WWII with his brothers John and Bill. Unka Joe flew 256 Missions as a member of the Flying Tigers in the Army Air Corps5 (before there was an “Airforce”). It was a pleasure to know Unka Joe, and his 11 children: Barb Ballen (Jim), Joe Jr. (Colleen), Sally Willis (Will), Mary Taraszka (Terry), Linda Attore (Larry), Jim (MaryLou), Sandy Hope (Ronald), Joanie Linnane (Cory), Janet James (Don), Julie Ivers (Matt), and Annie Stramaglio (Steve). 

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5) 1922: PJ and Mabe Breaking Ground on Echo Resort

6) ~1925: Lucky the Cow and Mitzi the Wonder Dog on the banks of Rice Creek and Watersmeet Lake

8) 1925: L->R Pat, John, Mabe, baby Joe, and Betty Arns @ Echo Resort

3) Peter John Arns at Camp Paul Jones, Murphy Co. Great Lakes, IL 1918