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Biography For David Everest

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Author:
Bill Hart

Background:

David Everest, who was the most influential industrialist in Wausau’s history, was born in Pine Grove, MI on October 13, 1883 to John H. & Gertrude (Clark) Everest.  He attended high school in Gobleville, MI, and at age 16 he  entered the business world. Two tragedies – a fire which destroyed his family’s farm implement manufacturing firm and his father’s death – prevented Everest from attending college. Instead, he took a job as bookkeeper for $26 a month at Bryant Paper Company, a Kalamazoo paper company, and began his long and distinguished career in the paper industry.

Accomplishments:

After Kalamazoo, D.C. Everest moved to paper companies in Munising, MI and Chicago. In 1909, he was hired as manager of the Rothschild Water Power Company, a firm newly organized by the Wausau Group which soon became Marathon Corporation. It developed, under Everest’s leadership, into one of the largest paper mills in the nation.  Within a year Everest was director of Marathon Corporation. In 1938 he became president, adding the title of board chairman in 1950.  The Wausau Group welcomed Everest’s administrative talents, and he became involved with its many enterprises; Wausau Paper Mills where he served as Chairman of the Board, Employers Mutual Liability, D.J. Murray Manufacturing Company, and Wisconsin Improvement Company, among others.

 

D.C. Everest was recognized for leadership in his professional field with his election to the presidency of the American Pulp and Paper Association and his selection for a gold metal from the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry.  A founder of Trees for Tomorrow, a forestry organization, Everest also served as president of the American Forestry Association. 

D.C. Everest was united in marriage in Munising, MI on September 20, 1905 to Miss Rita Gouin.  Together, they had three daughters and two sons.

 

Mr. Everest’s life-long interest in history led to collections of Civil War and Lincoln memorabilia.  He served as president of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and was an organizer and first president of the Marathon County Historical Society.  Long known as a man with a quote for all occasions, his favorite quote was always “people will quit the eatin’ habit last.” 

Upon his death on October 28, 1955, the Wausau Daily Record-Herald called him “Wausau’s Number 1 Citizen.” He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Wausau, WI.

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Other Information

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Date of Birth: 10-13-1883

Place of Birth: Michigan

Date of Death: 10-28-1955

Place of Burial: Pine Grove Cemetery Wausau, WI

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