Kern County CA Archives History - Books .....Preface 1934
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Book Title: Where Rolls The Kern

WHERE ROLLS THE KERN

Copyright, 1934 By Herbert G. Comfort

PRINTED in THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

This is a Limited Edition of Three Hundred Copies of which this Copy is
Number....................

Where Rolls the Kern

A History of Kern County, California
By Herbert G. Comfort

MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA:
The ENTERPRISE Press
1934

History should not overstep the limits of truth, and indeed, in recording noble
deeds, the truth is sufficient. —PLINY THE YOUNGER.


PREFACE

   COUNTY HISTORIES as a class quite generally possess two outstanding
characteristics. They are very often written by "one of the oldest inhabitants,
who remembers when;" and, all too frequently, in the opinion of this writer at
least, from one-half to three-quarters of their total space is given over to
biographies and "write-ups" of the county's "prominent citizens" of today, whose
chief claim to recognition in all too many cases is that they have subscribed in
advance for one or more copies of the volume, at rather a round figure, or have
otherwise contributed financially to the support of the work.

   Both these virtues—if virtues they be—are entirely lacking in this work.

   Although a visitor to Kern County on more or less frequent occasions for the
past quarter century, the writer must plead guilty to never having been a
resident of the County; and, none of the information contained herein is based
on his own personal reminiscences.

   The names of "prominent men" of today are almost, if not entirely,
conspicuous by their absence; and a majority of such names as are contained in
the volume are of those who have long since passed to the Great Beyond, but who
before departing this life performed some act or deed—good or bad—which caused
their indelible mark to be left on what is today Kern County.

   The work is almost entirely the result of painstaking research through
records, public documents, old manuscripts, old newspapers, and other similar
source material, together with interviews with those still living who are
conversant with some of the facts.

   The writer is deeply indebted to the Henry E. Huntington Library, at San
Marino, for the use of source material, and to the accomodating staff of that
instiution for assistance in locating the desired documents; to the Los Angeles
Public Library; to Mr. H. A. Spindt, Principal of the Kern County Union High
School and Junior College, and President of the Kern County Historical Society,
for a contribution to the chapter dealing with the founding of Fort Tejon, and
for other valuable assistance; to Mr. Jesse Stockton, history teacher in the
Kern County Union High School at Bakersfield; to Mr. William Van-Wert, history
teacher in the Junior College; and to Mr. F. F. Latta, teacher in the Shafter
High School, and a recognized authority on San Joaquin Valley Indian history,
for constructive criticism of the manuscript. To these and many others who
assisted in a minor, yet none the less important degree, the sincere thanks of
the author are hereby extended.

   Whatever shortcomings the volume may have, the writer can say with modest
pride, that it has not been prepared without care; every effort having been put
forth to ascertain the facts, and to present them to the best of his ability.

   However, it is the work of the human mind and hand, and, "to err is human;"
so if the reader should discover an inaccuracy here and there, it is trusted
that he will keep this thought in mind.

                             HERBERT G. COMFORT.
      June 14,1934.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Where Rolls the Kern

A History of Kern County, California
By Herbert G. Comfort

MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA:
The ENTERPRISE Press
1934


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