Monterey County CA Archives History - Books .....Prefaces 1893
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Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of The Coast Counties Of Central California.

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.



HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."—Macaulay.


CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.


PREFATORY.
THE GENERAL HISTORY.

IN presenting the result of their labors to the readers of this volume, the
editors desire to say that they are fully aware of the truth that the merit of a
picture of any past epoch depends not a little on the manner in which it is
presented. The historian, that is, the picturer of the present or the past, like
the painter, should be, though he often, alas! falls short of being, an artist.
He should also be an idealist and a philosopher. It is not enough for him to
give mere dull descriptions of humdrum events, which in themselves alone are
often, however faithfully reproduced, but the dry bones of a cadaver. He must
see something of the significance of the events he describes, the wondrous and
often vital relations that exist between them, if he would bring an epoch
vividly before the living present.

    He who spiritualizes and idealizes may indeed write the truest history. When
George Eliot gave, in after years, idealized pictures of the scenes and
localities of her youth, her neighbors, though seeing with different eyes, had
no difficulty in recognizing the fidelity of her descriptions. So, coming nearer
home, Mrs. Helen Jackson's idealized pictures in Ramona of California scenes and
characters,—of the hot, dusty, sheep-shearing times so familiar to old
Californians,—are not only faithful pictures, but they are also made all the
more attractive by her idealized artistic mode of presentation.

    In telling the story of the central coast section of California, or, perhaps
it would be better to say, in summarizing that story within the briefest limits,
we have endeavored to give the primary facts with fidelity. But whether we have
rightly grasped the significance of the events we have described,—the wondrous
and often vital relations which exist between them,—is a matter, of course,
which is left for the reader and the critic to decide.

    We must confess that the study of California's early history, and especially
of the early history of Monterey and vicinity,—which, in manners, customs and
language, were but a section of Spain translated to this then far distant region
bordering on the South Seas,—has greatly interested us. We can only hope that we
may be able to awaken in our readers, in some slight degree, a like interest in
the same study.
                                                H. D. BARROWS.

PREFATORY.
THE BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

    The publishers believe they have materially added to the value of this work
by supplementing the general historical chapters with a somewhat extensive list
of biographical sketches and personal mention, so called, of citizens of more or
less local prominence. With the incorporation of these sketches, brief as some
of them are, a two-fold purpose is served. First, it secures to the work a class
of significant historical facts that cannot so appropriately find a place in any
other portion of the history; secondly, to the general interest of the volume it
adds a personal worth to a class of people who would like to see such a work in
print, and leave it to their posterity.

    In gathering the facts for these articles, serious difficulties have been
encountered. Some people have shown a reluctance to furnish us the desired data;
others have overstocked us with material; while still others have declined to
furnish us with any information at all. The first two embarrassments were, with
patience, in a measure, overcome; but the last mentioned was insurmountable; and
thus it is that the biographies of some most worthy subjects are brief, and
others are not here at all. All possible caution has been taken to record these
statements in harmony with the facts, aiming in each case to give a faithful pen
picture of each subject, as the artist would bring out the beauties of a
landscape picture in colors harmonious and true to Nature. The ills of life and
imperfections in character are neither pleasant nor profitable to contemplate.
Therefore, we have not aimed to perpetuate them in history.

    To insure accuracy, these biographical sketches have been type-written and
then submitted by mail or otherwise to the parties from whom the information was
obtained. Some have been kind enough to return them to us as requested in
corrected form, and in a few cases, where they were not so returned, we are not
quite certain of their accuracy, and do not feel responsible for possible errors.

    The writing and final incorporation of these articles in this work have not
been made in all cases contingent upon a subscription for a history. No pioneer
has intentionally been omitted because he could not see his way clear to order
one of our books, and the sketches of many appear who could not afford to pay
for the work. It may also be stated that some have ordered the work who, for
reasons purely their own, desired their life's record not to be included in the
list of biographies.

    In after years these biographies, called sketches, will have a value,
because they are authoritive records of primary facts in the lives of persons
who took a more or less active part in making the history related in this
volume; and as years vanish their significance will be more apparent and their
value increase.
                                     L. A. INGERSOLL.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.



HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."—Macaulay.


CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.


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