Palo Alto County IA Archives History - Books .....Preface 1910
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 5, 2006, 10:38 pm

Book Title: History Of Palo Alto County Iowa

PREFACE

   At the time of the celebration of the Semi-Centennial of Palo Alto County, at
Emmetsburg, Iowa, in July, 1906, I was asked to prepare a short history and list
of old settlers for the souvenir program distributed by the committee. The
preparation of that sketch led me deep into the beginnings of the county, and
the interest then incited has continued to grow as the researches progressed.
Moreover, there has been a deepening consciousness that it is our sacred duty to
preserve by historical record the events and traditions of the past. The
intrepid pioneers who fought the battles of the frontier in the early days are
fast passing away and with them the precious storehouse of human acts and
achievements so vital to any history. We cannot longer delay giving justice to
whom justice is due and preserve for posterity the record of those who in the
vanguard of progress made possible what we now enjoy.

   During the four years that have elapsed since beginning this work, I have
used many spare moments and much of my vacation time in preparing this history.
The gathering of material has entailed a larger amount of hard work and patient
research than at first contemplated; and the writing and publication of the book
has been compressed into a few months and crowded to completion for fear that
the constantly increasing distractions of a busy practice might soon prevent any
further work upon it before its consummation. No one is more aware of the
imperfections of the book than the author and it is too much to hope that there
are no inaccuracies. But it has been my purpose to give as completely and
accurately as possible the history of our county. I have tried to be fair and
impartial. No labor has been spared to make the facts thoroughly trustworthy and
reliable in every detail. References and explanations in footnotes have been
given whenever practicable. But throughout it all the aim has been to keep the
thread of human interest, the personal touch that makes life worth living and
history worth reading.

   The big 1906 Semi-Centennial celebration, lasting three days, bringing
together as it did the old settlers and renewing forgotten associations, brought
to light many valuable reminiscences and stories of the early days. An autograph
register of all visitors, with the date of coming to the county, was a feature
of the Old Settlers' Day and has since been permanently bound, together with the
account of the proceedings and other historical matter, and forms a valuable
record for future reference. Yet it is a lamentable fact that much valuable
historical material has been lost and destroyed. The most careful search and
extensive inquiry among the old settlers has not revealed a single copy of the
old Democrat, published at Soda Bar in 1869, nor of the Palo Alto Advance,
published in the Old Town in 1870, nor of the Palo Alto Patriot, published in
1873, nor of the Enterprise, issued for a short period about the same time. A
partial file and one or two odd copies of the Pilot, published in 1874, have
come to light. Complete files of the Reporter and the later papers have been
rescued from oblivion in old cellars, barns and attics. I have tried in vain to
find a copy of J. L. Martin's sketch of early county history, published many
years ago; and even the manuscript of that little book is now lost. We have
waited until too late to begin the preservation of the valuable records of the
early days. In fact in a very few years there would have been no survivors of
the first days left to tell the romantic tales now recorded in these pages.

   In writing this book, I have relied much upon public records, documents,
letters, diaries, newspapers, books, printed reminiscences, and other sources of
this kind. But while this has formed the framework, the real body of the
narrative has come from the old settlers themselves. Many of them have very
courteously written letters and statements of their recollections, and others
have told me many interesting facts and incidents of the early days. Often I
have had long interviews with them, while our talk was taken verbatim in
shorthand and transcribed for later use and permanent record. It is in this way
that the history has developed.

   I am deeply grateful for the helpful co-operation of the large number who
have assisted me. Without the aid of many friends among the old settlers, my
work would have been in vain. It is my one regret that I have not been able to
talk to more of these rugged veterans of an early day.

   It is impossible to express in detail my deep obligations to the many who
have so generously assisted me in this work, and I must refer to the footnotes
for more special acknowledgment.

   "In all that is good Iowa affords the best." We are proud of the rich,
fertile, progressive county of Palo Alto — the very best in a grand state. And
if this little book shall increase our love and contentment here at home, and at
the same time perpetuate the memory and worthy achievements of our illustrious
pioneers, it shall have accomplished its intended mission and perhaps be worthy
of a place in the archives of our country.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Palo Alto County Iowa
BY
DWIGHT G. MCCARTY

THE TORCH PRESS
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
1910


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/paloalto/history/1910/historyo/preface2nms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/iafiles/

File size: 5.9 Kb