HISTORICAL
INTRODUCTORY.
While it may seem to the uninitiated an easy going undertaking, involving but little difficulty to prepare for publication a work no more comprehensive in character than this volume, containing merely the history of a single county,
still it is not out of place here to assure all such readers that the task is one involving a vast amount of labor and research, watchful care, untiring patience and fair discrimination. This need not be said to any person who has
had experience in similar work. In attempting the production of a creditable history of Greene county, neither publishers nor editor have underestimated the many difliculties incident to their labors, but accepted them fully imbued
with a clear idea of the magnitude of the same and with a determination to render their important service in such a manner that it shall receive fair commendation from those into whose considerate hands it may fall. It is be
lieved that this purpose has been substantially realized and that while it is true that a perfect historical work has never been published, this one will be found to contain as few absolute imperfections as similar publications will aver
age.
It is a part of the plan of the publishers in the production of county histories to secure, as far as possible, local assistance, either as writers or in the revision of all manuscripts; the result being that the work has an essentially local character, which could not otherwise be secured, and, moreover, the work comes from the press far more complete and perfect than could possibly be the case were it entrusted wholly to the efforts of comparative strangers to the locality in hand. In carrying out the work in this county, the editor has been tendered such generous assistance from various sources that to merely mention all who have thus aided is impossible; the satisfaction of having assisted in the production of a commendable public enterprise must be their sufficient reward. But some have given so generously along lines of labor and time, towards a consummation of this project, that to leave them unmentioned would be simple injustice.
Particularly is the editor indebted to the Advisory Board as well as to A. S. Gilliland, John Stevenson, W. C. Perkins of Churdan, K. C. Latta of Paton, John Maxwell of Grand Junction, W. W. Anderson and Lee Davis of Scranton, Harry Pearl of Adaza, John A. Snively of Farlin, and many others for valuable facts that form an important part of the warp and woof of this volume. To all such the gratitude of publishers, editor and readers is extended.
With this word of explanation and introduction, this volume is commended to the generous consideration of the reader under whose eyes it may by chance, or otherwise, come.
E. B. STILLMAN,
Editor.
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Transcribed January, 2018 by Cheryl Siebrass from Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa, Together with Biographical Sketches of many of its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead by E. B. Stillman, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907, pg. 5. |
