IAGenWeb

Webster County

IAGenWeb

USGenWeb

Home Research Photographs Search Links Whats New IAGenWeb
Special Projects
Contact Us

cover

1876 Centennial History

of Webster County,

its TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS,

also the City of Fort Dodge


P R E F A C E.


THE compiler of the following pages had intended to write a short history of Fort Dodge. Much of the material would have been from memory—more from that promised to be furnished by various old settlers, and a still greater portion from conversations had years ago with Major WILLIAM WILLIAMS, and others of the early settlers, together with such assistance as might have been derived from a careful search of the public records. Having been allowed to peruse certain manuscripts, of which E. G. MORGAN, Esq., was the author, written by him to have been read at the local centennial celebration on the Fourth of. July, 1876, but which he failed to deliver in consequence of the rain-storm that day, I became impressed with the amount of statistical and other information it contained, and believing it to be much superior to anything I could have given to the public, requested the use of such manuscript for publication. To this, Mr. MORGAN very kindly assented, and as a result, the public have the benefit of his labors.

The biographical sketches are written by myself, and are confined mostly to acquaintances of olden times. Some of. them, the main incidents of whose lives are given, will have their first intimation of our intentions, upon seeing their names in these pages. No man has paid, or promised a consideration of any kind on such account. We publish these sketches simply because we deem them interesting reading matter, and believe such interest will increase with years.

It is hoped and believed that copies of this history will be preserved in families and elsewhere, and that it may become the basis upon which the historian of 1976 my found his record of events.

The anecdotes herein related are believed to be strictly true. Those detailed as having transpired where the author was present, are precisely as related. Others are from good authority—the evidence of such as were auditors and witnesses.

The state of society twenty years ago was much more favorable to the development of the ludicrous than at present, and if we could collate for this work, the good jokes and trite sayings of those days, we would be able to furnish a volume better lilted with mirth-provoking articles than any comic publication of the day.

While we havWhile we have labored in collecting the faces, and putting them in form for publication Mr. CHARLES E. DENISON has busied himself upon the mechanical department. If any profits result or losses occur, we share them alike.

GEORGE W. BRIZEE


Return to: {Main History} {Next Chapter}{Table of Contents}


Copyright 1996 - Webster County IAGenWeb and contributors!      
IAGenWeb Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer