THE HISTORY OF Menard Mason Counties, ILLINOIS, CONTAINING A History of the Counties—their Cities, Towns, &c.; Portraits of Illustrated; History of the Northwest, Illus- trated; Constitution of the United States, ILLUSTRATED. CHICAGO: O. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS, 186 DEARBORN STREET. IN presenting our History of Menard and Mason Counties, we deem a few prefatory words necessary. We have spared neither pains nor expense to fulfill our engagement with our patrons and make the work as complete as possible. We have acted upon the principle that justice to those who have subscribed, be they few or many, requires that the work should be as well done as if it was patronized by every citizen in the county. We do not claim that our work is entirely free from errors; such a result could not be attained by the utmost care and foresight of ordinary mortals. The General History of Menard County was compiled by Rev. R. D. Miller, of Petersburg, and the General History of Mason County by Gen. J. M. Ruggles, of Havana, and the Townships of Mason City and Salt Creek by J. C. Warnock, and the balance of the Townships by our historians, W. H. Perrin and D. M. Blair. Some of the Township Histories are indeed longer than others, as the townships are older, containing larger cities and towns, and have been the scenes of more important and interesting events. While fully recognizing this important difference, the historians have sought to write up each township with equal fidelity to the facts and information within their reach. We take this occasion to present our thanks to all our numerous subscribers for their patronage and encouragement in the publication of the work. In this confident belief, we submit it to the enlightened judgment of those for whose benefit it has been prepared, believing that it will be received as a most valuable and complete work. THE PUBLISHERS. CHICAGO: CULVER, PAGE, HOYNE & CO., PRINTERS, 118 and 190 Monroe Street. |