PDF (20 MB) - Virtual Library of the Public Library of Cincinnati

TO THE READER
PLEASE READ THIS PREFACE
I know no one ordinarily reads the preface, but I hope those who
read this book will.
In 1846 Henry Howe visited Ohio and published his one volume of
Ohio historical collections. Forty years later he again visited Ohio and
published the tAvo-volume edition of his collection.
In 1889 a man named Aldrich published the only history of Erie
County separately published to this date. In his preface he acknowledges
his indebtedness to my mother for her part of the Avork. When I made
fun of her as a historian I little thought that a quarter of a century later
I would try to write a history of Erie County myself. At that time
there were many old residents still alive who could have been of great
aid, but have since passed away.
In preparing this history I have gone to original sources as far as
possible. I have folloAved the principle of old Plautus that one eye
witness is better than ten Avho have heard. I have turned over page
by page all the files of old papers accessible to ine in Sandusky and
Norwalk to January 1, l!)ir>, and have consulted all the books I could
find. I have tried to liven up statistics with a touch of humor and
human interest Avherever possible and to produce a book that in addition
to containing information that may be valuable might be interesting
and amusing for an idle hour.
I aeknoAvlcdge my indebtedness to the various persons contributing
to this book named therein, and alsp to Airs. Kate Thomas for the use
of the Clarion files oAvned by her. To Air. C. II. Gallup'of Norwalk, the
clistodian of the Firelands Historical Society. Also to the Library
Association and Airs. John T. Alack, Aliss Jessie Wilcox, Aliss Harriet
AVest aud Airs. Emma Alarsliall. And to Aliss Edna Holzaepfel, librarian
of Carnegie Library, and her assistants, Alisses Sarah AICEAA'CH, Leonora
Schoepfle and Dora Glaser. Also to Joshua B. Davis for loan of material,
and to Aliss Katb'erine Scbaefer for her interest and assistance in copying
and to Aliss Alaye AVonnell and Aliss Tillie Schumacher for their assistance
in preparing the manuscript. Also to \V. II. AVatts for his
assistance. t
The book carries no guarantee of perfection if any mistakes are found
therein. All that is claimed is that it is a human record of very human
beings.
II. L. PEEKE.