COMPILER'S PREFACE

Less than a century since not a white man dwelt in the present limits of the two counties, the history of which these pages chronicle. Now not an acre is unclaimed, and the eye sees the surface dotted with comfortable homes. The PIONEERS, whose lives are dimly portrayed in these pages, are the remote cause of all this; the labor of their children, the immediate cause. The aim of this volume is to preserve the deeds and lives of those who have done all this. That errors are made, and that omissions occur, none are more sensible than the compiler and publishers. A diligent effort was made to get all, and a vigilant effort made to be correct. But as long as human minds are forgetful, so long will history contain errors. In the preparation of Fairfield county the various newspapers freely lent all the aid they possessed. Competent writers were sent to every township and every town, and thus every church, school academy, and other public enterprise, was faithfully recorded. Very many conflicting opinions arose among the oldest inhabitants, but these were carefully compared, and the one bearing the impress of truth preserved. The compiler desires to extend his thanks to all who aided him in any way in the preparation of the part pertaining to Fairfield county. Although the patronage from that county was not so large as from Perry county, yet no effort and no expense was spared to obtain a complete and reliable history. In this he thinks he has been materially successful. The history of Perry county is entirely the work of Mr. E. H. COLBURN, who in a faithful manner; has preserved his county's history---in fact, better than any resident historian it has been the compiler's lot to meet. A. A. GRAHAM, COMPILER