PREFACE.

Hon. Talcott E. Wing, the author of this work, in January, 1886, entered into an agreement with Messrs. Munsell & Co., publishers, of New York, to write a history of the city and county of Monroe, and complete the same within a reasonable time. As preparations progressed, the impossibility of gathering all the necessary information and of producing a complete history in a limited time became increasingly apparent, the time was extended and the last manuscript was completed and ready for the publishers only a day before the author's death, which occurred January 25, 1890.

During this period many have asked why the volume was not finished, and to not a few the necessity of expending so much time was not clearly apparent. The labor involved in the planning, writing and editing was far greater than the author had anticipated or than any but a careful historian can appreciate.

The editor received valuable aid in special contributions from writers whose names are given, except in a few instances where they were omitted by special request of the contributor. Many others contributed facts and suggestions which were gratefully received, and in writing of the explorations and early history of the State and county, Parkman, Campbell and other well-known writers of the early history of the Northwest were consulted.

An exhaustive history of Monroe county, and a full history of all the men, women and events that have contributed, both directly and indirectly, to its history, prosperity and progress, would require several volumes of the size of this. A judicious selection of material therefore became necessary, and some pruning, to make publication possible.

An investigation of city, county and township records had frequently to be made, and a research of several days was often necessary to obtain the material and facts for two or three pages of this volume.

Not only was it necessary to embody here, for the present generation, the history of the past, but also of the present time for future generations.

It has been the aim of the author to give also biographies of some of the old settlers and the representative men of all professions, and a representative exhibit of the various industries of the county.

This volume, with its excellencies and defects, is committed to the friends who have encouraged its author, and whom he has labored to please, and to no one with more confidence than to the faithful student of history, who will most readily appreciate what is good and pardon what is bad.

MONROE COUNTY LIBRARY

CHARLES R. WING.

PUBLISHERS' NOTE.

With heartfelt sincerity, we, in common with all intimate friends of the author of this magnificent volume, and citizens of Monroe County generally, desire to unite in the richly deserved tributes due him because of the great love, the extraordinary care, the indefatigable industry and incessant labor of years, of which this volume is the ripened fruit.

By none was the fact more vividly appreciated than the author that the history of a city and county is inseparable from the history of its representative men, past and present, whose lives and achievements form an important factor; and to this end sketches of such personal history are embodied, accompanied by portraits where practicable. It would have been both a matter of choice and profit to the publishers to have seen this volume completed at an earlier day, but the author, true to the thorough completeness of his work and as devoted to the best interests of its subscribers as he is dear to the memory of all, would in no case sacrifice intrinsic worth of the finished volume to a saving of time in its completion, And this, the which course merits and must receive the hearty commendation of all. great and last work of a long and useful life, will thus remain a fit monument to his memory.

NEW YORK, April, 1890.

MUNSELL & COMPANY.