Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2015
                           All Rights Reserved
                        USGenNet Data Repository

        Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page:
                <http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>

Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
===========================================================================
Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
===========================================================================
A History of Manitowoc County by Ralph G. Plumb
Brandt Printing & Binding Co., Manitowoc - 1904


                               PREFACE
                               -------

        A brief explanation as to the purpose of this book may not be out
     of place.  Some years ago when the author first resided in Madison,
     his attention was attracted to the vast accumulated material on the
     subject of local Wisconsin history, gathered together in the State
     Historical Library at that city, and particularly to the hundreds of
     bound files of newspapers.  At first he was led to a cursory browsing
     in the early volumes of certain Manitowoc county weeklies and the dis-
     covery of much interesting and generally forgotten information led to
     a more detailed and systematic reading of the files.  The interest in
     the pioneer existence of the lake shore region thus aroused became
     more and more intense as this study progressed and the final result
     was the determination to gather from all possible sources as much
     material relating to the history of Manitowoc County as could be found
     and the condensation and combination of it into a fairly readable
     account.  Old records, interviews and miscellaneous works have been
     valuable adjuncts to the newspaper files in furnishing the basis of
     the work and, although the problem of selection presented was often a
     most difficult one, an attempt, at least, has been made to follow
     approved historical methods in the recording and interpretation of
     facts.
        This, then, is the aim of this history.  No claims are made for its
     literary merits.  On the other hand has more largely devoted his
     efforts towards securing correctness in point of fact than elegance of
     style.  Different phases in the county's history are treated topically
     also, instead of an attempt being made to write one connected story of
     the entire existence of the county, as it was thought true prospective
     would thus be better afforded.  It may be objected that too many dates
     have been inserted.  From the literary standpoint this is doubtless
     true, but it must be remembered that above all the idea in writting
     this work was the recording in some permanent form of many facts which
     in future years may be useful as well as interesting in regard to the
     beginning and progress of the county.  The older generation is rapidly
     passing off the stage of action and the original evidence of histori-
     cal value, such as landmarks, is being obliterated year by year.  To
     preserve at least a partial account of the changes made by the course
     of time was the task the author set before him.  Without further
     apology he submits the result to the reader.
                                    Ralph Gordon Plumb

===========================================================================