Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

=

OF

KENT COUNTY,

MICHIGAN;

TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS, EDU-
CATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND POLITICAL HISTORY;
PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT PERSONS, AND BIOGRAPHIES

OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.

}

EMBRACING ACCOUNTS OF THE PRE-HISTORIC RACES, ABORIGINES, FRENCH,
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CONQUESTS, AND A GENERAL REVIEW

OF ITS CIVIL, POLITICAL AND MILITARY HISTORY.

[graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small]

BLAKELY, MARSH & Co.
PRINTERS,

155 & 157 DEABBORN ST,, CHICAGO

DONOHUE & HENNEBERRY,

BOOKBINDERS,

182 & 184 MONROE STREET, CHICAGO.

Sift

Miss. Bell L. Crill

11-22-1930add.c. .c.p.

PREFACE.

In presenting this volume to the people of Kent county we feel that they will have more confidence in its historical statements than is usually reposed in works of this nature. The great interest manifested in its compilation by the leading pioneers and public men of the county, largely insures this result. Besides the careful and pains-taking diligence of our historian, in order to secure greater accuracy and completeness, we requested the President of the Old Residents' Society to appoint a committee to revise and correct the manuscript. This Mr. Hilton did, appointing men who earnestly desired a true and faithful record of their county to be made.

The committee appointed to revise and correct the general history of the county and of the city of Grand Rapids, assembled Aug. 30, 1881, and continued their labor for a period of seven days. During the session of this committee many important events were suggested, old landmarks located, reminiscences recited, and much historical matter added. The labor of revision, although tedious, was pleasant. Many points were freely and fully discussed, and finally settled satisfactorily to a majority of the members.

We extend to the members of this committee our warmest thanks for the material aid received from them in our labor of compilation, and for the studious care with which they examimed the prepared manuscript. As evidence that unusual care was taken in the writing and compilation of this work, we print on the page following the preface copies of the certificates given us by this committee. These will show to the generations of the future that this work may be relied on as practically correct.

While, however, such a united effort was made to insure accuracy, yet errors will be found within the pages of this volume. It is a physical impossibility to write a book of such magnitude, where so many thousands of facts are related, and tens of thousands of names and dates given, and have it free from mistakes. Accurate and reliable history is most difficult to write. Those who have never experienced the difficulties incident to such labor cannot realize how nearly impossible it is, or appreciate the earnest, honest and faithful labor of the historian. After the most careful and pains-taking searches and inquiry upon any particular subject or about any event, he will even then find many doubts arising in his mind as to its accuracy and entire truthfulness. Each individual to whom inquiry is made will give a different account of any event. One of these may be as honest as the other, and try to relate his story correctly, yet they will be so widely dif

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »