Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/13



It is with a feeling of considerable pride and pleasure that the publishers present this history for the approval of the people of Goodhue county. The undertaking has not been an easy one and the difficulties have been many, so many indeed that this work would not have been possible without the liberal assistance of the citizens of the county. The chief contributors have given freely of their time and talent; business men, church officials, fraternity and association officers, manufacturers, professional men and bankers, often at great personal sacrifice, have laid aside their regular duties to write of their communities and special interests; educators have written of the schools, and men and women of all walks of life have willingly given all the information at their command regarding themselves, their families, their interests and their localities. To all of these the readers of this work owe a lasting debt of gratitude and to each and every one the publishers extend their heartfelt thanks.

The principal contributors are mentioned on the title page. Of these, W. M. Sweney, M. D., Jens K. Grondahl, C. A. Rasmussen, Julius Boraas, M. L., George C. Wellner, M. D., and others, aside from contributing chapters have generously given assistance in the general construction of the book. Many others have offered suggestions and some contributions have been made by those to whom credit is not given either in the body of the book or on the title page. The writings left by Col. William Colvill, Col. Hans Mattson, S. J. Willard, Dr. W. W. Sweney, Judge E. T. Wilder and others, have been freely drawn upon.

In planning for this work the publishers hoped to prepare a narrative which should tell the story of this rich and prosperous county from the time when it first became a geologic reality, through the years when the first explorers pushed their way up the river and into the wilderness, down to the present time when cities and villages dot the landscape and comfortable homes and fertile farms are seen on nearly every quarter section.

In handling the vast amount of material gathered for this work it has been the aim of the entire staff to select such matter as is authentic, reliable and interesting. Doubtless facts have been included that many will deem of little moment, but these same facts to others may be of the deepest import. It may be, also, that some facts have been omitted that many of the readers would like to see included. To such readers we can only say that to publish every incident of the life of the county would be to issue a work of many volumes, and in choosing such material as would come within the limits of one volume, we believe that the Rh