Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/33



county-seats; the first settlers, county officials and newspapers.

Ninth.—A complete Directory of Iowa public officials, Territorial, State, and National from the establishment of the first civil government over the “Black Hawk Purchase” to the beginning of the Twentieth Century.

Tenth.—Biographical sketches of more than four hundred notable Iowa men and women who were prominent in some work of public interest during the Nineteenth Century.

It has been my purpose, so far as practicable in a work of this size, to make it a cyclopedia of general information pertaining to Iowa, that will render it indispensable as a work of reference to all who are interested in the founding, development, government, and resources of the foremost State of the Louisiana Purchase as well as in the character and achievements of its people.

A distinguished citizen of Iowa has said, “Of all that is good Iowa affords the best.” I have endeavored to show in these volumes wherein this claim has solid foundation and that this classic phrase is not an extravagant statement as applied to the progress made by our people in education, general intelligence, good government, and exemplary citizenship Des Moines, Iowa.

March Third, 1902.