PREFACE
A cursory review of the local history of the Willamette valley can but arouse enthusiastic pride in the work of the heroic men and women who have succeeded in bringing this portion of Oregon up to the position of grandeur and future promise it occupies among the grand galaxy of progressive western states. The publishers are especially gratified with the character of the book they are able to herewith present. The citizenship of the Willamette valley is of a high standard, and the histories presented in this volume are such that can but be looked upon with great admiration and satisfaction, not only by those immediately interested, but by the citizens of older states who must feel gratification in knowing that our Union is able constantly to produce citizens of courage and ability to strengthen and broaden our sisterhood of states. The commonwealth of Oregon has been very largely founded and fostered by the suns of the eastern and middle western states, and the entire country is proud of the achievement. The last fifty years have witnessed a marvelous, almost miraculous, growth in material prosperity, which has been only in keeping with the progress made in art, literature and educational lines, and the whole, in turn, but augurs the great possibilities of the advancing century. And in every particular Willamette valley is keeping well abreast of the other portions of Oregon in the progress of material and educational improvement.
In the following pages mention is made of many of the men who have contributed to the development and progress of this region-not only capable business men of the present day, but also honored pioneers of years gone by. In the compilation of this work, and in the securing of necessary data, a number of writers have been engaged for many months. They have visited leading citizens, and have used every endeavor to produce a work accurate and trustworthy in even the smallest details. Owing to the great care exercised in the preparation of biographies, the publishers believe they are giving their readers a work containing few errors of consequence. The biographies of some representative citizens will be missed from this work; this, in some instances, was caused by their absence from home when our writers called, and in other instances was caused by a failure on the part of the men themselves to understand the scope of the work. The publishers, however, have done everything within their power to make the volume a representative work,
The value of the data herein presented will grow with the passing years. Many facts secured from men concerning their early experiences in the state are now recorded for the first time, and their preservation for future generations is thus rendered possible. Posterity will preserve this volume with care, from the fact that it perpetuates biographical history which otherwise would be wholly lost. In those now far-distant days will be realized, to a greater degree than at the present time, the truth of Macaulay's statement that "The history of a country is best told in the record of the lives of its people."
