Excerpt from History of Hancock County, Ohio: Geographical and Statistical

Historians write history gathered from actual facts; novelists and poets write imaginative stories based upon some actual fact or some presumed occur rence mingled with flowery language, created for pleasure to the reader. But here is a book which is placed before a somewhat limited number of liberty-loving people, which is intended neither for pleasure nor flowery language. The highest aim of this work is to place before the people of Hancock county a few facts and figures showing the gradual increase of all branches of industry, coupled with the increase of population, wealth, and (last but not least) taxes. Another object of this work is to give a brief and accurate geographical history of the county, which ought to be of interest to every person within the limits of our county. Too much is taught in our public schools regarding Europe, Asia, Africa, and all foreign countries, when at the same time these same teachers; as well as those in whose minds these facts are being instilled, do not know the geography or princi pal historical facts regarding our little local political division at home.

The contents of this volume isnot in any of its parts original with the author, or more properly, the compiler, except as to arrangement, which fact alone is not above reproach. Every source available was searched to its very depths, and after these means were exhausted, the knowing brain and willing hand of friends were brought into action, and the fruits bf their efforts embodied in this work. The sectional map near the close of the first chapter is the artistic work of John W. S. Riegle, ex - County surveyor, and present city civil engineer, and to him I am greatly indebted for his kindness and liberality in furnishing this one lesson in local history, for such it is, if the reader will carefully study the same.

Whoever expects to find this volume entirely free from defects, has but little acquaintance with the difficulties ever attendant upon procuring such material. Although we have taken the best available means to insure accuracy, yet from a variety of causes, unnecessary here to specify, some errors may have occurred. If anything materially wrong is discovered, it is unintentional on the part of the writer, and is probably due to lack of time in ascertaining the facts, and also due to the hurried manner in which the writer was, through necessity, compelled to complete his work. To all who have aided me, some of whom have spent much time and research, we feel under lasting obligations, and are enabled by their assistance to present to the researching public of our somewhat limited domain a far better work than could otherwise have been produced.

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