HE greatest of English historians, MACAULEY,
and one of the most brilliant writers of the past
century, has said: "The history of a country is best
told in a record of the lives of its people." In
conformity with this idea the PORTRAIT AND
BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM of this county has been prepared.
Instead of going to musty records, and taking
therefrom dry statistical matter that can be
appreciated by but few, our corps of writers have gone
to the people, the men and women who have, by their
enterprise and industry, brought the county to a rank
second to none among those comprising this great and
noble State, and from their lips have the story of
their life struggles. No more interesting or
instructive matter could be presented to an
intelligent public. In this volume will be found a
record of many whose lives are worthy the imitation of
coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life
in poverty, by industry and economy have accumulated
wealth. It tells how others, with limited advantages
for securing in education, have become learned men and
women, with an influence extending throughout the
length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who
have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as
statesmen, and whose names have become famous. It
tells of those in every walk in life who have striven
to succeed, and records how that success has usually
crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very
many, who, not seeking the applause of the world, have
pursued "the even tenor of their way," content to have
it said of them as Christ said of the woman performing
a deed of mercy--"they have done what they could." It
tells how that many in the pride and strength of young
manhood left the plow and the anvil, the lawyer's
office and the counting-room, left every trade and
profession, and at their country's call went forth
valiantly "to do or die," and how through their
efforts the Union was restored and peace once more
reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of
every woman is a lesson that should not be lost upon
those who follow after.
Coming generations will appreciate
this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from
the fact that it contains so much that would never
find its way into public records, and which would
otherwise be inaccessible. Great care has been taken
in the compilation of the work and every opportunity
possible given to those represented to insure
correctness in what has been written, and the
publishers flatter themselves that they give to their
readers a work with few errors of consequence. In
addition to the biographical sketches, portraits of a
number of representative citizens are given.
The faces of some, and biographical
sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For
this the publishers are not to blame. Not having a
proper conception of the work, some refused to give
the information necessary to compile a sketch, while
others were indifferent. Occasionally some member of
the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account
of such opposition the support of the interested one
would be withheld. In a few instances men could never
be found, though repeated calls were made at their
residence or place of business.
CHICAGO, November, 1888.
CHAPMAN
BROS.
