BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS

OF

GRATIOT COUNTY, MICHIGAN

COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY

OF

CELEBRATED AMERICANS

J. H. BEERS & CO.

CHICAGO

1906

PREFACE

HE importance of placing in book form biographical history of representative citizens - both for its immediate worth and for its value to coming generations-is admitted by all thinking people; and within the past decade there has been a growing interest in this commendable means of perpetuating biography and family genealogy.

That the public is entitled to the privileges afforded by a work of this nature needs no assertion at our hands; for one of our greatest Americans has said that the history of any country resolves itself into the biographies of its stout, earnest and representative citizens. This medium, then, serves more than a single purpose; while it perpetuates biography and family genealogy, it records history, much of which would be preserved in no other way.

In presenting this work to its patrons, the publishers have to acknowledge, with gratitude, the encouragement and support their enterprise has received, and the willing assistance rendered in enabling them to surmount the many unforeseen obstacles to be met with in the production of a work of this character. The volume is placed in the hands of the public with the belief that it will be found a valuable addition to the library, as well as an invaluable contribution to the historical literature of the State of Michigan.

THE PUBLISHERS.