G H Woodruff

Fifty Years Ago: Gleanings Respecting the History of Northern Illinois a Few Years Previous To, and During the Black Hawk War G H Woodruff

Publisher Marketing: From the intro: "Having been somewhat instrumental in fixing on the 2nd day of August as the day for the Pioneers Re-union for 1882 in Will county, and in giving to the meeting a semi-centennial odor, we felt called upon to justify our course by a brief review of the events of fifty years ago, particularly as they related to this portion of Northern Illinois. Hence, the series of Historical Gleanings, which appeared in the REPUBLIC during the few weeks preceding the meeting. It was believed that while there were a few of our older citizens to whom the events were a memory, yet the later generation were, for the most part ignorant of them, and likely to remain so, inasmuch as the accounts of them which have been preserved are scattered through various county histories, local sketches and pamhlets, which are not accessible to the general public without more trouble than most persons would be willing to take. It was thought, therefore, that it would be a good thing to gather up the facts and incidents and to weave them into a connected narrative, which would post all who desire it in the history of this region fifty years ago. Some of our friends have flattered us with the suggestion that they were worthy of re-publication in a more convenient form for preservation. We only claim for them that they are gleanings, although considerable has been obtained by personal conversation and correspondence with living survivors, who were actors and sufferers in the events narrated. Wherever we have found a statement bearing upon the subject we have appropriated it without a scruple, giving, generally, the source of information. The first pages go back to an earlier date, but it will be seen that they lead up to the subject."