Historic Towns of the Western States Part 1

Historic Towns of the Western States.

by Various.

PREFACE

In presenting to the reading public this fourth volume in the series of _Historic Towns_, a volume which brings the series to a close, it is in order for the editor to call attention to the necessarily large measure of liberty accorded to the contributors in their treatment of the records of the several towns. With several of his co-laborers the editor has on one point or another found himself at variance. Examples of such difference of conclusions are presented in the references to the Mormons and to the Mound-builders.

The editor bears in mind, however, the essential difference between editorial responsibilities and those belonging to the writers of the papers. It was his duty to choose as contributors not writers who necessarily share his own view, but those who are most fairly representative of the towns described, who possess the necessary familiarity with the historic records, and whose narratives would be a.s.sured of an appreciative and sympathetic reception from their fellow-townsmen,--men who love their town

"with love far-brought From out the storied Past, and used Within the Present."

In the studies of Western history made by the editor during the past ten years, two historians have been his inspiration: Francis Parkman, of blessed memory, revered by all who love good literature and good history; and Theodore Roosevelt, now by the will of G.o.d President of the United States, and a trustworthy and inspiring writer of our nation's history long before he took his place among its distinguished makers.

In offering to the public this final volume of _American Historic Towns_, the editor ventures to hope that by thus focalizing and localizing Western history, the publishers, authors, and editor are contributing somewhat to the popular knowledge of and interest in the history of the Great West which Parkman and Roosevelt first made possible.

Since with this volume the series is brought to a close, the editor trusts that the publishers, Messrs. G.P. Putnam's Sons, will lay aside their reluctance to be mentioned in the Preface, and will permit the editor to express his admiration and indebtedness for their share, larger than is usual with publishers, in the production of the series. To his wife, Gertrude Wilson Powell, acknowledgment is also due for aid given in this as in the earlier volumes, the full value of which cannot here be indicated.

Besides making two important contributions to the volume, Messrs. R.G.

Thwaites and Harold Bolce have ever been ready with suggestion and counsel, always valued and almost always followed. To Doctors Talcott Williams, Albert Shaw, and George Petrie, the editor would speak this last word of grat.i.tude for cordial and skilled a.s.sistance in connection not alone with this book but with the whole undertaking. This closing volume now goes out, with the editor's best-wishes, to the earlier friends of the series and to the new friends yet to be gained for it.

LYMAN P. POWELL.

ST. JOHN'S RECTORY, LANSDOWNE, PENNSYLVANIA, September 21, 1901.

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CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTION Reuben G. Thwaites xix

MARIETTA Muriel Campbell Dyar 1

CLEVELAND Charles F. Thwing 31

CINCINNATI Milton E. Ailes 55

DETROIT Silas Farmer 87

MACKINAC Sara Andrew Shafer 121

INDIANAPOLIS Perry S. Heath 147

VINCENNES William Henry Smith 169

CHICAGO Lyman J. Gage 197

MADISON Reuben G. Thwaites 235

MINNEAPOLIS } Charles B. Elliott 265 AND ST. PAUL }

DES MOINES Frank I. Herriott 301

ST. LOUIS William Marion Reedy 331

KANSAS CITY Charles S. Gleed 375

OMAHA Victor Rosewater 401

DENVER John Cotton Dana 425

SANTA Fe Frederick Webb Hodge 449

SALT LAKE CITY James Edward Talmage 479

SPOKANE Harold Bolce 509

PORTLAND Thomas L. Cole 535

SAN FRANCISCO Edwin Markham 569

MONTEREY Harold Bolce 617

LOS ANGELES Florence E. Winslow 645

INDEX 685

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ILl.u.s.tRATIONS

PAGE

THE DEARBORN MONUMENT _Frontispiece_

MARIETTA

MARIETTA 3