PREFACE. 



In collecting the materials necessary for compiling a History 

 of Lancaster County, we sought access to every possible 

 source of information, as far as our prescribed time and limited 

 means admitted. Could we have anticipated half the difficul- 

 ties we should encounter in prosecuting our researches, we 

 would certainly have relinquished the undertaking. Although 

 we had spent several months in search of materials, the col- 

 lection was still far from being satisfactory to our ourselves, 

 but owing to the Publisher's engagements, we were consti^cThed 

 to yield to his wishes and commence the arrangement of such 

 materials as were on hand. To add to what was collected, we 

 read, in less than one hundred days, upwards of ten thousand 

 pages, opened correspondence with a number of gentlemen, 

 in different parts of the county, called on scores of persons — 

 on some ten times — who hsid fairly promised to collect facts, 

 &c. — arranged the materials, re-wrote half the book twice, 

 examined a portion of the proof sheets, now and then attended 

 to business abroad, yet amidst all this " bustle and hurry," we 

 aimed to trace facts to their sources ; and these, it is confidently 

 believed, are authentic. 



Whether the best judgment has been exercised in the selec- 

 tion of the materials on hand, and the happiest arrangement 

 adopted, is not for us to decide. We strove to make the fairest 

 use of them. As to the diversity of style appearing in this 

 book, we would here "interpose" the remark that, except in a 

 few instances, the very words of authors quoted, and of 

 contributors, were preserved. In general the usual marks 

 of credit are given. 



