This book is submitted in the belief that it will be found a readable book. Many historic incidents not mentioned in the general story will be found in detail in the biographies of men and women, now living, who witnessed the incidents they relate; many events are faithfully related by sons and daughters of parents who lived and passed through history-making epochs in this county. An earnest and sincere attempt has been made to present all subjects honestly and fairly, to give the early history of the county more fully, more comprehensively than has ever been attempted in the past. This is not a book of dry statistics or tabulations, designed to show the present status of the county as to wealth or its progress in diversified industry. It is not an advertisement, colored to suit the wishes of any line of business or any class of our citizens. It is a faithful effort to give permanency to the really valuable and supreme historic facts of the settlement and progress of Bates county. In the biographies of the county's leading families will be found a wealth of historic incident well worth preserving for future generations.

The author has done his best to get the truth and to so write it that the reader may find it a pleasure and not a burden to read it. Mooted statements have been discussed without prejudice. Writers of history and the early records have been treated fairly and frankly. To the author, the wide range of his reading has been intensely interesting and his investigations have been as thorough as possible. Conclusions are stated respectfully and without criticism of the old, and in some instances, long-accepted authorities, with which the author could not agree. It has been a laborious task, but he will be satisfied if the reader enjoys the pages of this volume by the fire-side as much as the author has the writing of them.

Proper credit is given in the proper place to all who have contributed to the making of this book and we here express our appreciation of the assistance received from a few men who have aided and encouraged us during the progress of our work.

Respectfully, W. O. ATKESON.
Butler, Missouri, May 7, 1918.

Bates County Missouri MOGenWeb