To prepare a work which shall embrace within its province the essential features that go to make up a satisfactory local history, is a labor of no small magnitude, notwithstanding its apparent insignificance, viewed from a home standpoint. The difficulty arises not so much from a want of materials as from a superabundance of them in a crude state, undigested and unarranged. To select and combine, modify and re-model, displace and re-adjust, what is essential to the purpose in view, rejecting that which is illy adapted to, or wholly incompatible with, the plan, requires patience, judgment, skill -- qualifications seldom found in judicious combination. Here we have facts and incidents without number, some of which, while pertinent to the purpose of a work embodying more minute detail, do not come within the range of the plan proposed. Some branches are presented to the editor in complete array, scarcely requiring the molding process of his hand, while other branches are full to excess in detail, but require great labor and accurate discrimination in their collocation and blending.

      In the preparation of matter for the "Period of Discovery," we have had frequent occasion to consult authorities difficult of access and voluminous as difficult. In this department we have derived much valuable information, scarcely otherwise attainable, from the laborious researches of M. PIERRE MARGRY, member of the Society of History in France, whose familiarity with the department of the Marine in the Archives of Paris, enables him to trace out and compare all the sources of fact and incident connected with the voyages and explorations of the early French adventurers, who visited and traversed the continent of North America, with unerring exactness. Scarcely second to this work, however, is the series of colonial documents appertaining to the history of New York, collected by Mr. Broadhead, from the French, Dutch, English and American Archives, as the agent of the State, and of the Historical Society of New York.

      Beyond these, the works of Mr. Parkman, "Jesuits in America," "Pioneers of France in the New World," "Old Regime in Canada and Conspiracy of Pontiac;" "Encyclopedia Britannica," last edition; "Magazine of American History;" "Western Annals," by Albach; Dillon's "History of Indiana;" "Sheldon's "History of Michigan;" Bancroft's "History of the United States," centennial edition; Chambers' "Encyclopedia;" Colden's "History of the Five Nations;" Schoolcraft's "Indians of North America;" Thatcher's "Indian Biography;" Drake's "North American Indians;" Burnett's "Notes on the Northwestern Territory;" Victor's "American Conspiracies," "American Archives," and "American State Papers;" "Stateman's Manual;" Butler's "History of Kentucky;" Collins' "History of Kentucky;" Foster's "Pre-Historic Races;" McLean's "Mound Builders;" Baldwin's "Ancient America;" "Geological Reports of Indiana" -- all of which have been consulted to a greater or less extent for purposes of comparison and attestation.

      In the report of immediate county history, the pages of the public records, and archives, and newspapers, have been carefully scanned as the surest means of securing perfect accuracy of statement concerning county affairs. As the result of these laborious investigations, we feel justified in stating that the labor will be found not to have bene in vain, notwithstanding, in some instances, there might seem to be excess of detail, particularly with reference to the "New Court House," and the "Road System" of the county, wherein we have endeavored to make the statements unequivocal and complete.

      The editor does not presume that in this work he has exhausted the material at hand nor that he has committed no error; for, when it is considered that the work has been prepared with all the rapidity consistent with reasonable accuracy of statement, entire freedom from fault will scarcely be expected. It is his belief, however, that few essential facts will be found to have been misstated or overdrawn.

      It was the desire to have made personal mention of the names of the numerous persons from whom we have obtained much of the valuable information embodied in our especially local history; but, from infrequent oportunities to consult with them personally and interchange the civilities incident to an author's career, the editor finds himself unable to do so satisfactorily. To the county officials, and to those having charge of the corporation records; to Mr. A. F. SHIRTS, from whose "Reminiscences" we have quoted extensively; to Judge COLBURN -- in short, to the many whose names and whose relation to the facts obtained, we place ourselves under special personal obligation. With these statements, then, we submit the result of our labors to the candid consideration of a generous public.