Maria Davies McGrath, began this work in the late 1920s. Her desire to make a permanent record of the information that came her way through contacts with pioneers, coupled with the realization that accurate information should be made available, brought about a small beginning of this work. The process of compiling some 1400 biographies in readable style was not an easy one. Mrs. McGrath, her own life enriched by pioneer experiences, brings to the reader true pictures of events.

The rewards reaped by an author of biographical work of this sort are historical writings must be given the test of time before their real value is ascertained. By way of pointing forward, too much cannot be said the care that the author has used in accurately preparing this work.