Acknowledgements

Reprinted from Hamilton County Memories by Ed Nass

I here must acknowledge the many people that have inspired and encouraged me in my historical research.

First, I think of Mary Hanna, library director, who encouraged me to participate in her Paul Revere Days program. She persuaded me to write about the ghost towns in Hamilton County. It was under her direction that I indexed the newspaper articles of the Daily Freeman Journal from 1857 to 1883. She applied for a grant, which enabled the library to hire Carolyn Gueufe to enter the information into the computer to produce the index.

I treasure the conversations that I was able to have with citizens who are now gone. They provided me with many stories and pictures.

G. O. Olson and G. D. Warland overcame my reluctance to eventually take on the editorship of the 1984 History of Hamilton County, a project of the Curtis Media of Dallas, Texas.

Max Maxon started me off with the newspaper articles when he asked me to write some columns for him. These were my first by-lines. Lori Nilles then sought my advice about stories for a Millenium Edition of the Freeman Journal. In the process, I offered to write up four of those stories. In 2000 she asked me if I would write a series on the history of the county and I agreed. This book was also her suggestion which she made as she walked in the cemetery and met me while I was watering flowers. Larry Bushman and Lori then came to my home to discuss this book.

The Webster City Rotary Club encouraged me to make two historical video series. Loween Clayberg spent one day with me video taping the cemetery. Deb Leksell asked me to do another historical tape about early Webster City. The Rotary Club provided the funds needed to hire a professional videographer and sound person.

To do a complete study of history required many trips to the Hamilton County Courthouse. Here I received great assistance from Kim Schaa and Lori Kloberdanz at the auditor's office, and from Karen Kantak and Kim Anderson at the recorder's office.

My wife, Marjorie, has been my constant companion and proofreader of everything that I have written. Without her help, I could not have accomplished much.

And, last, but certainly not the least, I must acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Ketta Lubberstadt, reference librarian at Kendall Young Library. She still provides that help and inspiration. My entire collection of historical information has been turned over to her management and organization at the library.