/ ■ / <
J. £ack-Crou/yd ^i^*^
. The story of the beginning of tilings of which he, or hie an-
cestors,~<«$«ftHi&* have "been a part, should "be and usually is of ab
sorbing interest to a thoughtful man* and their subsequent history
is of -as less concern to  him* Every®man inherits a back-ground,
laid in the character of his forebears, which, with his^environ-
ment, determines to an appreciable extent, those traits of his own
character which distinguish him from and ally him with his fellows. Strong men sometimes out-grow the evil, and weak men surrender the good inheritance with which they have thus been cursed
or blessed, but in the average man it remains an easily recognized
and more or less dominating force througnout his life.
V-
Every city also, and county, and amm^^y,  has its back-
ground, the influence of which in its history may *e traced quite
as definitely as the corresponding in the life of a man. The back-
ground. pfRacine county is a most interesting stuay, and may prop-
nnd pfJRacine county
erly serve as ar^introduction to this history, provided it be not
permitted to out-grow its character. The title of this work ia an
accurate statement of its scope, and it is the purpose of the author to Keep quite strictly within the limits there laid dowm.
While it is recognized that many readers would discover a casual
Interest in an outline historical sketch of the domain of which
Mcine county is a small unit, and something in brief concerning
the natural history, the natural resources, the Ihdian inhabitants
and the early settlement of our great state, I have concluded to
limit reference to these matters to very brief mention,-in bare
outline,-of the more significant general features of the back-ground.
,