The importance of preserving in permanent form the incidents in the history of every community has induced me to gather the materials for this volume. No one untried in such work is aware of the difficulties encountered in collecting unpublished facts. My honored father, Dr. Samuel W. Gold, in his advanced years undertook this work, and I shall confine myself mostly to editing his papers, adding such historical discourses as present our life in its home details, omitting in large degree what the sons of Corn wall have done in national affairs, as finding its appropriate place in national history. Of course this implies some repetition, but it is better to give original records than to trust to reorganizing them, for thus much of their peculiar value will be destroyed. If undue prominence appears to have been given to any events, we must remember that they were not considered as small by the actors in them, and per haps may thence derive some useful lessons for personal appli cation. I have solicited full details of family histories, and have waited a year for such documents. Too few have been presented. The leanness of this department is due to the neglect of those who ought to feel most interest.