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Acknowledgments W hile preparing this manuscript, a number of people extended to us assistance which we gratefully acknowledge . We received professional help and cooperation from the staff of the Erie Historical Society, the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, the Western Reserve Historical Society, and the Archives division of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. A special thanks goes to the Pelletier Library staff of Allegheny College, including former director Connie Thorson, current director Cole Puvogel , Jane Westenfeld, and Donald Vrabel. In addition, Susan J. Beates, curator of the Drake Well Museum, Mark Roche of the Cochranton Heritage Society, and Laura Polo and Anne W. Stewart of the Crawford County Historical Society contributed to the endless search for maps and photographs . The publishing of this manuscript was due to the encouragement and expert support provided by the staff of the University of Akron Press. We owe special thanks to Director Michael J. Carley, Copy Editor Nancy Basmajian, Production Coordinator Amy Petersen, Marketing Coordinator Jodi Arment , and the manuscript’s reviewers for their criticisms and suggestions.An editorial staff could not have been more helpful . Our deepest debt of gratitude is owed to the many individuals , including Larry Smith and Robert L. Gifford Jr., who took the time to read all or parts of the manuscript, and to Jennifer Gifford for help with the illustrations. Finally, we thank our wives and families for their enduring patience and loving encouragement. xiii  ...

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