PREFACE I make no pretentions of being an author, and but for the fact that so many have contributed to this work it would be a dismal failure. I asked a cousin of mine to do this ten or fifteen years ago and his excuse was, he was too busy with his farming to do so. I then urged him further and agreed to hire a farm laborer for him. He finally agreed to take up the work and think he did a little but God called Robert L. Rinker home and the work was undone and the Lantz family lost the best fitted man to undertake this task for he had a won- derful mind and information that is now gone. I am sorry some one else more capable did not take it up, but a few more years and the present generation will be gone and the coming one will have less information and so I make my little bow to the great Lantz family and will do my best to simply record our genealogy. I know errors will be found-and many of them, but please remember I have written possibly two thousand letters. Many, many of them were not even answered. I begged you to let me hear, even sent you return postage and stationery. I ex- plained to you that it was not a money making scheme to get up a book to sell, even made such a promise and it is hereby renewed that I will never sell a single copy but would give at least some to each family and still I could get no answer. I called personally on some and was politely but firmly told they did not care to give information; that they were not interested, so please give me credit for what little has been done. I do not have this little volume copyrighted. I reserve no rights. Any one at any time has my permission to use any part or improve on the entire work. I hope it will be done and if I am the means of inducing someone to get out a better work I shall feel amply repaid. I am not wealthy in this world's goods but the publication of this work will not financially embarrass me and those receiving a copy will oblige me by not offering to pay for it. I am indebted to many for not only information but real help and while I cannot mention all I feel I must mention my nephew Milton E. Myers who for fifteen or twenty years
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