PERSONAL AND EXPLANATORY
The single perplexing problem encountered in the preparation of this work was the choice of a suitable title. The story is somewhat less, yet considerably more than an autobiography—an abbreviated biography of half a hundred persons, replete with historical facts, still not a consecutive history—neither fiction nor yet a work of reference—scarcely worthy in any sense to be classified as literature—what, indeed, should it have been called? Perhaps, "An Odd Story of an Unique Career," since it is that—told in a homely fashion, without attempt at polished diction—would have been as appropriate as any other name. But "Olden Times in Colorado" has been chosen for reasons that to the reflecting reader will be obvious. Wholely written from memory while invalided, it will not appear remarkable if minor errors have crept into its pages, considering the fact that the events chronicled cover a period of nearly seventy years. The reader will be disposed, the author hopes, to overlook its shortcomings, to piece out imperfections with kind thoughts, as well as to give credit to the author for a design to approximate the truth, and to have had ever in mind and heart a purpose to scatter good seed in a fruitful soil.
