History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 153

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 153

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Guests. Citizens. Fourth Division. Bay State Engine Co., East Brookfield, Capt. C. K. Willard. Challenge Engine Co. (Juvenile), East Brookfield, Capt. E. J. Nichols. Guests and Citizens.

Hon. Amasa Walker, of North Brookfield, presided, assisted by the following vice-presidents : Hon. Fran- cis Howe, Hon. Oliver C. Felton, Abraham Skinner and Aaron Kimball, of Brookfield ; Hon. Alanson Hamilton, Nathaniel Lynde and Ebenezer Merriam, of West Brookfield, and Colonel Wm. Adams and Pliny Nye, of North Brookfield. D. L. Morrill, of West Brookfield, was toast-master. The speakers, besides the president, were Hon. Pliny Merrick, Hon. Dwight Foster, George Howe, of Boston, Wm. Howe, of Brookfield, Henry Upham, of Boston, Rev. C. Cushing, of North Brookfield, and Dr. Hitchcock, of Newton.

On the 15th of March, 1860, the following circular was issued, preliminary to the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the town. The original grant was made May 31, 1860, but for some reason it was thought expedient to celebrate the event on the 4th of July.

BROOKFIELD, March 15, 1860.

Dear Sir: The present year marks the two hnodredth Anniversary of the settlement of the town, and it is thought desirable and proper that the event should be commemorated in a suitable manner

559

WEST BROOKFIELD.

A general meeting of the citizens of the several towns, into which the ancient town of Brookfield has been divided, has been held, and the undersigned appointed a Committee to make arrangements for the occa- sion and invite the attendance of all who may feel nn interest in it.

We, therefore, respectfully extend to you an invitation to be present on the Fourth of July next, the day fixed upon, as on the whole the most eligible and convenient.

The Committee are especially desirous that all who originated in, or have been residents of this place, should join in this Celebration.

The Sons and Daughters of Brookfield are scattered far and wide in all the States in the Union ; but the Committee trust they will be happy to come together on an occasion so fraught with interesting associations and reminiscences.

The first settlement having been made in that part of the old town Dow incorporated as West Brookfield, and the site of the first Meeting- House, the old garrison which stood successfully the Indian Siege of 1675, the Gilbert Fort and the first Grave Yard being also in that section, the Committee have decided to hold the proposed celebration in that town. Rev. Lyman Whiting, of Providence, R. I., has been invited to deliver the address, and every effort will he made to give interest to the occasion.

A large tent will be erected upon the Common, in which the services will be held and the dinner Le provided.

Tickete to the Tent and Dinner, one dollar.

We have the honor to he,

Respectfully Er obt servants,

Aaron Kimball.

Francis Howe.

O. C. Felton.

Emmons Twichell.

Luther Stowell.

A. H. Moulton.

George W. Johnson.

H. L. Mellen.

George Forbes.

Pliny Doane.

Wm. Adams.

Ezra Batcheller.

Charles Adams, Jr.

Hiram Carruth.

Pliny Nye.

Amasa Walker.

Bonum Nye. E. D. Batcheller.

T. M. Duncan.

G. B Dewing.

Alanson Hamilton.

Nathaniel Lynde.

Alfred White.

Josiah Henshaw.

Baxter Barnes.

Raymond Cummings.

Charles E. Smith.

John M. Falee.

L. H. Thompson.

S. N. White.

G. W. Lincoln.

The celebration was carried out in accordance with the plans of the committee. The streets and houses were decorated, and Wednesday, the 4th of July, will long be remembered by the sons and daughters of the ancient settlement. At nine o'clock the citizens of West Brookfield, under escort of the Oakham Band, proceeded to Foster's Hill, the site of the first church and fortification, and there met the citizens of Brook- field and North Brookfield, attended by the Brookfield Cornet Band, aud marched to the Common. There a formal procession Was organized under Chief Marshal S. D. Cooke and marched to the old burial-ground, and thence to the tent on the east end of the Com- mon, where the tables, set for twelve hundred, were completely filled. Hon. Amasa Walker acted as president of the day, and called on Rev. Dr. Joseph Vaill, of Palmer, to invoke the divine blessing. After the dinner Mr. Walker addressed the assembly and Rev. Lyman Whiting, of Providence, followed with an historical address of nearly two hours in length. After the address speeches were made by Rev. C. Cushing, of North Brookfield, Dr. Eliakim Phelps, of Philadelphia, a former pastor of the First Precinct Church, N. B. Chamberlain, of Boston, Rev. Mr. Burr, of Brookfield, Rev. C. M. Cordley, of West Brook field, T. M. Duncan, of North Brookfield, Rev. W. H.

Beecher, of North Brookfield, Wm. B. Draper, of New York, Dr. John Homans, of Boston, Dr. Jabez B. Upham, of Boston, Rev. Hubbard Winslow, of Brooklyn, Judge Danforth, of New York, and Josiah Cary, of St. Charles, Missouri.

But the memories of the early settlers of Brookfield were destined to be soon revived by events less joy- ous and peaceful. The hill-sides and plains of this ancient settlement, so accustomed to scenes of warfare in their earlier days, within a year after the celebra- tion again witnessed preparations for hostile strife. Since the grant of 1660 no generation had passed away without learning something of the horrors of war. They had fought for years with the Indian hordes at their doors; they had fought for independence ; they had fought to assert the rights of an infant nation against an insolent foe; they were now to take up arms to preserve a Union which had been dearly pur- chased in Revolutionary days.

During the War of the Rebellion West Brookfield was not behind other towns in the Commonwealth in patriotic endeavors to sustain the government and fill the ranks of the army. At a town-meeting held April 29, 1861, at which George W. Lincoln was chosen moderator, it was voted to pay each volun- teer twenty dollars when mustered and furnish each with a revolver. The town also pledged itself to properly support families of soldiers in the service, and passed the necessary votes to enable the select- men to borrow money for the purpose. When nine- months' men were called for, a bounty of one hundred and fifty dollars was paid to each volunteer credited to the quota of the town, and in 1864 one hundred and twenty-five dollars in gold was paid to the men enlisting on its quota for three years or the war.

The following list of soldiers enlisting in the town, taken chiefly from the town's Rebellion Record, but enlarged and corrected by the Adjutant-General's Roll, is as nearly accurate as it is possible to make it :

Thomas Reese, three years. 2d Regiment, Co. H

J. H. W. Bartlett, three years. 2d Regiment, Co. F

Simon Curley, three years. 9th Regiment, Co. H

Joseph W. Cutler, three years. 10th Regiment, Co. F

Caleb C. Brock, three years .. 1Ith Regiment

Franklin W. Fellows, three years, .12th Regiment, Co. I

John Mundell, three years, 12th Regiment, Co. H

Perez B. Sampson, three years 12th Regiment, Co. K

George W. Shaw, Jr., three years. .12th Regiment

Julius A. Amsden, three years 12th Regiment, Co. F

Albert Lynde, three years 13th Regiment, Co. B

Jabez A. Blackmer, three years .. 13th Regiment, Co. K

Bernard R. Gilbert, three years. .. 13th Regiment

Lyman W. Gilbert, three years. .13th Regiment, Co. D

Wm. L. Adams, three years ... 13th Regiment, Co. F

Emerson H. Bullard, three years. .13th Regiment, Co. F

Albert W. Livermore, three years. 13th Regiment, Co. F

C. W. Marsh, three years. .13th Regiment, Co. F

A. N. Potter, three years .13th Regiment, Co. F

Justus C. Wellington, three years 13th Regiment, Co. F

Wn. A. Mullet, three years. 13th Regiment, Co. F

Edward U. Prouty, three years. .13th Regiment, Co. F

C. S. Lowe, three years .13th Regiment, Co. F

Henry C. Read, three years. 17th Regiment, Co. G

George W. Temple, three years .17th Reginient, Co. G

Charles Riggs, three years. 18th Regiment, Co. G

560

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

L. B. Bliss, three years ..

19th Regiment, Co. C

John Mann, three years .. 19th Regiment, Co. G

Lewis McCrellis, three years .19th Regiment, Co. G

W'm. Daggett, three years. .19th Regiment, Co. I

Martin J. Gilbert, three years

20th Regiment, Co. K

Isaac M. Sampson, three years ..

.20th Regiment, Co. K

Benjamin F. Sampson, three years ..

20th Regiment, Co. K

Samuel B. Rice, three years.

.. 21st Regiment, Co. B

Joseph P. Adams, three years.

21st Regiment, Co. C

Edwin T. Brown, three years 2Ist Regiment, Co. C

C. C. Buck, three years.

.21st Regiment, Co. C

Eli Tyler, three years,

21st Regiment, Co. C

Leonard F. Alexander, three years .21st Regiment, Co. F

John L. Powers, three years

22d Regiment, Co. G

John F. Hastings, three years.

.25th Regiment, Co. C

E. P. Buck, three years

25th Regiment, Co. D

F. E. Buck three years

.25th Regiment, Co. D

Albert Peck, three years,

25thı Regiment, Co. O

George E. Ilowe, three years, 25th Regiment, Co. C

Frank Warren, three years, .28th Regiment

George Day, three years,

32d Reginient, Co. A

Joseph W. Adams, three years.

.34th Regiment, Co. I

George E. Adams, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I

Charles H. Allen, three years. .34th Regiment, Co. I

Eldridge B. Ainsworth, three years.

.34th Regiment, Co. I

Pliny F. Barr, three years

.34th Regiment, Co. I

Azor W. Barlow, three years .. .34th Regiment, Co. I

Edwin W. Barlow, three years.

.34tlı Regiment, Co. I

Daniel Boyle, three years ...

.. 34th Regiment, Co. I

Lorenzo Chickering, three years

.34th Regiment, Co. I

Edward L. Drake, three years,

.34th Regiment, Co. I

Ephraim Carey, three years.

34th Reginient, Co. I

John E. Farley, three years

.. 34th Regiment, Co. I

Harvey Gilbert, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I

George II. Gilbert, three years.

34tl: Regiment, Co. I

John McCloskey, three years. .34th Regiment, Co. I

James Mundell, three years. 34th Regimeat, Co. I

James M. Pratt, three years

34th Regiment, Co. I

Henry L. Ross, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I

Harvey E. Truesdell, three years 34th Regiment, Co. I

Daniel C. Speur, three years.

.. 34th Regiment, Co. I

Abner Wilcut, three years. .34th Regiment, Co. E

Alfred D Washburn, three years .. 34th Regiment, Co. I

Charles Thompson, three years.

34th Regiment, Co. D

Sylvanus T. Barlow, three years, .. 34th Regiment, Co. I

Dennis M. Smith, three years .. 34th Regiment, Co. I

Charles E. Cutler, three years .. 34th Regiment, Co. I

George Jennings, three years. .. 36th Regiment

Augustus J. Amsden, three years. .39th Regiment, Co E

Horuce W. Bush, 100 days.

42d Regiment, Co. E

Herman A. Gilbert, 100 days 421 Regiment, Co. F

Thadens C. Merritt, 100 days 42d Regiment, Co. E

Wm. HL. Barnes, 100 days.

12d Regiment, Co. F

Abijah D. Cutler, 100 days 42d Regiment, Co. F

Ralph A. Dupee, 100 days. 42d Regiment, Co. F

Wm H. Lombard, 100 days. 46tb Regiment, Co. G

S. Waldo Allen, nine months. 51st Regiment, Co. F

Joseph E. Bailey, nine months.

.. 5Ist Regiment, Co. F

D. Wilson Barlow, nine months

5Ist Regiment, Co. F

Edward M. Crane, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. F

Patrick J. Dillon, nine months

.. 51st Regiment, Co. F

Wm. A. Hitchcock, nine months.

.. 51st Regiment, Co. F

D. W. R. Hinckley, nine months. 51st Regiment, Co. F

Wm. A. Sprague, nine months 51st Regiment, Co F

Wni. R. Thomas, nine months .. 5Ist Regiment, Co. I

Wm. G Lawrence, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. I

Samuel D. Richards, nine months. 51st Regiment, Co. I

S. F. Reach, one year

54tlı Regiment, Co. F

Marial Mallet, three years 57th Regiment, Co. G

Lewis Bovier, three years 57th Regiment

John Mantell, three years .58tlı Regiment Orin Eddy, 100 day's .60th Regiment, Co. F Cornelius McQuirk, one year. 6lst Regiment, Co. A George H. Nichols, one year Glst Regiment, Co. H Josephi Dealey, one year. GIst Regiment, Co. H

Isaac N. Prouty, one year.

.Ist Cavalry, Co. F

Edmond Metler, one year ..

2d Cavalry, Co. K

L'eter Floyd, one year ..... 2d Cavalry, Co. G

Andrew J. Emery, one year 2d Cavalry, Co. A

Martin Fallon, one year. .. 3d Cnvalrý, Co. B

Patrick G. Dillon, one year 3d Cavalry, Co. D

Albert Barney, one year

.4th Cavalry

Rufus E. Blackmer, one year. 4th Cavalry

Jabez A. Blackmer, one year

.4th Cavalry, Co. F

Jacob Coombs, one year ..

4th Cavalry, Co. D

Isaac M. Jones, one year

4th Cavalry, Co. E

T'atrick Odell, one year.

.4th Cavalry, Co. D

Calviu HI. Root, one year.

4th Cavalry, Co. F

Ira T. Sibley, one year.

.4th Cavalry, Co. D

Lucius Trnesdell, one year

.4th Cavalry

Daniel Lawler, ono year

.. 4th Cavalry

George E. Wellmann, one year

4th Cavalry, Co. F

Amos S. Jackson, one year ..

5th Cavalry, Co. I

James Dillon, one year

2d H. A.

John Dillon, one year ..

.2d H. A.

John W. Ward, one year

2d H. A.

Wm. Seward, one year

2d H. A.

Daniel Muller, one year.

2d H. A.

Daniel Buckley, one year.

21 H. A.

Jerome Hamilton, one year.

2d H. A.

Wm. P. Howe, one year.

3d H. A.

Pliny Cooper, one year.

3d H. A.

James Collins, one year ...

3d H. A.

Charles A. Tyler, one year

Gtlı Bat.

Anthony Collum, one year ...

.4th Bat.

Charles A. Gleason.

Michinel Joyce.

Wilham Hall.

Oliver Santon.

Moses Renier. Unattached H. A.

Eden Woodbury.

Unattached H. A.

George MeFarlan.

Frederick A. Varnum, Unattached H. A.

Albert H . Tirrell.

Sammel Twigg ..

Frontier Cav.

Frederick Rand

Frontier Cav.

Lymao B. Bliss

Vet. Reserve

The following soldiers were either killed or died while in the service :

Simon Curley, killed June 23, 1863.

W'm. L. Adams, wounded at Antietam September 17, 1862, and died November 7th.

Emerson II. Bullard, died June 15, 1862.

Albert W. Livermore, died January 8, 1863.

Justus A. Wellington, killed in October, 1833.

Win. A. Mullet, wounded at Spottsylvania, and died May 23, 1864.

Edwin T. Brown, wounded at Petersburg, and July 27, 1864.

Leonard F. Alexander, killed June 2, 1864.

George E Adams, killed at Newmarket, Va., May 15. 1864.

Edwin W. Barlow, killed at Snicker's Gap July 18, 1864.

Daniel Boyle, died in Danville Prison in 1865.

Lorenzo Chickering, wounded at Winchester September, 1864, and died September 20th.

Harvey Gilbert, killed June 5, 1864.

George H. Gilbert, wounded at Petersburg April 2, 1865, and died May 4th.

Harvey E. Truesdell, died in bospital March 7, 1864.

Altred D. Washburn, died in hospital June 3, 1864. S. Waldo Alleo, died July 12, 1863.

John Mundell, killed at Fredericksburg May 8, 1864.

Daniel Lawler, killed October 24, 1864.

George E. Howe, killed at Petersburg, May 6, 1864.

Charles E. Cutler, died in U. S. Hospital at Baltimore, July 30, 1864. Lewis Bovier, died July 20, 1865. Moses Renier, died February 23, 1865.

Herman A. Gilbert, died at Alexandria, September 23, 1864.

An important event in the history of the town was the establishment of a public library. No town can have a complete educational system without such an institution. It supplements the public schools, and carries on and perfects the work begun by them. The

561

WEST BROOKFIELD.

time is not far in the past when education was said to be finished at the schools. There was little of gen- eral instruction after the school-days were over, ex- cept what a greedy mind here and there, from a keen observation of the world and from a native gift of ab- sorption, could unaided and with difficulty acquire. The consequence was that there were to be seen in all our towns men of fair business and social standing who, from its want of use and development, had lost the little general knowledge obtained at their desk at school, retaining only that which their special busi- Dess or trade had made demands upon. They were, perhaps, shrewd, industrious and prosperous, but they were nevertheless ignorant men. Now, since the in- troduction of libraries into our small communities, education is never finished. The school-boy grows into manhood holding fast to the fruits of public school instruction, while craving and reaping more from his constant use of these store-houses of knowledge. And, indeed, in these latter years, when immigrants from abroad, well advanced in life, are finding their way into every city and town without early education, and too old to use our public schools, these institu- tions have become the indispensable means of that popular enlightment without which the standard of our republican government would be dangerously lowered, if not permanently weakened and destroyed.

The West Brookfield Free Library and Reading- Room owes its origin to a law passed in 1869, requir- ing towns to appropriate the annual dog fund for the support of schools or for a public library-that fund being created by fees paid annually for the licenses of dogs, and being the residue after the deduction of amounts paid to owners of sheep for damage inflicted by dogs.

In the early days of the Plymouth Colony it was provided by law that "all such profits as might or should annually accrue to the Colony from time to time from fishing with nets or seines at Cape Cod, for mackerel, bass or herrings, should be improved for and towards a free school in some town of the jurisdiction." Thus the fathers of New England set an example in the thrifty use of the tribes of the sea in the establishment of free schools, which their sons of to-day have followed in a similar use of the crea- tures of the land for their permanent preservation.

In the autumn of 1873 the town voted to establish a public library, and the dog-funds of 1871, 1872 and 1873 were appropriated in its aid. It was placed in an ante-room of the town-house, and opened to the public January 5, 1874, with two hundred and ninety-eight volumes. The room was fitted up and lighted by the liberality of Mr. Lemuel Fullam, a public-spirited citizen. In March, 1874, Mr. T. S. Knowlton was chosen librarian, and still holds that office. During the first year Mr. Charles Merriam, of Springfield, a native of the town, presented five hundred volumes to the library, and five hundred dollars in money, and at the close of the year there 36

were fourteen hundred and eight volumes on its shelves. Mr. Merriam continued his gifts of books until they reached finally the number of about one thousand volumes. In 1876 he gave to the town fifty shares of New York Central and Hudson River Railroad stock, valued at that time at fifty-six hun- dred and fifty dollars,-"to be kept permanently invested safely, and never on personal security only, the annual income to be used for the benefit of the Library or Reading Room, which are to be kept always free to all the citizens of the town of a suita- ble age, and under such rules and regulations as the town may establish." He further provided that in case the library should be abandoned, the money should be paid to the public town libraries of Brook- field or North Brookfield, if such should be in exist- ence; but, otherwise, the town of West Brookfield might appropriate the sum to any general educa- tional purpose for the benefit of the town.

At a town-meeting, held April 15, 1876, the town formally accepted the gift, and thanked Mr. Merriam for his liberality. But his liberality had not reached its limit. In 1880 he addressed the following letter to the town, which, as a memorial of his enlightened generosity, is made a part of this narrative :

SPRINGFIELD, February 3, 1880.

To the Town of West Brookfield :

It is, I believe, already koown to many of your citizens that I have formed the purpose of erecting within your linuts a building to be used for a Free Public Library and Reading Room, and presenting it to my native town. The site has already heen purchased, on the so-called Tainton lot, next west of the Town Hall, and the contract closed for the erection of the building. It bad been my intention to complete the edifice, and then ask its acceptance by the town. But it is to be finished next October, and there will then remain four or five months before your usual town-meeting in the spring, and it seems proper and desirable that the town should nwn the property before entering upou its occupation. I understand there is no legal difficulty in making the transfer, although the building itself is yet to be erected.

I therefore propose to the town to make a present formal and legal transfer to it of the lot mentioned, with the building to be erected on it, to be used perpetually as a free Public Reading Room and Library for the town of West Brookfield. The town will maintain it as such un- der any By-laws and regulations it may think proper to establish; but under such regulations it is to be free to all, with no fee or charge to eny citizen for admission to the privileges of the library and reading room. The town shall keep the building constantly insured for such a sum that, if destroyed, the town engages to replace it by another equally convenient. It is not required that the same site should always be used if a change becomes necessary or desirable. I am to be et liberty to go nn and complete the building according to my plaus. Three of your own citizens-Dr. Blodgett, Mr. Fullam and Mr. Knowlton, have been kind to act as an Advisory Committee iu the matter, and can give the town any desired information io regard to these plans.

From long observation I have come to feel strongly the undesirable- ness of attaching any other than indispensable conditions to matters looking far into the future, as unforeseen circumstances may greatly change the conditions. I will not, therefore, ndd any to my donation other than these I have mentioned. I would, however, recommend-

First, That the upper hall, which I intend shall be a large and cou- venient one, be not used, unless rarely and occasionally, for religious worship, for the reason that the town is made up of different religioue denominations, and such use by one might awaken jealousy in others, and I would like this building and its purposes to be such es that all shall feel in them a common interest.

Second, For similar reasons I would not use the hall for political pur- P0608, as caucuses and the like.

Third, For moral and religious consideratious and as I Dow, judge for

562

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the best interests of the community, I would not open the library and reading room for general use on the Sabbath. Nor,

Fourth, Let the hall for purposes of mere amusement and entertain- ment, especially such as some may honestly deem objectionable, as balls, theatrical aud minstrel performances, etc.

A general reason, perhaps in itself sufficient for not using the ball for purposes I have mentioned, would be that all the citizens of the towo may be noited in regard to its use. Then, too, the little sums to be obtained for rental for objects with regard to which there was a differ- ence of opinion, would hardly compensate for the objections, and you have other places available for these purposes and it would seem desira- ble to keep the hall for nses somewhat in sympathy with the general design of the building. There will be many of these, as lectures, debates, scientific exhibitions, farmers' clubs, etc., wholly unobjectionable, and the income from which will help towards making the library and reading room self-sustaining. Yet if the town at any time think it expe- dient to use the building for the foregoing or similar purposes, I would not be understood as interposing any objection but that becoming the property of the town the gift io these respects be absolute and unquali- fied.

Io case tbe donation, lapses from a failure of the conditions or the town's declining or neglecting to use the building for the objects for which it is given for any considerable period, the property shall revert to the same purposes as provided for the lapsing of the endowment of $5,000 given by me for a library fand in March or April, 1876.

Upon the town's passing a vote of acceptance of my proposition, re- cording the vote on its records, placing my proposal on file and sending me a certified copy of the vote, I will make out a deed of conveyance.

I have been prompted to make this proposition by a desire to do some- thing for my native towo, which shall be an expression of my gratitude for the early educational advantages it afforded me, and at the same time be of permanent benefit to its citizens, especially the young. I recall, too, the value such an institution would have been to me in my own early life, aod entertain, I trust, a notimproper wish to be pleasantly remembered by a good influence perpetuated.

I may be allowed to express the bope that the town will cherish the institution as one in which all its citizens have an interest, and may find it of lasting valne. Such valne will, of course, depend largely upon a wise discretion being exercised in selecting and encouraging the reading of books aod periodicals, instructive and improving, as well as a due pro- portion of those of a right character more especially designed for enter- tainment, amusement and relaxation.

CHARLES MERRIAM.

At the annual town-meeting held April 5, 1880, the gift of Mr. Merriam was formally accepted by the town, and at a town-meeting held in October steps were taken for the dedication of the building, which took place on the evening of Friday, November 12th, in the same year. On that occasion Homer B. Sprague, of Boston, delivered the dedicatory address, and short speeches were made by Rev. Mr. Cu-hing, William B. Stone and L. H. Chamberlain. Letters were read from Governor Daniel H. Chamberlain, a native of West Brookfield, and from Mr. Merriam, the benefac- tor, who was prevented by the infirmities of age from being present. Mr. Merriam died at his residence in Springfield, July 9, 1887. According to the report to the town of the Library Committee made for the year ending February 29, 1888, the number of books in the library, at that date, was 5754, and 11,231 had been taken out during the year by 595 persons. During that year the library was credited on the treasurer's books with $200 income from the Merriam Fund, Dog Fund $192.89, and appropriations amounting to $300, making a total of $692 89. It may be proper to add, in closing the sketch of the library, the items of Mr. Merriam's various gifts, exclusive of one thousand volumes of books presented by him in the earliest stages of its career :

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 153

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1576

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576