The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-08-24
HISTORY or MORRISON LIBRARY.

ROBERT MORRISON the founder of the
library which bears his name, was born
in Orange, now Allamance, county. North
Carolina, on the 18th day of October,
l7S6, and removed TO the present locality
of the city of Richmond, in the spring
of 1910. at which time the present site OF
of the city was an almost unbroken viii
derness. From that time to the present
I his residence has remained unchanged,
and he has been 4 prominent and active
participant in the enterprises which have
1 converted a mere wild into city OF more
Z than 10 900 inhabitants. His energy,
integrity and devotion to business. re
suited III the accumulation of a handsome
fortune. The poor of our city will bear
greatful testimony 70 his iberalitv and
kindness of heart. But these gifts to
the needy, although numerous and liberal,
did not satisfy his benevolence; and be
lieying that public library would be
more conducive to the public good than
any other expenditure of the same amount
of means, he purchased lot 80, in that
part of the city laid out by Jeremiah
Cox, and erected library building there
on. The building contains. in addition
to the library room. a dwelling for the
trustee and the library committee.
The library room is arranged and fit
ted up in the most approved modern
style The cost of the lot and improve
ments is Sl2,40I.
He then placed in the hands of a com
mittee consisting of Jesse =. Siddall,
Jesse S. Wilson, John Nicholson, limo
thy Nicholson and DIR. .. z. Bear the
sum of $4,000, which they were to appro-
pirate in purchasing books, to be placed
in the building erected by him He had
previously invested $500 in books. which
are now in the library. The total dona-
ton for lot, improvements and books,
amounts to ST. ,901, all Of which he has
devised to Wayne township, of Wayne
county, Indiana in trust, for the benefit
of the inhabitants of said township tor
ever. The township library is placed in
the same room. and will form part of
The Morrison Library"
The library is placed under the control
of library committee, consisting of
four persons; which committee is to
adopt the bylaws. rules and regulations,
appoint the librarian, purchase books,
and have the general supervision of the
library and buildings. The committee
consists of William Perry, as township
trustee, and Jesse p. Siddall, Jesse S.
Wilson and John Nicholson. The town
ship trustee shall always constitute one
of the committee. Vacancies in the
committee are to be filled as follows:
The first vacancy, by the township trus
tee; and the next two vacancies, by the
common council of the city of Rich
mond. Afterward, whenever n vacancy
occurs, it is to be filed by the trustee or
council, whichever made the prior APP
pointment then vacant. so that two of
said committee will always have their /
appointm INT from the council, and one
from the township trustee. ANY member /
of the committee may he removed by !
the concurrent action of the trustee and |
a majority of the council
In case the trustee and council. or either .
of them, at any time fail neglect or re
fuse to perform the duties assigned them, I
then the Judge of the Wayne circuit
court, or of any other court of record in
said county, is 70 perform the duties as
signed to the deiaulting party or parties. /
Said real estate and books being devised .
for the inhabitants of said township for .
ever, the Judge aforesaid is empowered
to do whatever may he necessary to en- /
force its appropriation to the uses speci /
fed.
Thus, by the munifcence of one gifts .
the township is now owner of a (
permanent public library. the use of
which is free to all its inhabitants.
The library will be opened with about +
5000 volumes of books, which number /
we trust will soon be increased by dona- /
tons from other liberal citizens.
The Manual Labor and Working
Mems Institute" of this city influenced /
solely by generous desire to promote
the public good, removed their valuable /
library TO the same building, and it now
forms part of The Morrison Library,