Morning journal and courier., 1891-08-28
pardee, Merton L. Smith, Horace Waters

er6Q SOlQ1eTS 70 secure upon the walls or the main hall some avowed recognition of the services of their comrades, together with patriotic insignia indicating beyond question the intention of it's builders. To all such suggestions the committee turned | 8 deaf ear on the ground of economy and | as of no necessity. As the building pro- | gressed it became more and more apparent | that it's chief promoters sought more | public edifce than soldier memorial, and | the sequel abundantly proved it. No pro- vision whatever was made for an assem- bling place or headquarters for the vet erans, and for some three years after it's completion the latter body was required to pay rent for holding it's meetings in it. As an expression therefore of the wishes of the living defenders of the nation, they assert that it is a colossal failure. Their ultimate hope rests in the descendants of the old native born North Haven families to provide yet some truer memorial sacred to the four score and five souls who de- tended their country in the hour of its need.
 THE BRADLEY LIBRARY.
 This institution, located in the above mentioned building, is indebted for its ex- istence to the Hon. Silas Leverius Bradley of Auburn, N. Y MT. Bradley was the son of Solomon and Lora Bradley and grandson of Titus Bradley. The paternal homestead stood on the east side of the street few rods north of the magnificent elm tree in the street near Charles H. Thorpe's. Titus Bradley was an extensive land holder and one of the leading citizens of the town. He had large family, the most of whom inherited their parents worth and integrity. Solomon, the father of the subject of this narrative, was not of this favored number. The tavern had more attractions for him than the church, and the society of certain ne'r-do-welI companions was oftener sought than that of his own family. Destitution and want, therefore, were no strangers at his fireside. Silas Leverius was, so far as known, the youngest of the family. He was baptized by Dr. Trumbull May 5 1916 (2), taking the name of his deceased brother Silas, lad of As remembered to-day by one familiar with his boyhood, (3) he was puny, light haired, soft-spoken stripling, but in man ner grave, earnest, persistent and careful to degree. A slight lisp in speech occa- sionally made him an object of ridicule among his fellows. His early education was obtained at the 's'old red school house on the green" When fifteen years old, or in 1881, he united with the Rev. w. J. bOaTumdu $ CLUTCH, Stop unuSudl to Do taken at so tender an age. It was soon after this important act that he began his afterwards successful business career. Ob- taining by some means a couple of tin trunks, such as were in common use by peddlers then, he found in Joel Ray, 8 not ed merchant at Mansfeld's Bridge, large hearted friend. MT. Ray generously filled his trunks with such 'household notions'' | as were in demand, requiring no security but the boys word. At first his journeys were on foot around the town; later he | widened his circuit and on one occasion | travelled as far east as Norwich, Conn. | who persuaded him to abandon his old battered trunks and enter his employ. He was fitted out with a team and on it made repeated circuits of the state, increasing his trade and popu- larity at every trip. It was in the line of l this duty that he eventually reached Au | burn, N. Y. Here he was again persuaded | to make another change, and entered the employ of 8 MT. Lester. This was in 1887. A few years later he became partner in l the house. In 1S41 he married Miss Jane Loomis of Auburn, and prepared to make his home in that bustling village Thithe1 , he removed his mother in her declining years.
 | It is probable that under like adverse circumstances no other North Haven boy ever attained the honors and position MT
 Bradley won. In all circles his counsel
 was unquestionably followed. In 1S41 he
 was chosen an elder in the Second Presby terian church of Auburn. In 1860 he wal
 elected director in the First Nationa
 bank, and in sixteen years rose to be itt
 vice president, followed year later by
 his elevation to its presidency. Beside | hi had 0th ha,- # fr11c on o
 which were as carefully managed as hi
 personal affairs.
 l Such course could not but win friends
 wealth and respect; he had all in abund
 ance, insomuch that at the day of his
 death, April IT, 1883, the city of Auburn
 mourned his loss as q universal one. (4.) By the provisions of MT. Bradley's vii
 it was found he had not forgotten thu
 home of his boyhood. A legacy of $1 ,00(
 was granted on condition the incorpora
 tion of public library association was SC I cured with one year from the date of hi
 decease.
 Notice of public meeting to take actio1
 upon this bequest was issued by Edward
 L. Linsey, Esq, town clerk, and held Sep
 tember 5, 1883. At this meeting com
 mittee was chosen consisting of Rev. Will
 liam Lusk, jr., Rev. William T. Reynolds
 Rev. Emerson s. Hill Edward L. Linsey
 Maltby Fowler, Sheldon B. Thorpe ant
 Dr. Benjamin M. Page to prepare plan o
 organization.
 This committee reported at another pub
 lie meeting October II, 1883. Their p1al
 was adopted and the committee was mad
 the incorporators. Their instructions wer
 to apply to the next legislature for tn
 needed authority. At the January sessiol
 of this body, through the efforts of tn
 Hon. Isaac L. Stiles (member from tn
 town) and Edward L. Linsley, the charte
 was secured. It being the first institution
 of the kind in the town, the full text of tn
 resolution is here given:
 Resolution Incorporating The Bradley Librar 1 Association.
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, | JANUARY SESSION. A. D., 1874. { | Whereas, It is shown to this assembly upon tn | petition of the Rev. William Lusk jr., and other
 of North Haven, that Silas L. Bradley, late of tn
 city of Auburn, in the state of New York de
 ceased in and by his last vii, among other things sum of one thousand dollars to be used and en l
 in my native town of North Haven, Conn; bu l said library association must be legally organize
 within one year after my decease, and if sai
 library association is organized within the tim
 hereinafter named, then direct and order sue legacy or sum of money to be paid to the lega
 year after my deceaSe.f
 Resolved by this Assembly:
 Section l. That the Rev. William LuSk, ir,, tn
 Rev. William T. Reynolds, the Rev Emerson S
 Hill Edward L. Linsley, Maltby Fowler, Sheldo
 B. Thorpe and Benjamin M Page with such otf CTS as now are may hereafter become assc
 ciated with them be and they are hereby, wit
 their successors, constituted a body polite an corporate by the name of The Bradley Librar
 association, 10 be located in the town of Mort
 Haven, for the purpose of receiving, investin
 and managing the bequest provided for in tn York, deceased, according to the trus inten thereof, and any other funds or property tha . may be acquired by said corporation by gift, dt . wise or otherwise for the purposes thereof, an for establishing and maintaining library an , reading room for the of the inhabitants C
 North Haven and the vicinity thereof as it's by l laws may prescribe; provided, that the amour } | of property to be held by said association sha t not exceed at any one time the sum of ten tho, , | sand dollars.
 Section 2. Said corporation shall hold mee | ing annually in the month of October, and , l and at any meeting so held seven members sha i, constitute quorum.
 Section 3. Said corporation shall at their annl r | al meeting elect a president and other officer f. l who shall continue in office one year, and unt others are chosen in their stead. Vacancies O. . curing in any office may be filled at speci, l meeting called for that purpose.
 3 | ditional members thereof, and whenever th ] number of members shall be reduced below tel l new members shall be elected so that the who 8 l number shall not remain less than ten. . Section 5. The Rev. William Lusk, jr., Benj min M. Page, and Edward L. Lnsley, or any tw ] poration by causing written or printed notit a l of the time and place of holding the same to D l left with or at the usual place of abode of eac l of the corporators at least five days before tt