The Somerset reporter., 1902-10-30


ton.
The following Is a warrant for a meet
ing of the members
"rbe proprietors of the Social Library
in the town of Canaan are hereby noti-
fed and warned to meet at the center
School-house in said town on Thursday
the Seventeenth Day of July next at
three of the clock in the afternoon
then and there to Choose a Moderator
to govern said meeting
2 To agree on the compensation to
be made the Librarian
8, To Choose a Librarian for such
term of time as may be agreed upon
4. To agree on time when the re
spective shares of the Proprietors shall
be paid in to the Directors
3, To transact any other matter that
may tend to establish and promote said
Library
By order of the Directors.
Sam'l. Weston-Pro'rs' Clerk.
Canaan June 80, 1898.
N. B. Each Propr is requested to
furnish a list of such books as they wish
to have procured-Also are informed
that the Directors will attend to the
subject of receiving any books that may
be offered in discharge of any shares in
said Library"
Another warrant, of more formal COM
position, sworn to by Seth Currier, Jus
tice, converting a meeting for similar
purposes at the house of Joseph Locke,
is dated Dec. II, 1911, and signed by
Daniel Steward, James Bowen, Samuel
Weston, Josiah Locke, David Kidder.
1t would be interesting to examine
/, 10 .Nf
who was the first librarian, the compen-
sation thought due him, the names
of the books and other details There
is strong circumstantial evidence that
Samuel Weston, Senior, was the first
librarian and the books were housed
with him. In making out our roll of
honor, we must certainly head it with
his name. To him, also, we are indebt-
ed for numerous geographical surveys,
accompanied with charts of exquisite
workmanship, now extant here and in
Massachusetts State House. We hear
great appreciation for the state surveys
of GIeenleaf and Jackson, but Skowhe-
gan is to be congratulated, in having
furnished similar and earlier service.
Samuel Weston's private library was
remarkable one for his day, and mum.
bered 10 we'll chosen and we'll read vol
umes, catalogued, He was certainly
literary leader, and his influence is a
perpetual bequest.
The signatures of the second paper
are goodly list to represent the inter-
est of the town.
The mantle of the father seems to
have fallen on the shoulders of the son,
Samuel Weston, Jr.
Dr. Bowen and David Kidder had ex-
cellent private libraries That of the
latter has been scattered. David Kid
der's son, Llewellyn, became a great
book lover, and brought together a very
choice collection. Some of his books
were sold, others are in Boston.
The influence of Canaan Library on
the community is not easy to trace.
Judge H. K. Baker testihes that it was
the principal factor in his educational
training. He remembers his father and
mother, who was Betsey Weston, read
ing the books out loud late into the
night, especially the story of Catherine
of Russia Judge Baker went to Halo
well at fourteen years of age, and in his
long, busy life took great interest in
books and libraries. In 1912 when the
library was formed there his store was
it's first home, and for more than a half
century he was it's generous patron.
Two volumes of his writings were re-
Gently given the Skowhegan library.
| Mrs. Matte Baker Dunn, novelist, is
his daughter, and grand daughter has
just been graduated from the Albany
Library school.
Mrs. Merrill, adopted daughter of
Bryce Mcclellan, who left Bloomfield in
| 1880, writes that all the families of that
| day had plenty of good reading, which
was freely interchanged, and was a
source of much pleasure. Both Bryce
and Judah Mcclellan had fine Libraries
Increase Robinson had small cir
culating library, as his book plate testi-
fies. His books eventually belonged 10
| Llewellyn Kidder, his son-in-law. Nj.
Kidder used a book plate also.
Later, Isaac Dyer had a prosperous
circulating library in connection with
| his book store.
The interest and activity which re-
suited in the Library Association, 1867,
was wide spread, and everyone in the
community seemed to take part The
ladies prepared a series of remarkable
entertainments, which furnished a con-
siderable fund. The names of Mrs.
Norris, Mrs. w. H. Fuller, Mrs. j. H. Phil
brick are prominent in this movement
shares in the association at $40 apiece
were readily taken.
| Isaiah Dole donated a large collection
of choice books and became first libra
rian. The fineness of his devotion and
service in that Office deserve more ex-
tended tribute than Is here permissib BILE
He was an accurate scholar and a
splendid teacher of Greek and Latin in
this town and elsewhere He was well
versed in the French, German, Spanish
and Italian languages, and fond of phi
lology and grammar. He had a keen
sense of hamor but a rather grave dis.
position, extremely reserved, and his
feeble health was a serious limitation
to him. But the spirit of the mar
toward the books was indominable
The following are the words of one who
knew him well: ~ well remember his
interest in arranging the books which
he presented to the town for the nucleu,
of public library. They were all care
fully covered with brown paper; many
of them had his simple book-plate. II
was a great bequest for poor man tC
give, He was fond of his books; they
had been gathered at large sacrifice anG
it was in splendid spirit of generosity
that he turned them over to the com
munity where he had been born anG
brought up"
His work in arrangement and selec
ton of books, and in compiling the frs