Chas. C. Dwight, Justice of the Supreme Court of the seventh district of the State of New York.

ENDOWMENTS AND OTHER FUNDS OF THE SOCIETY.

Under its original organization the Society had no definite means of support, and depended only on the voluntary contributions of its friends. Its encouragement was found chiefly in the objects at which it aimed, in the zeal of its members, and in the interest shown by the public, especially in its department of relics and curiosities. Donations of files of newspapers published in past years, of miscellaneous and historical books and pamphlets, of ancient coins and paper currency, of chairs once occupied by ancestors, of implements of labor, domestic, mechanical and agricultural, of olden time; of portraits of early citizens, pictures and paintings, and other memorials of the past, were weekly added to the historical collections of the Society. Aside from these and like donations from friends, the Society could say with Peter and John at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple : "Of silver and gold have I none." On the first of January, 1876, it found itself scarcely free from debt, and the new organization began with a balance of only eighty-six cents in the treasury.

Allusion has been made to the Library foundation laid by Mr. Thomas Fatzinger. The gift of five thousand dollars was made on the tenth of January, 1876. It was a permanent fund, the interest of which only, was to be expended in the purchase of books. In January, 1877, the same donor gave another thousand dollars to meet the immediate necessities of the Library, and to encourage the gifts of others for the same purpose. In January, 1878—one year later he presented the Society two hundred and fifty dollars to promote its general interests, and to aid in defraying its current expenses. Also at the time of his

death, in April of the same year, there was found in his will a legacy of five thousand dollars for the Library, swelling its permanent fund to the sum of ten thousand dollars.

Such a foundation cannot fail to secure a liberal accession of books annually to the Library, and, in the course of a few years, to give the people reading matter in variety and interest, eminently adapted to the wants of the community, for whose benefit the foundation was laid. Monies raised by the Society in fees for annual and life membership, have already reached a sum, giving good promise that, ultimately, the current expenses of the Society, will be nearly or quite covered from this source. Funds for a library building, have been also provided, of which further mention will be made, in connection with the history of other steps taken in behalf of such a building.

THE LIBRARY ALREADY SECURED-THE LITERARY AND

HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS.

About three thousand volumes now invite the perusal of members of the Society. Besides those furnished by interest on the library endowment, nearly four hundred volumes have been donated by members and other friends of the association. We have also reason to believe that a further donation of books is only awaiting the day when suitable shelves shall be prepared for their safe-keeping. Among the donors of books, the names of Henry Warner, Rebecca G. Knox, Elizabeth Williams, Hon. Jas. McLean, Hon. S. G. Hadley, Mrs. Calvin W. Cooke, Rev. L. A. Lambert, Hon. Edwin Hicks and Hon. D. Willers, Jr., are worthy of special mention; while of the donors of valuable maps, we ought not omit the names of Hon. E. L. Burton, of Iowa, and of our own Librarian, Horace F. Gustin. The society is under special obligation to Mr. Gustin, not

only for the diligence and fidelity with which he has discharged his duties as an officer, but also in view of the efficient outside influence he has exerted in behalf of the organization from its beginning. Among his contributions to the Society, are two maps of Waterloo, showing its changes from 1815 during the subsequent twenty-one years, and furnishing an invaluable illustration of the growth of his adopted town.

Of the original literary and historical contributions made to the society during its existence of five years, the following is the list, giving the names of contributors, topics and dates:

1.

Recollections of Waterloo Sixty Years Ago."-Paper by H. F. Gustin; April, 1875.

2.

3.

Waterloo as It Was "-Paper by Hon, D. S. Kendig; May, 1875. Early Families of Waterloo."-Paper by Daniel Kern; May, 1875. 4. "The Town of Romulus in 1804 "-Paper by James B. Darrow; June, 1875.

5.

First Educational Movements in Waterloo and Vicinity."--Paper by Rev. S. H, Gridley; July, 1875.

6. "Early Settlement of Waterloo,"-Paper by Gen. Caleb Fairchild; August, 1875.

7. "The Methodist Episcopal Church."--Paper by George Haigh; September. 1875.

8. "District Schools in Waterloo." -Paper by Rev. S. H. Gridley; September, 1875.

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9. Life and Character of Theodore Parsons, a Pioneer of Waterloo." -Paper by Rev. S. H. Gridley; October, 1875.

10. "The Waterloo Academy, and the Waterloo Union School."Paper by Rev. S. H. Gridley; November, 1875.

11. 6.

History and Its Uses."-Public lecture by Rev. S. H. Gridley; April. 1876.

12. "Waterloo Forty Years Ago."-Lecture by Hon. H H. Riley; July, 1876.

13. March of Gen. Sullivan, through Seneca County."-Paper by Dr. S. R. Welles; November, 1877.

14. "Border Land."-Lecture by Hon. W. H. Bogart; December, 1877.

15. "Logan, the Mingo Chief."-Paper by Fred. H. Furniss; January, 1878.

16. "Indian Life and Character."-Lecture by Gen. John S. Clark; January, 1878.

17. Early New England."-Lecture by Rev. S. H. Gridley; February, 1878.

18. "

Early Business Men of Waterloo."-Paper by Charles D. Morgan; February, 1878,

19. "Superficial Glance at the United States."-Paper by G. Bowdish; March, 1878.

20. "Causes Leading to the Declaration of Independence by the Thirteen Colonies."-Lecture by Rev. S. H. Gridley; April, 1878.

21. "Life and Adventures of Horatio Jones, Captive and Interpreter of the Seneca Indians."-Paper by Rev. S. H. Gridley; March, 1879.

22. 6.

Rev. Samuel Kirkland, Missionary to the Six Nations."-Paper by Rev. S. H. Gridlev; July, 1879.

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23. Scenes Abroad," Illustrated by the Stereopticon."-Lecture by Dr. J. C. Carson and Dr. H. G. Hopkins; November, 1879.

24. Red Jacket, the Seneca Orator "-Lecture by Rev. S. H. Gridley; December, 1879.

25. Echoes from Seneca Lake."-Lecture by George S. Conover; January, 1880.

Besides the foregoing contributions, brief life sketches have been written and placed in the archives of the Society, of the following persons, to wit:

John Van Tuyl, Reuben Swift, Samuel Williams, Daniel W. Bostwick, Robert Wooden, Richard P. Hunt, Amherst Childs, Rebecca Hulbert, James Stevenson and Gen. Caleb Fairchild. These sketches correspond with one of the expressed aims of the Society, which was to trace the personal history of early settlers of the town, as far as that history could be ascertained.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY.

The members of the Society are those who pay an an

nual fee for access to the Library, or for the privilege of using its books; and also those who secure such advantages by the payment of twenty-five dollars at one time, and thereby become members for life. Nothing is more important to such an organization, than reliance on selfsupport, or the ability to pay its current expenses, by the contributions of its members; and hence, the Waterloo Library and Historical Society, while extending the offer of its benefits to the public, looks for such returns from its members as will not only merely sustain its life, but impart to it vigor and such a degree of usefulness, as will commend it to the confidence of the people. Life members, for the most part, have become such, by pecuniary consideration, while in some instances, citizens of the place and others, have received such membership as a return for the contribution of books to the Library, or for services rendered by lectures or otherwise.

LOSS OF EARLY AND PROMINENT MEMBERS BY DEATH.

The decease of several members has been doubly sad, by reason of their position and influence, and because of the infancy of the organization bereaved.

HON. JAMES K. RICHARDSON, one of our earlier and most esteemed citizens, was one of the eleven who constituted the Society at its beginning, and was present at its organization in April, 1875. He was quiet and unobtrusive in manner, sound in judgment, a warm friend of the new enterprise, and extended a ready hand in promoting its interests. But within the brief space of six months from the organization of the Society, -October the ninth, 1875, paralysis of his active and over-worked brain, removed him from his earthly cares and labors. He was a man among men, a safe legal counsellor, the very soul of honor, and none trusted him to be disappointed. He died in the sixty ninth year of his age.