HISTORICAL SKETCH

-OF

The Waterloo Library and Historical Society.

Among the pioneers of Waterloo some expressed the hope that the rise and progress of their adopted town might have careful and prominent record. They omitted no opportunity of rehearsing to those who came after them, their own experiences in felling the forests, and erecting their rude dwellings, and in conforming to the simple and frugal modes of living incident to a new country. Citizens also of the next succeeding generation have held council, from time to time, on the subject of gathering up facts and incidents, and the names and personal character of the early settlers, with the view of preserving them for coming generations. Occasionally, the local newspaper has rehearsed some notable event handed down by tradition, or taken notice of occurring changes in the social, religious and commercial state of the community. In the year 1862, the first attempt was made to give a connected history of the place, and this was limited to a lecture prepared by the historian of the present Waterloo Library and Historical Society. The effort awakened some interest for the time, but resulted in no organization for the promotion of further historical research.

It was, therefore, reserved to the year 1875-a date some eighty-five years subsequent to the first settlement of Waterloo-to witness the formation of an association intended to perpetuate its history. As the result of a conference held by Horace F. Gustin, Samuel R. Welles, and Samuel H. Gridley, on the 6th of April of that year, cards of invitation were issued to prominent and elderly citizens of the place, in the words following, to wit:

"A number of the citizens of Waterloo, desirous of adopting some means by which the early history of the town may be rescued from oblivion, propose to meet at the residence of Rev. Dr. Gridley, on Saturday, 17th of April, 1875, at 2 o'clock P. M., to consult together with regard to the formation of a Historical Society, one object of which shall be the collection and preservation of facts relating to the early settlement of the town. You are cordially invited to be present."

At this meeting were found the following named persons: Horace F. Gustin, Daniel S. Kendig, Caleb Fairchild, Isaac Mosher, Franklin Gage, Charles D. Morgan, Samuel H. Gridley, Samuel R. Welles, James K. Richardson, Mabel K. Richardson, and Rebecca Hulbert. These names, for the most part, represented the older citizens of the place, and consequently those who were best acquainted with its early history.

The meeting was organized by the appointment of Gen. Caleb Fairchild, as chairman, and Dr. S. R. Welles, as secretary. After due consideration of the objects contemplated by the meeting, the following constitution, previously prepared by the secretary, was moved and unanimously adopted.