History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

ministry. In 184-0 it had about one liundred volumes
of religious works.
The Citizens' Library was established February
10, 1847. Five hundred dollars were subscribed
in five-dollar shares. Its catalogue of 18.5£ counts
four hundred and thirty-two volumes. February 11,
1857, it was given to the town as the foundation
of a town library, " provided Natick appropriates
three hundred dollars the first year for books, and
one huudred dollars annually afterwards, also a
room for the library, and choose and pay a libra-
rian." The town accepted the proposal, and in
April the Citizens' Library, with four hundred and
eighty-three volumes, became the town's property.
The town library thus originated, in 18.59 had
1,741 volumes. This was transferred in 1874 to
the Morse Institute, bringing that organization its
3,154 volumes.
In June, 1862, Miss Mary Ann Morse died.
Her will gave all her estate to found a public
library for the use of all the inhabitants of Natick.
If the town accepted the bequest, then five trustees.
NATICK. 197
Bacon Free Library.
(o serve five years, were to take the estate and exe-
cute the intent of the will. The town accejjted, and
chose Willard Drury, John W. Bacon, Horatio
Alger, John 0. Wilson, and Elisha P. Hollis,
trustees ; and this board has been thrice re-elected.
A friend thus writes of Miss Morse " : ilary
Aim Morse was the third child and only daughter
of Reuel Morse and Mary Parker, born June 16,
1825, and died June 30, 1862. She was of the
eighth generation in a direct line from Samuel
Morse, born in England in 1585, who was the first
of this name emigrating to this country. He came
to New England in 1635, and settled in Dedham.
Miss ilary Ann Morse had two brothers, who both
died before her. They were all born in the brick
house then standing on the spot where the library
now is, but moved to Clarendon Street to give the
site for the present fine edifice. Her teacher, when
Miss Morse was a girl of fourteen, speaks of her
excellent health, kind disposition, and fair abilities.
Her later years were spent in the family of Dr. Ira
Russell, now of Winchendon, wlio influenced her