Madison County History and Genealogy

History and Genealogy



History of Madison County


The London Library Association


In January, 1880, the above-named association was organized by about a dozen of the young ladies of London, who proposed to raise the necessary amount of money to provide books for the library and to meet other expenses necessary to the opening of and carrying on of the institution, by subscription. Membership tickets were sold at $1 each, entitling the holder to the use of books for one year. Several years prior to this, a similar association, known as the Underwood Library Association, was organized, but existed, we believe, only in name, and for the support of which $300 had been raised but not used. A meeting of the old association was held and the $300 was appropriated to the new association (some arrangement of consolidation of the two associations having been made). The first officers were: Miss Lizzie Maxey, President; Miss Jennie Burnley, Vice President; Miss Mattie L. Henry, Corresponding Secretary; Miss Helen Crabb, Recording Secretary; Miss Emma Richmon, Assistant Secretary; Miss Minnie Wilson, Treasurer; Miss Mary Warner, Librarian; Miss Sarah Wood, Assistant Librarian. The library was opened in Buff Block, February 22, 1880, and has since been maintained. It comprises nearly 500 volumes, consisting of biography, fiction history, juveniles, poetry and miscellany.

During the past twenty-five years, several library associations and reading rooms and lyceums have been organized in London, but none became permanent institutions. Among them may be mentioned the Young Men's Library Association, organized September 25, 1856, under the following officers: President, R. A. Harrison; Vice President, Dr. Toland Jones; Secretary, D. Warner; Treasurer, James McLain. In the fall of 1857, this became a lyceum, and the meetings from November 26 were held with open doors and free for all.

Another London library association and reading room was organized at the Presbyterian Church on the 7th of January, 1868, with R. M. Hanson in the Chair, and Otway Watson Secretary. The permanent officers were: R. A. Harrison, President; J. H. Curd, Vice President; Otway Watson, Treasurer; M. M. Thomas, Secretary; R. M. Hanson, Corresponding Secretary. A room over Davidson & Smith's drug store, on Main street, was secured as the quarters of the association. The room was opened to the public about the middle of March of that year, and the first lecture of a course inaugurated was delivered at Toland Hall, February 24, 1868. The library then contained nearly three hundred volumes, one hundred and three of which were donated by Rev. C. W. Finley, and eighty-four by Hon. R. A. Harrison.

On the 7th of February, 1874, a London lyceum club was organized, with a membership of ten young men, with the following officers: W. H. McKinnon, President; B. J. Myers, Vice President; A. P. Watson, Corresponding Secretary; H. Hubbard, Treasurer; A. P. Watson, L. S. Dungan and M. M. Thomas, Executive Committee. The first lecture of the course was delivered by John B. Gough, in the Methodist Episcopal Church. March 13, 1874.

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