Of the members of the Board of Trustees who have honorably and faithfully served the public during these years, two stand conspicuous as early leaders and organizers of the movement, and in many years of service. To Mr. William Scott and Mr. Charles King the public is greatly indebted for the inauguration and carrying forward of this noble work. They were both members of the Board of Trustees at its first organization and continued in the Board until the year 1893, when, by the death of Mr. King and, shortly after, the resignation of Mr. Scott, their twenty years of valuable service came to an end. The other prominent citizens of Toledo who have lent their valuable aid and time as Trustees, without compensation, in attaining the success of the Toledo Public Library, with their source of nomination and terms of service, are as follows: Trustees. Term of Service. Nominated by. Board of Education. Board of Education. *Deceased. URBANA. URBANA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY. On the opening of Urbana University in 1852, provision was at once made for the founding of a college library. No regular income was available for this purpose, but donations of books, periodicals and money were obtained from time to time, usually as the result of special appeals, and occasionally the spontaneous gift of students and patrons. About 1860 the college came into possession of the libraries of the two college societies, known as the V. O. A. Society and Philomathean Society which were organized soon after the opening of the college. About nine hundred volumes were received from the former and two hundred and fifty from the latter society. During the presidency of Rev. Frank Sewall from 1870 to 1886, the library was very much improved. It was newly catalogued and two thousand and seventy-seven (2,077) books added, among which were a number of rare and valuable old books. Since that time the number of books has been considerably augmented by the receipt of several private libraries in part or as a whole, among which should be mentioned those of Dr. O. P. Baer, Prof. U. S. Williams, and J. Young Seammon. In 1888, through the efforts of the Librarian, Miss Flora Williams, a fund was raised for supplying the library with recent historical works and such standard works as Northey's, Guizot's, Bancroft's, and The American Statesmen Series were placed on the shelves of the library besides other standard volumes. There are about six thousand volumes in the library at the present time. JOHN H. WILLIAMS, Librarian Urbana University Library. VAN WERT COUNTY. BRUMBACK COUNTY LIBRARY. When the seal of the envelope containing the last will and testament of the late John Sanford Brumback was broken, Peabody's sentence "Education - a debt due from the present to future generations," proved to be the main theme, and by reason thereof our town and county are going to receive on the dawn of the twentieth century a handsome gift, to build and furnish which has cost the Brumback estate nearly $50,000. Well may Van Wert feel proud of the day John Sanford Brumback sought a home in her midst, and particularly so, as he has provided that his great aim in life of working for the higher interest of Van Wert *18 s. O. L. - County people and mankind in general should continue through his directions and provisions after he has crossed the silent river of death. Mr. Brumback took great interest in the little city library, established a few years ago through the efforts of a few noble women. He also did much towards making the city's handsome little parks what they now are. The fine grove of trees in Second Ward park were planted by him, so it is no wonder he selected this beautiful spot as the site on which should stand one of the most lasting monuments that a citizen of Van Wert could possibly erect. It has also been very gratifying to our people to see his children, Mrs. J. P. Reed, Jr., Mrs. E. I. Antrim, D. L. Brumback, President of the Van Wert National bank, and Hon. O. S. Brumback, now a prominent attorney in Toledo, all working so faithfully and unitedly carrying out the desires of their noble father, devoting much time to see that the building should be a perfect one in every particular and worthy of the memory of one who truly loved his fellowmen. Such zeal and devotion merits the highest praise; by their deeds they have not only proven themselves truly heirs of a noble man, but have also erected for themselves a monument, which time cannot efface. Here we may very properly speak of Mr. John P. Reed, Jr., who has had the supervision of nearly everything in connection with the building. He has worked early and late, and it is due in a measure to his ability and unceasing efforts that next Tuesday, Van Wert County will be presented with not only the most handsome, but also the most perfect structure ever erected in Ohio. Space will not permit us to mention the many difficulties and discouragements the heirs had to contend with while endeavoring to carry out the wishes of their father. First there was no law on the statute books authorizing the board of commissioners to accept the gift, great This difficulty, however, was soon removed. Through the efforts and solicitations of the heirs a general law was passed authorizing county commissioners to receive on behalf of the public such a bequest and to make suitable provisions for keeping it up. Thus it will be seen that the Brumback heirs have opened the way to have a county library building in every county in the state of Ohio. To the lasting credit of the Van Wert Board of County Commissioners, soon after the law went into force the great gift of J. S. Brumback was accepted and at the suggestion of the heirs and the Library Board, a levy of five-tenths of a mill has been made this year on all taxable property in the county. There is every reason to believe that the people of Van Wert county are in favor of a permanent and liberal levy, for many of them realize that this institution will be a great benefit to them and their children and will enable them to have the best and latest literature of the day at a nominal cost to the largest tax payer. |