P.

First Library in the Northwestern Territory.

The celebrated "Coon-skin Library," founded at Ames, Athens county, Ohio, February 2, 1804, and afterward incorporated under the name of the "Western Library Association," has always had the credit of having been the first public library in the northwestern territory. The "Cincinnati Library" was, however, established nearly two years earlier. The following is a copy of the original subscription paper, now in our possession:

CINCINNATI LIBRARY.

At a meeting held on Saturday evening, the 13th instant, at Mr. Yeatman's tavern, for the purpose of promoting the establishment of a public Library in the town of Cincinnati, Messrs. Jacob Burnet, Martin Baum, and Lewis Kerr were appointed a committee to open a subscription for carrying the above object into effect.

The committee therefore respectfully submit the following form to the public for subscription:

"We, the subscribers, being desirous of establishing a public Library in the town of Cincinnati, agree to take as many shares in the stock of such an institution as are annexed to our names respectively, and pay for the same at the rate of ten dollars for each share."

Cincinnati, February 15, 1802.

In all $340. Taking into consideration the great scarcity of money at that time, it was an exceedingly liberal subscription. By a note on the back of the paper we learn that the library went into operation March 6, 1802. Lewis Kerr was chosen librarian.

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II.

O

Thomas Irwin.

F the dangers, privations, and sufferings endured

by the pioneers of the western country, Thomas Irwin, the subject of this memoir, bore his due share. He was born in the county of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight. The first settlements on the west side of the Alleghany mountains, on the Monongahela river, commenced about this time. The great object which induced people to remove to the western country was land, for, as the saying then was, land was to be had for the taking up, that is, for building a cabin and making a small improvement. The amount to be paid was merely nominal, enough to cover the expenses of surveying and issuing a title. The father of Thomas Irwin was a farmer in humble circumstances, and not being possessed of land in his own right where he lived, he concluded to remove west. Accordingly in 1782 he left Lancaster county and set out for the western frontier of Pennsylvania, then called the "Backwoods," taking young Thomas, then in his fourteenth year, along with him. The removal was effected on horses, furnished

with pack saddles. They located on a tract of land near what is now the town of Washington, Washington county, Pennsylvania. The place was then called

"Cat-fish."

Thomas remained at home with his father and family, assisting in building cabins and clearing out the farm, until 1789. Reports of the fine lands of Kentucky and the Miami country, the settlement of which was then commencing, reached the ears of young Irwin. Emigration in that direction had just begun. Stimulated by the spirit of adventure, he left his father's house and friends to seek his fortune in the far west, and in company with James Burns and another neighbor, he went to Pittsburg and purchased a small strong flat-boat for the purpose of descending the Ohio river. The crew consisted of Thomas Irwin, James Burns, a Mr. Cunningham, and Mr. Taylor. They set out on their voyage in the last week in March, 1789, and proceeded to Wheeling, where they landed and remained two days. Here they met with a family who had intended going with them to Limestone, now Maysville, and settling in the interior of Kentucky, but who became alarmed at the report of Indian depredations on the Ohio, and would not proceed with them. The Indians were then very troublesome on the river. Scarce a boat descended but was attacked by them, and when captured as they frequently were, the whole party was murdered in the most cruel manner or carried into