Mirick Spear

“ To make the acquaintance of Mr. Spear one should meet him among his books.” Biographical review

Born in Shutesbury, mother -Martha Paul, father Eliphalet (Luther, Moses, Benjamin,Ebenezer,George), Deacon Moses Spear who came in the 1780’s and gave land to each of his sons. (what is now Pelham Hill Rd) two of whom (Luther and Lot) stayed in Shutesbury

born July 28, 1824

married Miss Sarah A.M Whitney on May 27, 1847 and after her death in 1860 he married Della O. Washburn

Sons Edward M and Henry F pre-deceased him and William was a hotel clerk in Buffalo, NY who gave the town of Amherst the illuminated clock in the Town Hall tower in memory of his father established an endowment of 45 shares of American Telephone and Telegraph stock for the care and maintenance of the MN Spear library in 1934.

Spear established a bookstore, what is now Hastings in Amherst (1840??),

*“To the town of Shutesbury…the sum of fifteen hundred dollars to be used for the erection of a memorial library building in said Shutesbury, to be called the MN Spear Memorial Building, provided that said bequest shall be accepted by said town at a legal meeting called for that purpose within one year from my decease: and provided further that if in the opinion off said town said sum shall be insufficient to erect such a building as ought to be erected of wood, brick or stone and metal or slate roof, then said sum of fifteen hundred dollars shall be placed at interest and so continue at interest until the principal and interest therone shall amount to a sum sufficient as in town meeting expressed to erect such library building.”

In its report to the town in 1900 the trustees addressed the residents of Shutesbury by stating, “your Trustees have to report a steady growth and patronage of the institution, the management of which has been placed in our hands. W e are continually short of room for string the ever accumulating volumes coming to the Library. The voters of the town will have the opportunity at the town meeting to act upon a provision in the will of the late MN Spear of Amherst, whereby a legacy of fifteen hundred dollars is bequeathed to the town for a library building” The town appropriated $50 that year and approved the article