James Sullivan Savage was born in Readfield, ME in 1804 the youngest of eight children and the only son. When he was seven years old his family moved to Freeman, ME and then to New Sharon where his father died in 1815 and his mother in 1816.
With little schooling, James began to work when young and at age 18 went to Boston where he worked as a mason journeyman for several years. He afterwards contracted to build Bunker Hill Monument and then moved to Southborough, MA where he resided until his death at age fifty-four. He was not wealthy at the time of his death, having expended much of his money towards the support of his sisters.
Having always felt a good education necessary, since he was deprived of one himself, he bequeathed $500, with conditions they raise a matching $500, to his native town of Readfield for the building of a free public library. Readfield townspeople refused the offer.
Next the offer was offered to Freeman, ME but again declined by townspeople.
His third choice was New Sharon, ME. Townspeople there accepted the bequest and challenge to raise a matching $500 with which they built a free public library.
(This info gleaned from a news article in the Franklin Journal, Farmington, ME, Jan. 13, 1883 titled "New Sharon Free Library".)
(Thank you, Dale Potter Clark !)
With little schooling, James began to work when young and at age 18 went to Boston where he worked as a mason journeyman for several years. He afterwards contracted to build Bunker Hill Monument and then moved to Southborough, MA where he resided until his death at age fifty-four. He was not wealthy at the time of his death, having expended much of his money towards the support of his sisters.
Having always felt a good education necessary, since he was deprived of one himself, he bequeathed $500, with conditions they raise a matching $500, to his native town of Readfield for the building of a free public library. Readfield townspeople refused the offer.
Next the offer was offered to Freeman, ME but again declined by townspeople.
His third choice was New Sharon, ME. Townspeople there accepted the bequest and challenge to raise a matching $500 with which they built a free public library.
(This info gleaned from a news article in the Franklin Journal, Farmington, ME, Jan. 13, 1883 titled "New Sharon Free Library".)
(Thank you, Dale Potter Clark !)
James Sullivan Savage was born in Readfield, ME in 1804 the youngest of eight children and the only son. When he was seven years old his family moved to Freeman, ME and then to New Sharon where his father died in 1815 and his mother in 1816.
With little schooling, James began to work when young and at age 18 went to Boston where he worked as a mason journeyman for several years. He afterwards contracted to build Bunker Hill Monument and then moved to Southborough, MA where he resided until his death at age fifty-four. He was not wealthy at the time of his death, having expended much of his money towards the support of his sisters.
Having always felt a good education necessary, since he was deprived of one himself, he bequeathed $500, with conditions they raise a matching $500, to his native town of Readfield for the building of a free public library. Readfield townspeople refused the offer.
Next the offer was offered to Freeman, ME but again declined by townspeople.
His third choice was New Sharon, ME. Townspeople there accepted the bequest and challenge to raise a matching $500 with which they built a free public library.
(This info gleaned from a news article in the Franklin Journal, Farmington, ME, Jan. 13, 1883 titled "New Sharon Free Library".)
(Thank you, Dale Potter Clark !)
With little schooling, James began to work when young and at age 18 went to Boston where he worked as a mason journeyman for several years. He afterwards contracted to build Bunker Hill Monument and then moved to Southborough, MA where he resided until his death at age fifty-four. He was not wealthy at the time of his death, having expended much of his money towards the support of his sisters.
Having always felt a good education necessary, since he was deprived of one himself, he bequeathed $500, with conditions they raise a matching $500, to his native town of Readfield for the building of a free public library. Readfield townspeople refused the offer.
Next the offer was offered to Freeman, ME but again declined by townspeople.
His third choice was New Sharon, ME. Townspeople there accepted the bequest and challenge to raise a matching $500 with which they built a free public library.
(This info gleaned from a news article in the Franklin Journal, Farmington, ME, Jan. 13, 1883 titled "New Sharon Free Library".)
(Thank you, Dale Potter Clark !)
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