He was at that time superintendent of the Central Branch railroad and realized the need of reading and amusement rooms for the young men in this city. He succeeded in interesting a number of influential Atchison women in the work and promised a generous personal donation and the coöperation of the various railroads centering here.
It was unfortunate that before the doors of the library swung open the Central Branch changed officials. In spite of this discouragement the Atchison ladies continued to work, and since its organization it has always been managed by a board of fifteen women.
Funds are raised by the sale of membership and donations and a small monthly stipend from the city. J. P. Pomeroy subsequently made a splendid donation, amounting to $10,000, and later on, A. J. Harwi contributed a like amount for the support of this institution. It now has almost 11,000 books on its shelves besides hundreds of magazines and pamphlets.
Mrs. Leontine Scofield was appointed librarian in January, 1883, and has held that position from that time until 1916 uninterruptedly. She has endeared herself to the thousands of patrons who have visited this institution, and her familiarity with the place and her fidelity to the work especially fits her for this important place.
The following Atchison ladies are the officers of the association in 1916: Mrs. W. W. Guthrie, president; Mrs. F. E. Harwi, vice-president; Mrs. W. S. Beitzel, recording secretary; Miss Effie E. Symns, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Fannie W. Linley, treasurer. In addition to these ladies the following are directresses: Miss Nellie Allen, Mrs. R. F. Clark, Mrs. L. R. Seaton, Mrs. G. W. Glick, Mrs. E. S. Wills, Mrs. W. H. Schulze, Mrs. J. M. Challiss, Mrs. D. C. Newcomb, and Miss Mary Lukens. Mrs. J. J. Ingalls is an honorary directress of the association.
ATCHISON HOSPITAL.
The first attempt to found a hospital in the city of Atchison originated in 1884, and after a general meeting for organization a board was appointed which purchased and re-constructed a building situated on South Seventh street between U and V, and the institution was open to the public May 20 of that year.
The following named Atchison ladies were prominently identified with the movement that was responsible for the building of the first hospital in Atchison: Mrs. A. A. Carey, who was the first president of the association; Mrs. J. J. Berry, Mrs. W. W. Campbell, Mrs. E. A. Mize, Mrs. D. P. Blish, Mrs. C. B. Singleton, Mrs. J. J. Ingalls, and Mrs. C. S. Osborn.
After five years of activity this building as a hospital was closed through lack of support and the misapprehension of the purpose of a hospital on the part of the community.
From about 1889 until 1912 the hospital necessities of Atchison were provided by private institutions and cases were sent outside of the city, but in the fall of 1912 the need for a hospital within the city had become very apparent, and as a result the following public spirited citizens of the city associated themselves together for the purpose of building a modern hospital: W. P. Waggener, president; R. W. Ramsay, vice-president; Otis E. Gray, secretary; Joseph M. Schott, treasurer. The directors with the above officers were: Frank Harwi, T. M. Walker and L. R. Seaton. They instituted a campaign for the purpose of raising $50,000 to purchase a site and construct and equip a building for a general hospital.