A History of the Hannibal Free Public Library

I.  THE FOUNDING OF HANNIBAL

Hannibal was founded in 1819 by Moses Bates. Its growth was exceedingly slow until the 1830*s.  The development of Marion City, a few miles up-River from the  Hannibal site brought many people from the eastern states in the spring of 1836.  When Marion City was flooded in June of that year, many of its inhabitants came to Hannibal to settle.

The city of Hannibal grew from a population of 30 in 1830 to almost 500 people in 1837- Stores, hotels, news­papers and other types of business came into being in Hannibal. In I839f it was incorporated as a town, and in 1845, a charter was granted to the City of Hannibal.

Because of the favorable location of Hannibal on the Mississippi River, it is probable that the city was more cosmo­politan than inland towns.  Steamboat traffic brought a variety of people and a miscellany of produce, building materials, tools, clothing and other items which make life,more liveable and make home life more attractive. Many families from Virginia chose to settle in Hannibal, some having first lived in Tennessee or Kentucky for a generation.  Many of the settlers were well educated and had a high degree of cultural interests. It is no wonder that there was an interest in books, music, drama and art in the little village.

II THE HANNIBAL LIBRARY INSTITUTE

The first effort to establish a library for use of Hannibal citizens was in 1844. The organizers were Judge John M. Clemens, Zachariah Draper, Dr. Hugh Meredith and Sam Cross. All of these men were highly respected in the community. Judge Clemens, the father of "Mark Twain" was born in 1798 in Mason County, Virginia, and moved in early manhood to Adair