Jewett Norris Library | Trenton, Missouri
Jewett Norris came to this area in 1835. He farmed near Trenton for about 20 years, then moved into town and entered the mercantile business. Altogether, he spent roughly 35 years making a living in Grundy County before moving to Minnesota in 1870.
Later in life, he looked back on those years and estimated that he had earned $50,000 here (roughly $1.8 million today).Norris decided Grundy County should have it back.He gave $35,000 to build and furnish a public library in Trenton, then set aside the remaining $15,000 as an endowment to help support it in the years ahead.
He died in May of 1891, five months before the library was formally dedicated. He never saw it open. The building has now stood in Trenton for more than 130 years. Norris had left the area and found success elsewhere, but he never treated Grundy County like a place he had outgrown.
