Saturday, October 11, 2014

1901-1904 Autograph Album of Bonnie Gwendolyn McKinney of Village of Worth, Whitestown, Indiana


1901-1904 autograph album that belonged to Bonnie Gwendolyn McKinney of the Village of Worth in Whitestown, Indiana.


The album measures approximately 6" x 3-3/4" and contains the sentiments of over 40 of Bonnie's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the signers, together with any personal information they offered, appear at the end of this post.


From online research, hopefully correct:  [corrections and additions welcome!]

Bonnie Gwendolyn McKinney was born December 17, 1893 at Whitestown, Indiana, the daughter of Daniel Hayes McKinney and Cora Ellen (Webb) McKinney.   Cora inscribed a page to her daughter on March 25, 1901.


The "Grand Ma" who signed at page at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, on August 30, 1901, was presumably Bonnie's paternal grandmother, Elizabeth P. (Hayes) McKinney.


Three of Bonnie's siblings wrote in or were mentioned in her album.  Older sister Elizabeth Vivian McKinney inscribed at least one page, on March 25, 1901, and was presumably the Bessie who signed another.



Three pages mention Bonnie's siblings Madeline McKinney and Daniel Hayes McKinney, Jr.  Bonnie herself, or her older sister, presumably wrote their names.




On November 21, 1914 at Whitestown, Indiana, Bonnie married John Harding Osbourne, son of Elmer and Phoebe (Harding) Osborne.  John was born February 13, 1892 in Illinois.  The marriage didn't last.  As late as the time of the 1940 Census, Bonnie was living at Worth, Indiana, and working as an assistant postmaster.  I couldn't find evidence of any children for Bonnie and John.

Other signers who indicated a family relationship with Bonnie include:

  • Aunt Florence
  • Bessie Mc. of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, cousin
  • Goldie Tracy Ayres, cousin
  • Aunt Pearlie of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, perhaps the sister of Bonnie's father Daniel Hayes McKinney
  • Aunt Cleora E. Webb, sister of Bonnie's mother Cora Ellen (Webb) McKinney

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Please be careful in commenting about people who may be living.

Surnames in the album

?DMS
? [7]Deer [2]MoranSchooler
ADodsinNSmith
AloneyHNease/Neese [2]Stark
AyresHagerNerdlingSwarts
BHall [3]PT
BerkleyHarmonPowellTomlinson
Booker [2]HeidlingerRW
LRichWatts [2]
LenvilleWebb

Signers in the album   [Note: Given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]

?
  • Bessie Mckoen or McIlveen or ?, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on March 22, 1901; not sure of surname
  • Ada, signed on May 6, 1903; inscribed to "Dear little Cousin"
  • Aunt Florence
  • Bessie, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on March 31, 1904; called herself Bonnie's sister
  • "Your loving Sister Bessie", signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on April 16, 1902. "9 years old", presumably referring to Bonnie.
  • Bessie Mc; your cousin, signed at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, on August 31, 1901
  • "Your Sister Bessie", signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on December 28, 1902
A
  • Miss Ida Aloney [not sure of surname], signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on December 9, 1901; Bonnie's schoolmate
  • Goldie Tracy Ayres, signed on March 26, 1901; Bonnie's cousin
B
  • Blanche Berkley, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on April 9, 1901; "your loving schoolmate"
  • Mabel E. Booker, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, n October 1901
  • Fairy Booker, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, in October 1901.
D
  • Mable Deer, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on December 31, 1902
  • Mable Deer, signed on December 3, 1903
  • Rosellie Dodsin, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on April 6, 1901
H
  • Ruby Etta Hager, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on December 4, 1901; Bonnie's schoolmate.
  • Mary H. Hall, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on September 22, 1901
  • Edna C. Hall, signed on September 21, 1901
  • Earl C. Hall, signed on September 22, 1901; your neighbor "the whistler"
  • James A. G. Harmon, signed on December 2, 1903
  • Geraldine Heidlinger, signed at Whitestown, Indiana; "Your Schoolmate"
L
  • Robbie Lenville or Linville, signed on Whitestown, Indiana, on December 2, 1903
M
  • Bonnie Gwendolyn McKinney, March 26, 1901; album owner. Also has name of Goldie, presumably Bonnie's cousin Goldie Tracy Ayres, signed on March 31, 1904.
  • Madeline, 2 years old, March, 1901. Bonnie's sister Madeline McKinney. Written presumably by Bonnie.
  • Daniel, 7 months old Saturday. The date March 31, 1901 appears on the page, but that must have been for something different. Daniel was born August 23, 1900. Text presumably written by Bonnie herself.
  • Little Madeline, only 3 years, 1901
  • Aunt Pearlie, signed at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, on Friday, August 30, 1901. Presumably Bonnie's paternal aunt Pearl McKinney.
  • Elizabeth Vivian McKinney, signed on Whitestown, Indiana, on March 25, 1901; "Your sister". Mentions "9 years old", which I assume refers to Bonnie but could refer to Elizabeth.
  • "Your sister" Madeline, signed at Whitestown, Indiana
  • Cora McKinney, "Your Mama", signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on March 25, 1901.
  • "Grand Ma", signed at Lawrenceburg, on August 30, 1901. Presumably Elizabeth P. (Hayes) McKinney.
  • Alice Miller, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on March 28, 1901
  • John A. Moran, signed at Lebanon, Indiana, on December 2, 1903; presumably a teacher
N
  • Hazel Neese, signed at Whitestown, Indiana on April 8, 1901. Hazel Nease
  • Minnie Neese, signed on Whitestown, Indiana; "your friend and schoolmate". Minnie Nease
  • Geraldine Nerdling, signed at Whitestown, Indiana; Bonnie's schoolmate
P
  • Beulah Powell, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, in October 1901
  • Roy Rich
S
  • Oscar Schooler, signed on April 8, 1901, at Whitestown, Indiana
  • Emma Smith, signed at Zionsville, Indiana, on March 24, 1901
  • Maggie Stark, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on January 5, 1904; "Your friend and teacher"
  • Albina Cordelia Swarts, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on January 17, 1904
T
  • Coila Tomlinson, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on December 2, 1903; Bonnie's schoolmate.
W
  • Effie Watts, signed at Whitestown, Indiana on December 3, 1903
  • Effie Watts, signed at Whitestown, Indiana
  • Cleora E. Webb, signed at Whitestown, Indiana, on March 31, 1901; "your Aunt". She was Cleora Elba Webb, who would marry Leander Nease in 1902.



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