Thursday, October 30, 2014

1886-1906 Autograph Album of Jessie Cassandra Stearns of Kansas and Washington


1886-1906 autograph album that belonged to Kansas native Jessie Cassandra Stearns who moved with her family to Skagit County, Washington and attended Northwest Normal School, where many of her signers were fellow students.

Northwest Normal School was then at Lynden, Washington, but later moved to Bellingham, Washington, and is now known as Western Washington University.

Below, Jessie inscribed a page to her future well wishers.


The album measures approximately 7" x 4" and contains the sentiments of 84 of Jessie's relatives, friends, schoolmates and teacher.  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!]

Jessie Cassandra Stearns was born November 20, 1875 at Peru, Kansas, or Sedan, Kansas, the daughter of Earl Herbert Stearns and Margaret Angeline (Clossin/Closson) Stearns, who were born in Pennsylvania and Indiana, respectively.

Jessie's paternal grandparents Sheldon Ulysses Stearnes/Stearns and Mary Jocelyn (Monroe) Stearns inscribed facing pages in the album.



Jessie had a brother and two sisters.  The sisters inscribed pages in the album, Mary Kathryn Stearns, "Kate", at Bay View, Washington on October 28, 1886, and Claudia M. Stearns, "Claudie", at Anacortes, Washington, on February 9, 1906.



Many other relatives inscribed pages in the album, including members of the Morris, Snook, Stearns and Williamson families, among possibly others; refer to the list of signers below.

On February 1, 1897, Jessie Cassandra Stearns married Robert Lee Bradley, son of Valentine and Matilda Josephine (May) Bradley.  He was born June 3, 1869 at Oak Harbor, Washington.  I believe he was the R. L. Bradley, who inscribed the last page in Jessie's album.


They settled at Anacortes, Washington.  Robert died in 1927, and Jessie in 1959.

Surnames in the album

?HPV
? [3]HaineyPackardVanderford
BHintzPalmer [3]W
Bates [2]Holton [2]PenfieldWallace
BateyJPlummerWhite
BirdJackmanPratt [3]Williamson [2]
BoylesKRWilmore
Bradley [2]KingdonReddickWoody
BraninLRobinsonWright
ButlerLesterS
CLindley [2]Sample
CovenderMSavings
CrandallMarchandSlade
CulverMcKenna [3]Smith [2]
DMehaffeySnook [4]
Daniels [3]MerrittStearns [11]
Durkee [2]Morris [5]T
DurrNTrice
FNeville
FoxO
GO'Neil
Gossard






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

?
  • Aunt Phe, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 5, 1886.
  • Cousin Eva, signed at Washington Territory on August 28, 1887. Later note" "Married January 25, 1892 to A. S. Hilton"
  • Pauline, signed on October 1, 1891, at Northwest Normal School
B
  • Ada M. Bates of Lynden, Washington, signed on January 1, 1892. Ada Margaret (Tennant) Bates, whose third husband James Loring Bates inscribed the right facing page.
  • J. L. Bates, signed on January 1, 1892. James Loring Bates, whose wife Ada Margaret (Tennant) Bates signed the left facing page. Ada had been married twice before. James may have been married before as well.
  • John Henry Batey of Sedro, Washington, signed at Lynden, Washington, on October 27, 1891; Jessie's schoolmate
  • Mattie Bird; Jessie's schoolmate
  • Daisy Boyles, signed at Lynden, Washington, at Northwest Normal School, on December 12, 1891. Later note: "Died Feb. 27, 1893"
  • J. R. Bradley; Jessie's teacher
  • R. L. Bradley. Presumably Robert Lee Bradley, whom Jessie Cassandra Stearns married about 1897.
  • Charles E. Branin, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on September 29, 1891
  • Grace Butler, signed at Semiahmoo, Washington, on November 17, 1891; Jessie's schoolmate at Northwest Normal School
C
  • Mary Covender, signed at Lynden, Washington, on October 8, 1891; Jessie's schoolmate
  • Cora Z. Crandall, signed at Lynden, Washington, on October 28, 1891 at Northwest Normal School
  • Delbert Culver, signed at Bay View, Washington, in 1893
D
  • Eva Daniels, signed on April 21, 1895
  • Marion Daniels
  • Marion Daniels, signed at Edison, Washington, on January 22, 1895
  • Wreath Durkee, signed at Lynden, Washington, on October 7, 1891 at Northwest Normal School; Jessie's schoolmate
  • Hawley Durkee, signed on November 19, 1890 at Northwest Normal School
  • Louie C. Durr of Fairhaven, Washington, signed on Reunion Eve on January 21, 1892. Louis C. Durr
F
  • Jessie L. Fox, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, in 1891
G
  • Cora Gossard; Jessie's schoolmate at Northwest Normal School; not sure of surname
H
  • Mrs. Lillian Hainey
  • David Hintz of Custer, Washington, signed on January 21, 1892 at Northwest Normal School Later note: "Married Feb. 1894 to Addie Palmer"
  • A. M. Holton, signed at Lynden, Washington, on October 23, 1891. Later note: "Married Apr. 14 1896 to Olive"
  • Irving S. Holton, signed at Mt. Vernon, Washington, on September 20, 1895


J
  • Will H. Jackman, signed at Lynden, Washington, on December 11, 1890; Jessie's classmate. Later note: "Married to Miss Shoemaker - Nov. 1895"
K
  • Eva Kingdon, signed at Lynden, Washington, on September 30, 1891; Jessie's schoolmate
L
  • Juliette R. Lester, signed at Bay View, Washington, on August 23, 1891
  • George R. Lindley, signed at Lynden, Washington, on November 19, 1890 at Northwest Normal School. Later note: "Married to Miss Kate"
  • Cornelia M. Lindley, signed at Lynden, Washington, on November 19, 1890. Later note: "Died October 8, 1891"
M
  • Marion Marchand of Newhall, Washington; classmate
  • Willie McKenna of Bay View, Washington
  • May McKenna
  • Louise K. McKenna, signed at Bay View, Washington, on February 21, 1893. "Ever remember our School days at the Bay View College". Later note: :Married Mar. 2, 1895 to C. A. Risbell"
  • Dollie Mehaffey, signed at Cedar Vale, Kansas, on December 9, 1886. Later note: "Married Dec. 25, 1891"
  • Charles E. Merritt, signed on January 17, 1892. Later note: "Married".  He married Jessie's aunt, Minnie Etta Stearns.
  • Claud Morris, signed at Peru, Kansas. Jessie's cousin, Claude Warren Morris, son of John Warren Morris and Louise Angeline (Stearns) Morris, a sister to Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns.
  • May L. Morris, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 9, 1880; Jessie's cousin May Louise Morris, daughter of John Warren Morris and Louise Angeline (Stearns) Morris, sister of Jennie's father Earl Herbert Stearns.
  • Aunt Louise, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 9, 1886. She was Louise Angeline (Stearns) Morris, wife of John Warren Morris and sister of Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns.
  • Ralph W. Morris, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 9, 1886. Jessie's cousin, son of John Warren Morris and Louise Angeline (Stearns) Morris, who was a sister of Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns.
  • John Morris, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 10, 1886. Presumably John Warren Morris, who was the husband of Jessie's paternal aunt Louise Angeline (Stearns) Morris.
N
  • Annie Neville. Later note: "Died June 1888"
O
  • Jessie O'Neil, signed at Lynden, Washington, on November 27, 1890. Later note: "Married to Mr."
P
  • Nellie Packard, signed at Northwest Normal School on November 4, 1890; Jessie's schoolmate. Later note: "Married Dec. 25, 1890
  • Carrie Palmer, signed at Lynden, Washington, on November 11, 1890; schoolmate at Northwest Normal School
  • Cary A. Palmer, signed at Lynden, Washington, on January 19, 1892; schoolmate at Northwest Normal School
  • Addie M. Palmer, signed at Northwest Normal School on October 28, 1891. Later note: "Married February 1894 to Dave Hintz"
  • Laura Penfield of Whatcom, Washington, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington. Later note: "Married to Mr. __ of Iowa"
  • Laura Plummer, signed at Lynden, Washington, on December 6, 1890. N.W.N., Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington
  • Hattie E. Pratt, signed on September 24, 1891
  • Hattie H. Pratt, signed on September 24, 1891
  • Will D. Pratt, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on September 30, 1891
R
  • Lulu Reddick, signed at Lynden, Washington, on October 1, 1891; Jessie's schoolmate, presumably Northwest Normal School. Later note: "Married 1892 to -" [no entry]
  • Emma Robinson, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on January 14, 1892. Later note: "Married Feb. 23, 1897 to Rev. W. Daniels"
S
  • Ella Sample, signed on January 30, 1887
  • Harry Savings of Blaine, Washington, signed on Lynden, Washington, on November 12, 1890; Jessie's schoolmate
  • F. A. Slade, or T. A. Slade, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on January 14, 1892
  • Alice Smith, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on October 31, 1890
  • Laura Smith of Mountain View, Washington, in Whatcom County, signed at Lynden, Washington at Northwest Normal School on November 1, 1890; Jessie's schoolmate.
  • Meg Snook, signed at Bay View, Washington, on August 24, 1891; Jessie's cousin. Later note: "Married Sep. 22, 1893 to J. P. Johnston". Presumably Mary Margretta (Snook) Johnston, daughter of John Summers Snook and Ellen Orinda (Stearns) Snook, who was a sister to Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns.
  • Bertie Snook, signed at Peru, Kansas, on May 4, 1888; Jessie's cousin. Presumably Silas Herbert Snook, whose mother was Ellen Orinda (Stearns) Shook, a sister to Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns.
  • Gertie Snook, signed at Bay View, Washington Territory, on May 4, 1889; Jessie's cousin. Presumably Cora Gertrude Snook, daughter of John Summers Snook and Ellen Orinda (Stearns) Snook, who was a sister to Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns. Later note: Married May 22, 1892 to H. H. Dean"
  • Aunt Ellen, signed at Bay View, Washington, on March 31, 1892. Possibly Ellen Orinda (Stearns) Snook
  • Jessie Cassandra Stearns of Kansas and Washington; album owner.  She apparently received the album at Christmas in 1886 and wrote a page to her future well wishers.
  • Aunt Blanche, signed at Peru, Kansas, at Christmas in 1886. Later note: "Married June 1, 1887 S. G. Buell". She was Julia Blanche Stearns, future wife of Sylvester Greider Buell.
  • Sister Kate, signed at Bay View, Washington, on October 28, 1886. Mary Kathryn Stearns, Jessie's younger sister, who would marry Charles Elmer [or Esley] McCullough about 1905.
  • Aunt Etta, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 3, 1886. Later note: "Married to Chas. Merritt Oct. 19 - '92". She was Minnie Etta Stearns, who married Charles Elmer Merritt [or Charles Esley Merritt] as noted.
  • Sheldon U. Stearnes of Peru, Kansas; spelled his names with an extra e, though his wife, Mary Jocelyn (Monroe) Stearns, who signed the right facing page, did not use the extra e. Later note: Died "Dec. 18, 1888" Sheldon Ulysses Stearns
  • Mary J. Stearns, signed at Peru, Kansas, on November 9, 1886. Jessie's grandmother Mary Jocelyn (Monroe) Stearns, whose husband Sheldon Ulysses Stearns signed the left facing page.
  • Willie Stearns, signed on November 6, 1886. Later note: "Died July 18, 1890"
  • Claudia S., signed at Anacortes, Washington, on February 9, 1906. Jessie's younger sister Claudia Stearns, "Claudie"
  • Hessie Stearns, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 5, 1886. Hessie Jane (Cain) Stearns, wife of signer George Mageline Stearns.
  • G. M. Stearns of Peru, Kansas, signed in December 1886. Presumably George Mageline Stearns, husband of signer Hessie Jane (Cain) Stearns.
  • Aunt Etta, signed at Lynden, Washington, on November 9, 1890; Jessie's schoolmate at Northwest Normal School. Presumably Minnie Etta Stearns, younger sister of Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns
T
  • W. L. Trice, signed at Northwest Normal School, on Lynden, Washington, on November 11, 1890. Not sure of surname.
V
  • J. F. Vanderford of Sauk City, Washington, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on January 18, 1892. "Remember the relationship between you and ___" Presumably John F. Vanderford. Later note: "Married to" [no entry]
W
  • Lillie M. Wallace, signed at Mount Baker, Washington Territory, on August 28, 1887
  • Edith White of Custer, Washington, signed on October 3, 1891 at N.W.N.S. at Lynden, Washington. Northwest Normal School
  • Kate Williamson, signed at Padilla, Washington, on March 3, 1897
  • Florence Williamson, signed at Padilla, Washington, on April 2, 1897; Jessie's niece
  • Carrie Wilmore, signed at Lynden, Washington, on November 3, 1890; not sure of surname
  • Della Woody, signed on October 30, 1891; Jessie's schoolmate. Later note: "Married in September 1891 to Mr. York"
  • Anna Wright, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on October 5, 1891
Peru, Kansas, to Bay View, Washington


Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

1882-1889 Autograph Album of Ira, a Student at Newton College Institute at Newton, New Jersey


1882-1889 autograph album that belonged to an Ira, who was a student at Newton College Institute during part of that time frame.  Please refer to the comments section where a reader has provided convincing evidence that Ira was Ira P. Smith, son of Peter and Eliza (McDavit) Smith.


There are two clues to Ira's identity in the album.  One is that Frank H. Smith of Dundee, New York, who inscribed a page on November 11, 1884, called himself Ira's cousin.


Another cousin, Harry McDavit of Hope, New Jersey, inscribed a page on May 17, 1886.


One student at Newton College Institute, Thomas K. Northrup of Newton, New Jersey, who inscribed a page on December 5, 1883, referred to a teacher "J. F."  Two other people named Northrup inscribed pages in the album; refer to the list below.


If you have a theory as to Ira's identity and/or information to share on any of the people mentioned, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Surname list

?LS
?LevinSlater
BLopezSlaughter
BennettMSmith [2]
CMcDavitSutton
CaseMillerW
CurrentMorrisWhedon
HMorrisWorley
GaylordNY
Harris [2]Northrup [3]Young
HartP
HawkinsPerzil
HowellPettengill
Pinckney

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

?
  • Ira, presumably a student at Newton College Institute at Newton, New Jersey; album owner
B
  • E. S. Bennett of Washingtonville, New Jersey, signed on April 24, 1883
C
  • Charley Case of Washingtonville, New Jersey, signed on April 20, 1884. Charles Case
  • Georgiana Current of Hunts Mills, New Jersey, signed on January 17, 1887; not sure of surname
G
  • E. T. Gaylord of Newton College Institute at Newton, New Jersey, signed on June 21, 1885
H
  • George N. Harris of Baleville, New Jersey, in Sussex County, signed on April 11, 1885
  • William C. Harris of Pleasant Valley, New Jersey, signed on February 15, 1885
  • Nathan H. Hart of New Jersey, signed at Newton College Institute on February 2, 1883
  • S. Hawkins of Waterbury, Connecticut, signed at Newton College Institute, on December 21, 1883
  • Ella Howell of Newton, New Jersey, signed on January 17, 1887
L
  • Henry Levin of Tucson, Arizona Territory, signed at Newton College Institute on February 1, 1883
  • Manuel Lopez of Havana, Cuba, signed at Newton, New Jersey, on January 31, 1883; can't decipher middle initial
M
  • Harry McDavit of Hope, New Jersey, in Warren County, signed on May 17, 1886; Ira's cousin
  • F. S. Miller of Newton, New Jersey, signed on February 1, 1883
  • L. H. Morris of Newton, New Jersey, signed on January 17, 1887
  • Oliver M. Morris of Newton, New Jersey, signed on January 7, 1889
N
  • Moses H. Northrup of Pleasant Valley, New Jersey, on June 30, 1883
  • R. V. Northrup, Jr., signed at Newton, New Jersey, on December 4, 1883
  • Thomas K. Northrup of Newton, New Jersey, signed on December 5, 1883. "Remember your teacher J. F."
P
  • W. G. Perzil, signed at Newton College Institute, on February 2, 1883; Ira's schoolmate
  • Ernest W. Pettengill of Brooklyn, New York, signed at Newton College Institute, on January 3, 1883
  • John Pinckney of Newton, New Jersey, signed on February 2, 1883; middle initial might be S or L.
S
  • Frank Slater of Andover, New Jersey, signed on February 2, 1882 at Newton College Institute
  • Edgar D. Slaughter o Campbell Hall, New York, in Orange County, signed on February 1, 1883
  • Frank A. Smith of New York, signed on Friday, January 4, 1884
  • Frank H. Smith of Dundee, New York, in Yates County, signed on November 11, 1884; Ira's cousin
  • Gilbert T. Sutton of Brooklyn, New York ,signed on January 31, 1883 at Newton College Institute
W
  • Frank S. Whedon of Newton, New Jersey, signed on June 21, 1885 at Newton College Institute
  • Benjamin F. Worley of St. Paul, Minnesota, signed at Newton College Institute, on "2-1-83"
Y
  • John E. Young, signed on February 31, 1883 at Newton College Institute; the date was often used as a joke.





Small Archive Pertaining to John Franklin Sload & Ella Gertrude (Hoffer) Sload of Columbia, Pennsylvania


Small archive of items pertaining to John Franklin Sload and his wife Ella Gertrude (Hoffer) Sload of Columbia, Pennsylvania and, later, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Above, photograph of John as a boy; below, reverse of the photograph.


Photograph of Ella Gertrude (Hoffer) Sload as a girl.























Their marriage on a page that may have been removed from a Family Bible.


The reverse of the page above, showing birth dates for John and Ella, as well as two of their children, all born at Columbia, Pennsylvania.


Baptism Certificate for their son Paul Hoffer Sload, born September 15, 1902 and baptized at Columbia, Pennsylvania, by Pastor S. G. Grove, on January 4, 1903.


1933 postcard from Katherine to Ella requesting family information and noting that she had just come across her great grandmother's sampler, which confirmed that woman's mother was named Rosanna and was the second wife of Jacob [Jacob Shaffer, if my limited research is correct.]



The final item is John Franklin Sload's obituary from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1952, after residing there for the last ten years of his life.



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

John Franklin Sload was born August 14, 1877 at Columbia, Pennsylvania, the son of John and Anna Mary (Miller) Sload.  Ella Gertrude (Hoffer) Sload was born June 7, 1879 at Columbia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Jacob Zollinger Hoffer and Sarah Jane (Grove) Hoffer.  I wonder if the pastor who baptized Ella's son, S. G. Grove, was a relative on Ella's mother's side.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania



Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

1838-1840 Autograph Album of Jane C. Donnell of Alna, Maine


1838-1840 autograph album that belonged originally to Jane C. Donnell of Alna, Maine.   Many of the sentiments were left by Jane's fellow students at Maine Wesleyan Seminary in Readfield, Maine, still operating today as the Kents Hill School, perhaps the oldest continuously operating co-educational school in the nation.

Sadly, Jane died when she was only 20.  The album then apparently passed to her namesake niece Jane C. (Donnell), White, "Jennie", daughter of Benjamin Woodbridge Donnell and Frances Lucinda (Cone) Donnell." And then into the possession of Jennie's daughter Florence Donnell White, whose father was Henry Kirke White.  Incidentally, I found that a Jennie Donnell attended Maine Wesleyan Seminary in the 1870s; perhaps attending the school was a family tradition.

If three owners weren't enough, there's an undated paper tucked in the album that appears to show where the album was presented to a Mary, whether related to the original family or not.


All of the sentiments, however, appear to date from the original owner's possession in the period from 1838 to 1840.

Florence stamped her name on two of the front end papers, the second of which also had the name J. C. Donnell in pencil, which leads me to believe it referred to Florence's mother Jennie's term of ownership rather than Jane's.


The name on the following end paper was, I believe, written by the original owner Jane.


The album measures approximately 7-3/4" x 6-1/4" and contains the sentiments of 21 of Jane's friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical list of surnames 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!]

Jane C. Donnell was born July 8, 1821 at Alna, Maine, the daughter of Jotham and Jane (Woodbridge) Donnell, who were both born at nearby Newcastle, Maine.  Jane apparently attended Maine Wesleyan Seminary in 1839.  I don't know if she had a chance to put her education to good use before her death on February 26, 1842.

One of the pages was signed by a Frances, who might have been Frances Lucinda (Cone) Donnell, wife of Benjamin Woodbridge Donnell and mother of Jane's niece Jennie C. (Donnell) White.


One signer, Elizabeth Hathorn, who inscribed a page at Wesleyan Seminary on June 9, 1839, mentioned that she was Jane's sister, but the relationship was as a religious or social one.


I wonder if the John T. A., who inscribed two pages was Dr. John T. Achorn of Alna, Maine.



If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or information on any of the signers listed below, especially if you can identify some of the people who signed with initials, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Surnames in the album

?DM
? [5]DonnellMcCarty
AHMitchell
AchornHathornN
BHigginsNickerson
ByrneLS
CL?Severence
C? [3]LarrabeeW
CliffordW?
White

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

?
  • Frances
  • Martha, signed at Wesleyan Mansion on June 7, 1839
  • Clifford, signed in 1840
  • Signed by W at Boston, Massachusetts, on January 1, 1840. Page has a small engraving on it.
  • Sophronia
A
  • John T. A., signed at Alna, Maine, on August 1, 1839; possibly John T. Achorn. He signed another page as well.
B
  • B. B. Byrne, signed at Maine Seminary on June 8, 1839
C
  • 2-page sentiment; initials, signed at Wesleyan Mansion, on June 7, 1839. Middle initial likely an S, and surname initial a C.
  • Initials J. D. C., signed at North Edgecomb, Maine, on September 27, 1839
  • Louisa R. C., signed at Maine Wesleyan Seminary on June 8, 1838
  • ? D. Clifford, signed at North Edgecomb, on September 17, 1839; given name initial might be S, T, I, J or ?
D
  • Jane C. Donnell of Alna, Maine; album owner
H
  • Elizabeth Hathorn, signed at Wesleyan Seminary on June 9. 1839; "Dear Sister". Presumably Elizabeth meant that she was a religious or social sister.
  • J. Higgins, signed at East Pittston, Maine, on May 23, 1839
L
  • S. T. L., signed at Maine Wesleyan Seminary in 1839; not sure of middle initial
  • W. C. Larrabee, signed at Readfield, Maine, on April 18, 1839
M
  • M. J. McCarty, signed at Westport, Maine, in June 1839
  • Harriet J. C. Mitchell, signed at Westbrook, Maine, on May 21, 1839
N
  • 2-page sentiment left by Rebecca H. Nickerson, signed at M. W. Seminary on June 14, 1839
S
  • M. Severence, signed at M .W. Seminary in April 1839; presumably Maine Wesleyan Seminary
W
  • C. W., signed at Edgecomb, Maine, on March 6, 1840
  • Florence Donnell White, grand niece of original album owner Jane C. Donnell.  Florence's name is stamped on two pages at the beginning of the album, and it appears that the album eventually passed into her hands.  She was the daughter of Henry Kirke White and Jane C. (Donnell) White, "Jennie", who was the niece and namesake of the original owner.

Alna, Maine



Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, October 27, 2014

1880s/1890s Autograph Album of Nettie Price, or Jennetta Price, of La Rue, Ohio


1880s/1890s autograph album that belonged to Nettie, presumably of La Rue, Ohio, which was home to most of the signers.

From clues in the album, I believe Nettie was Jennetta Price, "Nettie", daughter of David and Mary Eeylyn (Price) Price.  I found records with variant spellings of Jennetta, including Jeanetta and Jeannetta, but I've heard from a relative, who tells me that she went by Nettie most of her life.  "Nettie" was used on her death certificate and in her obituary.

A reader has kindly forwarded a photograph of Nettie (Price) Brown in her middle age.


Nettie received the album as a Christmas present in 1887 from Will Bonham.  The way he wrote his name threw me at first as it looks more like Bonhan, but I found records for Bonham.


The album measures approximately 6-1/4" by almost 4" and contains the sentiments of 25 of Nettie's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.

M. E. Price inscribed a page at La Rue, Ohio, on January 1, 1888 and called herself Nettie's mother.  She was presumably Mary Eeylyn (Price) Price, wife of David Price.  She was the daughter of Levi and Elizabeth (Godfrey) Price, as confirmed in a Family Bible, which I haven't seen myself.  David Price was the son of James and Octavia (Watkins) Price, as also confirmed in the Bible.  The birth of David and Mary Eeylyn (Price) Price's daughter Jennetta [or Jennette or variant spelling], was also confirmed in the Bible.


Tommy Price also signed a page at La Rue, Ohio, on January 1, 1888.  He didn't mention a family relationship with Nettie, but I did find a Thomas Otto Price who was the son of David and Mary E. Price.  Further, he had a sister named Jennetta, who could have had the nickname Nettie.  Tommy embellished his page with a bird and scroll.


Jennetta Price was born in April 1869 in Ohio.  In 1889, she married Henry K. Brown, son of Elijah H. and Belinda (Cloud) Brown.  They had at least one child, a daughter.   Henry, who was about twenty years older than Nettie, had been married before, and some of his children signed pages in Nettie's album, as you can see from the list of signers below.

Reassuringly as to the question of identity, the Find-a-Grave listing for the Browns shows their stone with the names Henry K. and Nettie.  They're buried in the Price Cemetery at Richwood, Ohio, where David and Mary E. Price and their son Thomas Otto Price are buried, as well as other family members.

H. W. Sager inscribed a page at La Rue, Ohio, on January 4, 1888, and noted that he or she was Nettie's teacher.  He may have been Henry Wilber Sager (1862-1945), son of Benjamin F. Sager and Sarah Catherine (Cowger) Sager.  He's also buried in the Price Cemetery at Richwood, Ohio.


If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or you feel that Nettie is not Jennetta (Price) Brown, or information on any of the signers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Surnames in the album

?CM
? [3]ClaytonMather
AGP
AllenGutheryPrice [3]
BGuthrieR
B?JRanb [2]
Berry [2]JohnsonS
BonhanKSager
Brown [3]KarlW
BurkeKramerWilson

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

?
  • W. L. G., signed on January 17, 1888 at District No. 4
  • Ada, signed on January 17, 1888
  • S. B. of La Rue, Ohio, signed on January 14, 1888; Nettie's schoolmate. Middle initial could be V or N.
A
  • Ida Allen
B
  • Mrs. Henry B?, signed at Marion, Ohio, in March 1895 [or 1892]; surname might be Breslin or Bossler or ?
  • J. G. Berry, signed on January 1, 1888
  • Mary Berry
  • Will Bonhan or Will Bonham; presented the album to Nettie as a Christmas present in 1887 at La Rue, Ohio.
  • C. V. Brown of Youngstown, Ohio
  • George Brown, signed at Kenton, Ohio, in April 1890
  • Lillie Brown, signed at Crawford, Ohio, on July 3, 1889
  • Ella Burke, signed at La Rue, Ohio
C
  • Isaac D. Clayton of Corydon, Iowa, in Wayne County
G
  • S. Guthery of La Rue, Ohio, signed on January 10, 1888
  • J. H. Guthrie, signed at La Rue, Ohio, on January 14, 1888
J
  • Libbie Johnson, signed at La Rue, Ohio, "At School"
K
  • Dory Karl of Circleville, Ohio, signed on January 14, 1888
  • Susie Kramer
M
  • O. L. Mather, "Alias 'Pugg'", signed at La Rue, Ohio, on January 10, 1888
P
  • Nettie of La Rue, Ohio; album owner; later on in the album she inscribed a page of welcome to her well wishers; presumably Jennetta Price, "Nettie".
  • M. E. Price, signed at La Rue, Ohio, on January 1, 1888; Nettie's mother
  • Tommy Price, signed at La Rue, Ohio, on January 1, 1888; sketch of a bird holding a scroll
R
  • Susie Ranb of La Rue, Ohio, signed on January 13, 1888; not sure of surname
  • Lillie Ranb, signed at La Rue, Ohio, on January 5, 1888
S
  • H. W. Sager, signed at La Rue, Ohio, on January 4, 1888; Nettie's teacher
W
  • Cora Wilson

Album 2 of 2 Autograph Albums of May Ola Johnson of Ivesdale, Illinois; 1880s


1880s autograph album that belonged to May Ola Johnson of Ivesdale, Illinois.  See another post that features an autograph album presented to May at Christmas in 1879 by "Doc" Redford.

The album was presented to May by E. S. Green, presumably as a birthday present, on March 23, 1880.  I found a reference online that gives May's birthday as March 24, but it could have been March 23, or perhaps the birthday celebration was held a day earlier.


The album measures approximately 7-1/2" x 4-1/2" and contains the sentiments of about 30 of May's relatives and friends.  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.  Some of them inscribed pages in the other album as well.


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

May Ola Johnson was born March 24, 1862 at Ivesdale, Illinois, the daughter of William Henry Johnson and second wife Catherine Louisa Rosenplanther, who were born in Massachusetts and Germany, respectively.

May's father, William Henry Johnson, the son of Enoch and Lydia (Purinton) Johnson, was first married to Catherine Leagle, who died in 1849 after having at least three children.  I believe it was one of these children, Adeline (Johnson) Gillman, who inscribed a page in her younger half-sister May's album on October 26, 1880 at Ivesdale, Illinois.  Her daughter Minnie, with husband James Gillman, also inscribed a page; Minnie gave her name as Gilman.



About 1891, May Ola Johnson married Andrew Stratton, son of Thomas and Margaret (Pringle) Stratton.  Andrew was born at Hamilton, Ontario, on June 30, 1855.  He inscribed several pages in the other album and two pages in this album in June and July 1882, one of which had May's name on it.



 May and Andrew had two children, Charles Stratton and Louisa M. Stratton.  "Charley" signed a page in the other album.  Sadly he died in his teens.  Louisa, thankfully, lived a long life.  Andrew died in 1927, and May in 1953.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or information on any of the signers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Surnames in the Album


?JS
? [8]JohnsonSlagle
CLSprouse [2]
CulbertsonLePitreStratton [2]
GLivelyT
Gillman/Gilman [2]PTuckwell
GrahamPinkhamTyrrell
GreenPrattW
HRWithey
HarmonRothstein
HatfieldRussell
Hawkes
Heyman [3]

Signers in the Album         [Note: Given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]
?
  • E. S. G. or E. S. Y.
  • ?, "broken-hearted Deutscher", signed at Ivesdale, Illinois, on January 14, 1881
  • D. C.
  • Mattie, signed at Hannibal, Missouri, on July 14, 1889
  • "Blondy & Tippy"; shared the page with Libby E. Heyman; Ed Rothstein; E. J. Heyman; and May Ola Johnson, who wrote her name in the center of the page.
  • Ava of 606 Van Buren Street, Chicago, Illinois, signed at Ivesdale, Illinois, on June 27, 1882
  • L. P.
  • M. A. H., or W. A. H., signed at Ivesdale, Illinois, in 1881
C
  • Jennie M. Culbertson, signed at Tolono, Illinois, on "4-12-1880"
G
  • Adeline Gillman, signed at Ivesdale, Illinois, on October 26, 1880; "Your Sister". May's older half-sister Adeline (Johnson) Gillman, wife of James Gillman.
  • Minnie Gilman, signed on Ivesdale, Illinois, on October 25, 1880; "Your Loving Niece". Minnie Gillman [usually spelled with two "l"s], daughter of May's older half sister Adeline (Johnson) Gillman and her husband James Gillman.
  • I. M. Graham, or J. M. Graham
  • E. S. Green; presented the album to May Old Johnson on March 23, 1880
H
  • Mary Harmon, signed at Ivesdale, Illinois, on July 16, 1881
  • Mary Hatfield of Denver City, signed at Ivesdale, Illinois, on July 5 [no year written]
  • Alice Hawkes, signed at Chicago, Illinois, on September 28, 1880
  • Edy J. H., signed on December 22, 1882; presumably Edy J. Heyman who might have inscribed other pages.
  • Libby E. Heyman; shared the page with "Blondy & Tippy"; Ed Rothstein; E. J. Heyman; and May Ola Johnson, who wrote her name in the center of the page.
  • E. J. Heyman [possibly Edy J. Heyman]; shared the page with "Blondy & Tippy"; Libby E. Heyman; Ed Rothstein; and May Ola Johnson, who wrote her name in the center of the page.
J
  • May Old Johnson of Ivesdale, Illinois; album owner.  She wrote her name in the center of two group pages
L
  • Louis LePitre, signed at Chicago, Illinois, on September 17, 1880
  • H. A. Lively, signed "1/1/81"
P
  • Lydia E. Pinkham, signed on April 22, 1883
  • C. H. Pratt, signed at Ivesdale, Illinois, on February 1, 1881
R
  • Ed Rothstein; shared the page with "Blondy & Tippy"; Libby E. Heyman; E. J. Heyman; and May Ola Johnson, who wrote her name in the center of the page.
  • W. Russell of Welland, Ontario, Canada, signed in July 1882; shared the page with A. Stratton and May O. Johnson, who wrote her name in the center of the page entitled "The Three Orphans".
S
  • Robbie E. Slagle, signed at Sadorus, Illinois, on July 26, 1880. Robert E. Slagle
  • Mrs. O. W. Sprouse, signed at Ivesdale, Illinois, on February 16, 1881
  • Mamie E. Sprouse of Ivesdale, Illinois, signed on February 16, 1881
  • A. Stratton [who would become May's husband]; shared the page with W. Russell and May O. Johnson, who wrote her name in the center of the page entitled "The Three Orphans".
  • Written upside down: Andy Stratton, signed on June 27, 1882. Andy would become May's husband in 1891.  He inscribed another individual page as well, the last in the album.
T
  • W. M. Tuckwell of Ivesdale, Illinois, signed on "7/12/80"
  • W. H. Tyrrell, signed at Ivesdale, Illinois, on "5/8/82"
W
  • Ervin Withey, signed at Springfield, Illinois, on July 5, 1881; inscribed two pages
Ivesdale, Illinois


Thanks for stopping by!