Monday, February 9, 2015

1879-1880s Autograph Album of Elizabeth Ann Dockham, "Lizzie", of Little Falls, New York


1879-1880s autograph album that belonged to Elizabeth Ann Dockham, "Lizzie", of Little Falls, New York.  Inscribers came from three main areas: Little Falls, New York; Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire; North Woburn, Massachusetts.


The "Album of the Heart, which was published by Leavitt & Allen of New York, measures approximately 8-1/4" by 6-3/4" and contains the sentiments of nearly 80 of Lizzie'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.

The album also contains five engravings interspersed throughout.  Below are the frontispiece and the title page.



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

Elizabeth Ann Dockham, "Lizzie", was born September 15, 1852 at Belmont, New Hampshire, the daughter of Nathaniel Harrison Dockham and Nancy S. (Folsom) Dockham.  Lizzie tucked her father's obituary in th album.


Little Falls, April 24 - At St. Marys
[line of type must have been omitted by mistake]
son Dockham died last night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. A. N. Mitchell, after a two months' illness from heart disease.  Mr. Dockham was born in Gilmanton, N.H. 80 years ago.  In 1866 he came to Little Falls and for about eighteen years was superintendent of the tannery, then conducted by Gilbert & Wicks.  He returned to GIlmanton and again came to this city about three years ago.  Two daughters, Mrs. Mitchell and Miss Elizabeth Dockham, both of this city; two sons, Fred and Herbert Dockham of Woburn, Mass., and one brother, Charles A. Dockham, of Gilmanton, N.H., survive.  The funeral has not been arranged.

Lizzie had, I believe, five siblings, all younger than she; James Russell Dockham; Herbert Horatio Dockham; Hannabelle Dockham, "Belle"; Frederick Dockham; and Frank Dockham.  Sister Belle inscribed a page at Little Falls, New York, on January 2, 1879.  Not long after that, Belle married Albert Mitchell.


Sometime during the 1870s, Lizzie's family moved from New Hampshire to New York.  It appears that Lizzie never married.  She made her home at Little Falls, New York, with her sister Belle's family and was 78 years old at the time of enumeration of the 1930 Census.  I don't have Lizzie's death date.

Other relatives who expressed a family relationship:  - [There are likely more who did not do so.]
  • D. S. Dockham of Farmington, New Hampshire, who was likely David S. Dockham, a brother to Lizzie's father
  • Charles A. Dockham of Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire; a brother to Lizzie's father
There's a handwritten draft by B. S. of an obituary for Sarah (Hobson) Lancaster, who died at Utica, New York, on July 28, 1883, at the age of 25.  Sarah, wife of Harry Lancaster, was the first daughter of Joseph L. and Frances Hobson.  Sarah inscribed a page in Lizzie's album on August 13, 1880, before her marriage.




Lancaster - Entered into rest during the evening of July 28, 1883, Sarah A. Hobson, wife of Harry Lancaster and first daughter of Joseph L. and Frances Hobson, in the 25th year of her age.  Many hearts in Utica are deeply shadowed by the death of Mrs. Harry Lancaster, so early stricken down in the midst of her lovely youth, closing the first months of her wedded life [?] St. Luke's Memorial Church, her place cannot be filled.  A devout communicant at the Altar; a faithful teacher in the S.S.; a member of the choir, she was always loyal and true to Christ the Master in all her works. Naturally gifted with great personal beauty and those amiable traits of mind and heart which are attractive to all.  She had only friends and no enemies.  Always ready to help and to minister to her own family and all who came within her circle.  She has left behind her works which will guard her memory fresh and green in many a true heart.  Life was very bright for her and all the future fair.  But her dream of earthly happiness was soon absorbed in a fatal and rapid disease.  Cheerful in her sickness, patient under great distress, she was perfected by suffering and met death at last without a shrinking fear  [The sentence has a few words that were crossed out.], gladly going home into the Waiting church of Paradise.  Home to the Angel Laud, home where no shadows fall.  Home to the golden strand.  Home to the Monarch Hall.  Home from all risk of harm.  Home to the Land of Rest.  Home to the Father's arms.  Home to the Saviour's breast.  We asked life for her, and Thou, O God, has given her long life ever, forever and ever.  B.S.

One page has a cute sketch of two owls labeled "We are from the Owl'd Country".  I can't quite make out the name at the bottom of the page; it might have been sketched by someone from the factory that her father managed.


Surnames in the Album

? [7]DHMT
ADockham [4]HallMarion [3]Taylor [3]
AndersonEHatch [2]PTebbetts [2]
BEaton [4]HobsonPeck [6]V
BarberEdgerly [2]HolmesRVaughan
BlanchardFHumphrey [2]RadwayW
Bond [3]Francis [2]KRichmondWaters
BrownGKelleyRoeWhite
CGardnerKilbornSY
Coote [2]GoodwinLSelcerYoung
CrawleyGrangerL ?Shannon [2]
CurrieGreely [2]Smith [2]

Signers in the Album       [Given names within a specific surname might not be in alphabetical order.]
  • Paper pasted on inside front cover with a sentiment from Albert to Lizzie; he drew an intricate bird design.
  • ? of Gloversville, New York, signed on January 31, 1888 [not sure of year]. Name is in code.
  • Samuel ? of Tioga Centre, New York, signed on October 13, 1884. Possibly Samuel C. Gradyen or Samuel LeGradyen
  • Dick
  • Agents for Morse & ?, signed on March 4, 1883
  • Abbie; shared the page with Cynthia M. Edgerly.
  • Anna, signed at Little Falls, New York, on June 21 [no year written]
A
  • Genevieve Anderson, signed at Little Falls, New York, on September 9, 1879
B
  • Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Barber, signed at Little Falls, New York, on November 22, 1881
  • Albert Blanchard of Chelsea, Massachusetts, signed at Little Falls, New York, on December 11, 1878. He wrote reminiscences in the corners.
  • Lewis F. Bond, signed at North Woburn, Massachusetts on April 28, 1878
  • Daniel Bond, signed at North Woburn, Massachusetts,m on April 28, 1878. Presumably the Daniel W. Bond whose wife Martha (Eaton) Bond inscribed the right facing page.
  • Mrs. D. W. Bond of North Woburn, Massachusetts, signed on April 28, 1878. Presumably Martha (Eaton) Bond, whose husband Daniel W. Bond inscribed the left facing page.
  • Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Brown of Little Falls, New York
C
  • James Coote, signed at Little Falls, New York, on April 6, 1885
  • G. Coote, or J. Coote, of Little Falls, New York, signed on April 12, 1885
  • Emma J. Crawley, signed at Little Falls, New York, on December 15, 1878
  • Maggie Currie, signed at Little Falls, New York, on July 15, 1880
D
  • Miss Lizzie A. Dockham of Little Falls, New York, signed on January 1, 1879; album owner. Page decorated with a bird sketch, perhaps by Lizzie herself.
  • D. S. Dockham of Farmington, New Hampshire. Presumably David S. Dockham, brother of Lizzie's father Nathaniel Harrison Dockham.
  • Charles A. Dockham of Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire, signed on March 5, 1878. A brother to Lizzie's father Nathaniel Harrison Dockham.
  • Belle Dockham of Little Falls, New York, signed on January 2, 1879. Lizzie's sister Hannabelle Dockham.
E
  • James E. Eaton of North Woburn, Massachusetts, signed on April 29, 1878
  • Mrs. N. M. Eaton, signed on April 28, 1878
  • Charles E. Eaton of North Woburn, Massachusetts, signed on April 28, 1878
  • Edwin Eaton of North Woburn, Massachusetts
  • Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Edgerly of Farmington, New Hampshire
  • Cynthia M. Edgerly; shared the page with Abbie.
F
  • Ida E. Francis, signed at Swampscott, Massachusetts, on April 10, 1878
  • Mr. and Mrs. William A. Francis of Swampscott, Massachusetts. Presumably druggist William A. Francis and wife Julia.
G
  • F. J. Gardner of Tioga Centre, New York
  • Josiah S. Goodwin of Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire, signed on March 5, 1878
  • Oscar Granger of Tioga Centre, New York, signed on October 13, 1884
  • C. W. Greely of North Woburn, Massachusetts
  • R. Greely of North Woburn, Massachusetts
H
  • Maggie M. Hall of Hallsville, New York, signed on July 12, 1880
  • Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Hatch of Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire, signed on March 1, 1878. Presumably Charles A. Hatch and wife Eliza A. (Whittier) Hatch
  • Edwin C. Hatch of Gilmanton Iron Works, signed on March 1, 1878
  • Sarah Hobson, signed at Utica, New York, on August 13, 1880.  There's a handwritten obituary for Sarah tucked in the album, according to which, she was the first daughter of Joseph and Frances Dobson.  At the time of her death, on July 28, 1883, she was 25 years old and was the wife of Harry Lancaster.
  • Lizzie L. Holmes of Little Falls, New York, signed on June 24, 1880
  • J. S. Humphrey, signed at Little Falls, New York, on March 8, 1879.  Shared the page with E. J. Humphrey.
  • E. J. Humphrey, signed on March 8, 1879.  Shared the page with J. S. Humphrey.
K
  • John N. Kelley of North Woburn, Massachusetts
  • Burton Kilborn, signed at Little Falls, New York, on August 23, 1879
L
  • Effie L., signed at Fort Plain
M
  • E. T. Marion of North Woburn, Massachusetts, signed on April 26, 1878. Edwin T. Marion; shared the page with his wife Affa Maragaret (Bond) Marion
  • Affa M. Marion; Affa Margaret (Bond) Marion, wife of Edwin T. Marion; shared the page with her husband Edwin T. Marion
  • Charles Q. Marion, signed at North Woburn, Massachusetts, on April 26, 1878; his parents Edwin T. Marion and Affa Margaret (Bond) Marion inscribed the left facing page.
P
  • Allie T. Peck, presumably Albert Taylor Peck, who inscribed the facing page with his wife Grace A. (Bushnell) Peck. 
  • Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Peck of Peckville, New York, signed on January 29, 1880. Albert T. Peck and Grace A. (Bushnell) Peck
  • Mr. and Mrs. J. Francis Peck, signed at Pecks Mills, New York, on January 29, 1880
  • Mrs. John Peck of Gloversville, New York, signed on January 31, 1880
  • Etta Peck of Gloversville, New York, signed on January 30, 1880
  • Miss Ella Peck of Johnstown, New York, signed on February 7, 1880
R
  • Mrs. George Radway of Swampscott, Massachusetts
  • Cora L. Richmond of Knoxboro, New York, signed on August 10, 1880
  • Nettie Roe, signed on April 6, 1880
S
  • Kate A. Selcer of Little Falls, New York, signed on May 4, 1879
  • Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Shannon; George Edwin Shannon and wife Addie C. (Smith) Shannon.  Shared the page with their son Winnie, Winfield Scott Shannon.
  • Winnie S. Shannon of Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire, signed on March 6, 1878. Winfield Scott Shannon, son of George Edwin Shannon and wife Addie C. (Smith) Shannon.  Shared the page with his parents, George Edwin Shannon and Addie C. (Smith) Shannon.
  • Charlie E. Smith of Little Falls, New York, signed on August 20, 1879
  • Cora E. Smith of "Maplewood", New York, signed on October 23, 1884
T
  • Mrs. G. R. Taylor, or Mrs. J. R. Taylor, of Tioga Centre, New York, signed on November 5, 1884
  • S. A. Taylor, A.M.U.?, Graduate of McGill University at Montreal, Quebec, Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
  • J. R. Taylor of Tioga Centre, New York, signed on September 28, 1884
  • Frank G. Tebbets of Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire, signed on March 4, 1878
  • Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Tebbetts of GIlmanton Iron Works, signed on March 1, 1878. Presumably Charles G. Tebbetts and wife Harriet Adelaide (Dudley) Tebbetts
V
  • Emma J. Vaughan, signed at Little Falls, New York, on March 9, 1881
W
  • Libbie Waters, signed at Little Falls, New York, on November 27, 1879, "Thanksgiving Morning"
  • Willie W. White of Woburn, Massachusetts, signed at Little Falls, New York, on December 12, 1878
Y
  • Warren Young of Scituate, Massachusetts
Little Falls, New York; Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire; North Woburn, Massachusetts


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