Monday, April 18, 2016

1886 Autograph Album of William I. Smith of Strong, Maine; while Student at Farmington State Normal School, Farmington, Maine


Autograph album started in 1886 by William Irving Smith, "Will", of Strong, Maine, with most inscriptions from his student years at Farmington State Normal School at Farmington, Maine.  The institution is now known as the University of Maine Farmington.

See another post that deals with Will's autograph album started in his senior year, 1888, at Farmington State Normal School.  Many people inscribed pages in both albums.

From the 1886 album:


The 1886 album measures approximately 6-3/4" by 4-1/4" and contains the sentiments of 49 of Will's friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appear at the end of this post.


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

William Irving Smith, or William Irvin Smith, "Will", was born April 9, 1867 at Phillips, Maine, the son of Andrew Fuller Smith and Harriet Angeline (Goding) Smith.   I'm not sure if Will taught school after graduating from Farmington State Normal School, but by the time of the 1900 Census, he had become a manufacturer, perhaps the novelty mill where he had a stook fitter, as described in the 1930 Census.

I believe he married twice: 1) Clarinda Hoyt, whom he married on August 21, 1897 at Strong, Maine and with whom he had a daughter Alice, who would marry George Harrison Beal in 1914; and 2) Arvilla Frances (Bean) Cox Goldsmith, whom he married about 1925.

Will died in 1934 and is buried at the Strong Village Cemetery at Strong, Maine, with his first wife Clarinda.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  See the link in the second paragraph to view details on the autograph album Will started in his senior year at Farmington State Normal School.

Surnames in the Album


AAdamsGGreeneNNorton [2]
AtkinsonGreenleafNottage
BBadgerHHaleyPPickard
BakerHutchinsPorter
BeanJJordanPutnam
BesseyKKimballRRussell
BrackettKnowlesSSmall
ButlerLLewisSmith
CChildsLibbySpringer
CrimminsLincolnStudley
DDavisLocke [2]Sylvester [2]
DrummondLookTTurner [2]
DudleyMMallettWWade
DuntonMarble [2]Wheeler
FFullerMartinWing

Inscribers in the Album 

A
  • Mattie Y. Adams of Farmington, Maine, inscribed at Normal Hall at Farmington State Normal School in 1886
  • W. H. Atkinson of Brunswick, Maine, inscribed on December 11, 1887 at Farmington State Normal School.  William H. Atkinson, or Will H. Atkinson
B
  • Forrest H. Badger of Farmington, Maine, inscribed on April 17, 1888 at Farmington State Normal School
  • Frank H. Baker of Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts, inscribed on November 11, 1886.  Now Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
  • Annie W. Bean of China, Maine, inscribed on December 16, 1887 at Farmington State Normal School
  • Merton W. Bessey of Center Sidney, Maine, inscribed on December 13, 1887 at Farmington State Normal School; member of the Normal Orchestra
  • A. P. Brackett or O. P. Brackett or? of Farmington, Maine, inscribed on June 11, 1888 at Farmington State Normal School
  • A. K. Butler of Phillips, Maine, inscribed on April 14, 1888.  Presumably Amos K. Butler
C
  • Herman A. Childs of East Dixfield, Maine, inscribed at Farmington State Normal School in 1887
  • Lester A. Crimmins of Eastbrook, Maine, inscribed on May 25, 1888 at Farmington State Normal School
D
  • Mary L. Davis of New Portland, Maine, inscribed at Farmington, Maine, on January 30, 1886
  • Myra E. Drummond of Arrowsic, Maine, inscribed at Farmington, Maine, on November 12, 1886
  • George A. Dudley of West Farmington, Maine, inscribed at Farmington State Normal School; "One of the "Sleepy Fs'
  • Martha H. Dunton of Westport, Maine, inscribed at Farmington, Maine, on March 8, 1888
F
  • F. C. Fuller of East Union, Maine, inscribed at Farmington State Normal School in 1888.  Frank C. Fuller
G
  • Austin W. Greene of South Carthage, Maine, inscribed on December 24, 1887
  • C. P. Greenleaf of Mercer, Main,e, inscribed at Farmington State Normal School on April 14, 1888.  Presumably Charles P. Greenleaf
H
  • Jane Haley of Fort Fairfield, Maine, inscribed on January 9, 1886 at Farmington State Normal School
  • Juno F. Hutchins of Farmington, Maine, inscribed on January 17, 1888 at Farmington State Normal School
J
  • Llewellyn W. Jordan of Ellsworth, Maine, inscribed on May 25, 1888 at Farmington State Normal School
K
  • Etta F. Kimball of Harrison, Maine, inscribed on February 8, 1886 at Farmington State Normal School
  • Nettie M. Knowles of Chesterville, Maine, inscribed on April 18, 1888 at Farmington State Normal School
L
  • A. Lewis, inscribed during the Fall Term of 1887 at Farmington State Normal School.  Middle initial might be V.
  • Sara E. Libby of Richmond, Maine, inscribed on January 8, 1886 at Farmington State Normal School
  • Charles E. Lincoln of Farmington, Maine, inscribed on January 13, 1886 [or June]
  • Mrs. D. M. Locke of Farmington, Maine, inscribed on June 21, 1888.  Presumably Eliza M. (Bickford) Locke, wife of Daniel Mosher Locke and mother of inscriber Susie N. Locke
  • Susie N. Locke of Farmington, Maine, inscribed on June 9, 1888.  Daughter of inscriber Mrs. Daniel Mosher Locke - Eliza M. (Bickford) Locke. 
  • Written on the page upside down: D. S. Look of Farmington, Maine, inscribed on November 9, 1886.  Possibly teacher Dolly S. Look
M
  • W. G. Mallett of Topsham, Maine, inscribed on January 12, 1886.  Presumably Wilbert Grant Mallett, who also attended Bowdoin College
  • Hattie A. Marble of Farmington, Maine, inscribed on June 16, 1888
  • Lida J. Marble of Farmington, Maine, inscribed on June 16, 1888
  • Sidney D. Martin of Bremen, Maine, inscribed at Farmington, Maine, on December 10 [no year written]
N
  • James S. Norton of Farmington, Maine, inscribed on January 28, 1887
  • Lewis J. Norton of Farmington, Maine, inscribed during the Winter Term at Farmington State Normal School in 1886
  • F. C. Nottage of Farmington, Maine.  Fred C. Nottage
P
  • Arthur Pickard of Canterbury, New Hampshire, inscribed at Farmington State Normal School on December 13, 1887
  • Mary E. Porter of Strong, Maine, inscribed at Farmington, Maine, on January 23, 1886
  • J. A. Putnam of Peru, Maine, inscribed on November 9, 1886 at Farmington State Normal School.  Presumably Joseph A. Putnam
R
  • Asa R. Russell of Leeds, Maine, inscribed at Farmington, Maine, on May 25, 1888
S
  • F. O. Small of Madrid, Maine, inscribed at Farmington State Normal School on December 12, 1887.  Presumably Fred O. Small
  • Will I. Smith of Strong, Maine, album owner; student at Farmington State Normal School, Class of 1888.  William I. Smith
  • Nellie F. Springer of Yarmouthville, Main, inscribed at Normal Hall at Farmington State Normal School on February 8, 1886
  • S. F. Studley of Bremen, Maine, inscribed at Farmington State Normal School.  Perhaps Sylvester F. Studley
  • Laura M. Sylvester of Leeds, Maine; member of the Class of 1888 at Farmington State Normal School
  • Lucy M. Sylvester of Leeds, Maine, inscribed at Farmington State Normal School in March 1888
T
  • Addie A. Turner of St. Albans, Maine, inscribed at Farmington State Normal School on January 8, 1886
  • Frank F. Turner of St. Albans, Maine, inscribed at Farmington State Normal School on January 7, 1886
W
  • Carrie A. Wade of Athens, Main, inscribed at Farmington State Normal School on March 4, 1888
  • Sammie C. Wheeler of Chesterville, Maine, inscribed at Farmington State Normal School on December 13, 1887.  Samuel C. Wheeler

  • H. S. Wing of Phillips, Maine, inscribed on May 24, 1888 at Farmington State Normal School.  Possibly Herbert S. Wing

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