Sunday, November 27, 2016

Autograph Album of A. Elizabeth Withers, "Lizzie" of Lancaster, Pennsylvania or Strasburg, Pennsylvania


Autograph album presented to A. E. Withers in 1852 by her brother George.  I believe she was Ann Elizabeth Withers of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, or Strasburg, Pennsylvania.


The album measures approximately  9-1/4" by 7-1/2" and contains nearly 50 sentiments, with some of them multiple sentiments inscribed by the same person.  An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they left, appears at the end of this post.

From brief online research, hopefully correct and hopefully with the correct A. E. Withers, sister of George:

Ann Elizabeth Withers, "Lizzie", was born about 1834 at Strasburg Township, Pennssylvania, daughter of George B. Withers and Elizabeth (Metzger) Withers.  Among Lizzie's siblings was Dr. George W. Withers, born July 25, 1831.  Dr. Withers served in the Civil War and died January 12, 1870.

The first inscriber in the album, Michael, who inscribed a page at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on August 20, 1857, may have been Lizzie's brother, Dr. Michael H. Withers (1832-1888).


I wonder if the Kate W., who inscribed a page at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 1854, could have been Lizzie's younger sister Catherine J. Withers.  Another inscriber, who inscribed a page as "Coz" at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on August 30, 1855, noted a cousin relationship with Lizzie.

Ann Elizabeth Withers never married; she died in 1922 and is buried with family members in the Woodward Hill Cemetery at Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  She never married.

The most interesting page in the album was that inscribed by Sue Musser or Masser, who tucked a lock of hair in her page.  It's possible, however, that at some point over the years the lock of hair came loose and was then placed back in the album randomly.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or an alternative identify for A. E. Withers, or information on any of the inscribers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Surnames in the Album
  • Barr
  • Buckwalter
  • Conover
  • Frantz
  • McElroy
  • Musser or Masser
  • Withers
List of Inscribers in Alpha Order - with any surnames in bold

? Surname
  • Michael, inscribed at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on August 20, 1857; could he be Lizzie's brother Dr. Michael M. Withers (1832-1888)?
  • Rachel, inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on September 20, 1853
  • Sallie
  • Anna near Strasburg, inscribed on September 24, 1853
  • Sue of Brook Mead, inscribed at Strasburg Town, Pennsylvania, on October 1, 1858
  • Emma, inscribed at Alianthus Bower, on June 2, 1855
  • Louisa
  • Warren, inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on April 14, 1852
  • Naomi, inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on September 12, 1853
  • Fannie
  • Inscribed "To my Cousin" by Coz, at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on August 30, 1855
  • Adeline, inscribed at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on May 19, 1854
  • Alice, inscribed at Strasburg Township, Pennsylvania, on September 18, 1853
  • M., inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on September 24, 1853
  • S., inscribed on September 26, 1858
  • Keziah, inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on September 13, 1853
  • Kate, inscribed at Rose Vale, on March 22, 1857
  • Sue, inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on September 24, 1853
  • Fannie, inscribed at Willow Spring
  • Lizzie, inscribed at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on August 15, no year written
  • Stevenson, inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, in January 1856
  • Sallie near Lancaster, Pennsylvania
  • Initials, possibly J. F. B., inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 1854
  • Mary, inscribed at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on June 5, 1854; could she be Lizzie's sister Mary C. Withers?
  • Hugo, inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, in April 1856
  • Mollie, inscribed at Rose Vale, on March 23, 1857
  • Louisa, inscribed at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on May 11, 1854
  • Dominie, inscribed on April 10, 1856
  • Sallie, inscribed at Willow Spring
  • Annie - "I would not be forgotten"
  • Extempose
  • Initials A. W. A. or A. M. A. or ?, inscribed at Rosedale on November 10, 1856
  • Salome B., inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on April 11, 1854
  • D. B., Jr., inscribed at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on June 18, 1854
  • Hal B., inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 1854.  In pencil beneath Hal's name: "Never nos ang hies" ??
  • D. Miller Barr, inscribed at Valley Spring on October 12, 1855.  Possibly Dr. David Miller Barr (1836-1918), son of Martin and Susan (Miller) Barr and husband of Susannah Larsh (Dickson) Barr; in 1884 he founded the Ocean Grove Hygienic Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • G. L. Buckwalter or G. S. Buckwalter, inscribed at East Lampeter, Pennsylvania, in May 1856.  Presumably George L. Buckwalter (1831-1927) of Lampeter and Lancaster, Pennsylvania
  • Sallie C. ?, possibly Sallie C. W., inscribed at Philadelphia in August 1855
  • I. E. Conover, or J. E. Conover,  or ? E. Conover, inscribed at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on February 15, 1855.
  • I. H. Frantz, or J. H. Frantz or P. H. Frantz, inscribed in Baltimore Co. on August 25, 1856
  • A. M. H?, inscribed at Rosedale, Pennsylvania, in December 1856
  • S. L. M., inscribed at Pinegrove,  Pennsylvania, in Venango County, on September 29, 1855
  • C. M., inscribed at Lampeter, Pennsylvania, on November 7, 1855
  • Cassie McElroy, inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on September 232, 1853
  • Sue Musser or Sue Masser.   There is a lock of hair tucked in this page, hopefully Sue's and not placed in the album randomly
  • Mary E. S., inscribed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 2, 1865
  • R. W. S., inscribed at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on August 8, 1854
  • Kate W., inscribed at Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 1854
  • A. Elizabeth Withers, "Lizzie", of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, album owner
  • George Withers, Lizzie's brother, who presented the album to her in 1852

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