1870s autograph album that belonged to "Belle", who was presumably a student at Skowhegan High School at Skowhegan, Maine, possibly in the Class of 1876 or earlier.
The album is unusual in that all of the inscriptions are written upside down, and as if the back cover were the front. Because of that, it's possible that the inscriber on the last end paper of the album might be the album's owner, Belle Parlin of Bingham, Maine, who dated her page April 3, 1873.
Surnames in the Album
The album measures approximately 5-1/4" by 3-1/4" and contains the sentiments of nearly 70 of Belle's relatives, friends and schoolmates. An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.
From brief online research and assuming that Belle Parlin was the album's owner - corrections and additions and alternate theories of Belle's identity requested:
According to a record in the Maine, Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, ca 1780-1980, Isabella Parlin, "Belle", was born April 24, 1856 and died June 21, 1923, with the married surname of Williams. I believe Belle was born at Concord, Maine, the daughter of Ephraim Wood Parlin and Eveline (Leadbetter) Parlin. See another post that features an 1864 document where Charles Grant sold livestock to Ephraim W. Parlin.
Belle had a sister, Helen R. Parlin, who inscribed a page in the album, on the page before [or after, using the strange format] her sister Belle. Sadly, Helen died in 1879; she was then the wife of Dr. Fred G. Williams, a native of Athens, Maine.
Belle married her sister's widower, Dr. Fred G. Williams, at Pleasant Ridge Plantation, Maine, on October 11, 1881. Fred died on July 14, 1916 and is buried in the Village Cemetery at Bingham, Maine, with Nellie and Belle. I'm not sure if Dr. Williams had children with either of his wives.
If you have additions and/or corrections, or an alternate theory as to the identity of album owner "Belle", or information on any of the inscribers listed below, please leave a comment for the benefit of fellow researchers.
Inscribers in the Album
- A.; inscribed the inside front cover
- Jennie L. Allen of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 4, 1873
- Agusta L. Badger of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 7, 1873
- Hattie I. Baker of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 7, 1873
- Martha A. Bicknell; inscribed at Skowhegan High School at Skowhegan, Maine, on April 4, 1873
- Annie L. Bigelow of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 4, 1873
- C. L. Billings; inscribed at Skowhegan, Maine, on April 4, 1873
- Joseph Blaisdell of Box 419, Great Falls, New Hampshire
- Mrs. Uriah Blaisdell of Great Falls, New Hampshire
- Fannie A. Brainard of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 7, 1873
- W. H. Brownson of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- Charles Buck of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on February 8, 1876
- Marcella Buzzelle of Canaan, Maine; inscribed on April 4, 1873
- C. E. Clement; inscribed at Skowhegan, Maine, on April 9, 1873
- Carroll E. Colby of Bingham, Maine; inscribed on November 21, 1878
- Martha F. Cushing of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 7, 1873
- F. B. Cushing of Skowhegan, Maine; member of the Skowhegan High School Class of 1876
- Frank M. Eastman; inscribed at Skowhegan High School at Skowhegan, Maine
- Miss Fannie P. Emery of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- Annie M. Estes of Skowhegan, Maine
- Annie P. Field of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- Jesse P. Fogg of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on March 3, 1873 at Skowhegan High School
- Alice E. Foss of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on February 22, 1876
- Minnie P. Fuller of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873. Not sure of middle initial
- Harry N. Haynes; inscribed on April 14, 1873. Belle's cousin
- Florence Haynes; inscribed on April 3, 1873. Can't read her first initial.
- Ella M. Hight of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- E. M. Holbrook; inscribed at Skowhegan High School at Skowhegan, Maine
- M. Belle Holt; inscribed on February 29, 1876
- Ella P. Homsted of Skowhegan, Maine
- Cynthia L. Hutchins of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed at Skowhegan High School on January 24, 1876
- M. Belle Jacobs of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on February 27, 1876; Belle's schoolmate at Skowhegan High School
- Maida A. Jacobs; inscribed at Skowhegan High School at Skowhegan, Maine
- Cora Johnson of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on February 21, 1876
- W. G. Mann of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- John R. McClellan of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- George A. McIntire of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed at Skowhegan High School on April 4, 1873
- Kezzie A. Monroe of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on February 29, 1876
- Georgie A. Murphy of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on January 19, 1876
- Lillie A. Murphy of Skowhegan, Maine
- George L. Parker of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- Belle Parlin of Bingham, Maine; inscribed at Skowhegan High School at Skowhegan, Maine; on April 3, 1873. Possible album owner, if she started the album upside down from the back and had all of her inscribers follow her that way. Isabelle Parlin, "Belle"
- Helen R. Parlin of Bingham, Maine
- Stephen F. Parlin of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 4, 1873. "Remember the spring term of 1873. S.P."
- W. A. Paul of Solon, Maine; inscribed at Skowhegan High School at Skowhegan, Maine, on April 4, 1873
- Carrie F. Philbrick of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- Etta C. Pierce of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on January 13, 1876
- B. F. Shattuck; inscribed at Skowhegan, Maine, on April 11, 1873; bird design
- Flora B. Shirley of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- S. F. Smiley of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- J. N. Smith of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on February 29, 1876
- Alice M. Steward of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed at Skowhegan High School on April 3, 1873
- Frank Steward of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 4, 1873
- Jefferson Taylor of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed at Skowhegan High School on March 3, 1876
- Ella E. Tenney of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- Lillie M. Tilton of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on January 19, 1876
- Rose M. Varney of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 6, 1872; Belle's schoolmate
- Emily S. Varney of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- Annie B. Ward of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on January 26, 1876. Member of the "Geography Class" of '76
- G. T. Waterman of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- Lizzie R. Webb of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873; Belle's schoolmate
- Carrie M. Weston of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- C. F. Weston of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- Delia A. Weston of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 3, 1873
- Lizzie M. Whitney of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 4, 1873
- Lillie M. Whittier of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on January 24, 1876
- Ella C. Young of Skowhegan, Maine; inscribed on April 7, 1873
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