Monday, December 31, 2012

1870s/1880s Autograph Album of Charlotte Melissia Gibson of Hillsboro, New Hampshire


1870s/1880s autograph album of Charlotte Melissia Gibson of Hillsboro, New Hampshire.



The album is approximately 5" x 3" and contains 47 pages signed by Charlotte herself, her relatives and friends.  An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.



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

Charlotte Melissia Gibson was born about about March 1863 at Hillsboro, New Hampshire, the daughter, according to her marriage and death records, of Samuel O. and Ellen (Brown) Gibson.  However, Samuel and Ellen were not married until 3 May 1868.

Ellen (Brown) Gibson had previously been married to Charles A. McQuesten.  Assuming my research is correct, they were divorced, as Charles A. McQuesten lived until 1892, but I could have the wrong Mr. McQuesten.

I haven't worked out yet if Charlotte Melissia Gibson was the daughter of Ellen (Brown) and Charles A. McQuesten, and subsequently adopted by Samuel O. Gibson, or the daughter of Samuel O. Gibson and a previous wife, or the daughter of Ellen and another man, or the daughter of other people as yet unknown.   If you can solve this mystery, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!

The parents of Samuel O. Gibson were Samuel and Silvesta (George) Gibson.  The parents of Ellen (Brown) McQuesten Gibson were William and Mary (Atwood) Brown.

On 6 June 1882, Charlotte Melissia Gibson married Leonard Paige White, son of Lawson and Caroline (Gould) White.

They had at least two children, Morris G. White and Charles A. White.  Charlotte's son Charles A. White makes me wonder if he was named after Charles A. McQuesten.  Leonard worked at lumbering and farming.  Leonard died in 1939 and Charlotte in 1943.

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

Leonard signed at least one of the pages in Charlotte's album on 15 March 1877.  He may have signed another page as L. P. White on 16 March 1877.





Leonard's sister, Mary S. White of Antrim, New Hampshire signed a page in Charlotte's album.



Leonard's sister, Ellen F. (White) Lovering of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, signed a page.



Two people with the surname Brown signed pages in 1877.  Perhaps they were related to Ellen (Brown) McQuesten Gibson.  Anna E. Brown and Lilla Brown signed pages in 1877.






Three siblings, Walter C. Gibson, Katie L. Gibson and Lottie M. Gibson, signed pages in 1876.  They were the children of Charles and Emily C. (Barnes) Gibson of Hillsboro, New Hampshire.  







Charlotte's teacher, L. S. Patten, signed a page.  She may have been Laura S. Patten.



Below are images of pages signed by people whose names I can't quite make out.  Hopefully a reader will have an eagle eye or recognize a possibility from family research.

The signer below appears to be Charlie G. Barter, but I'm not sure of the middle initial or the surname.  Charlie signed his or her page at Washington, New Hampshire.



H. S. Dick signed the page, shown below, at Bethlehem, New Hampshire.  Again, I'm not sure of his middle initial and surname.



The name on the page below appears to be Sophia McAdams of Hillsboro, New Hampshire, but I'm not sure of her surname.



The page below has me befuddled.



Alphabetical list of signers: [Note: Given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]


  • Nell, Charlotte's friend.  The date of 21 July 1881 may have been the date of signing or may have been a date Nell wanted Charlotte to remember: "Remember the treat"
  • Charlie Barter, signed at Washington, New Hampshire.  Not sure of surname and can't read middle initial - might be J
  • Cora M. Blanchard of Hillsboro Lower Village, New Hampshire, signed 25 December 1877
  • Cora, last name not used; possibly the Cora M. Blanchard who signed the previous page
  • Anna E. Brown, signed 7 April 1877
  • Lilla Brown, signed on 7 April 1877
  • Ellen M. Bumford of Bradford, New Hampshire
  • Mrs. Nettie M. Carter of Antrim, New Hampshire, signed at Riverside Farm on 5 March 1891
  • Ismay M. Carter of Riverside Farm, New Hampshire, signed 2 March 1891
  • Nancie M. Chase of Contoocook, New Hampshire, signed 18 February 1880
  • Alice M. Collins of Hillsboro, New Hampshire, signed on 19 January 1877
  • Lizzie F. Crooker, signed at Hillsboro, New Hampshire on 22 June 1877
  • Lucy M. Crooker of Hillsboro, New Hampshire, signed 22 June 1877
  • Hattie G. Crooker, signed at Hillsboro, New Hampshire, on 22 June 1877
  • Hattie Dutton of Melrose, Massachusetts, signed at Hillsboro, New Hampshire, on 20 June, 1877
  • Mary E. Farrah
  • Jennie M. Farrah of Hillsboro Bridge, New Hampshire, signed on 7 June 1881
  • Charlotte M. Gibson of Hillsboro, New Hampshire; album owner
  • Walter C. Gibson; sister of signers, Lottie M. Gibson and Kate L. Gibson; their parents were Charles and Emily C. (Barnes) Gibson of Hillsboro, New Hampshire
  • Kate L. Gibson, signed 26 December 1876.  Sister of signers Walter C. Gibson and Lottie M. Gibson.  Their parents were Charles and Emily C. (Barnes) Gibson of Hillsboro, New Hampshire
  • Lottie M. Gibson, signed 26 December 1876, sister of Walter C. Gibson and Kate L. Gibson.  Their parents were Charles and Emily C. (Barnes) Gibson of Hillsboro, New Hampshire
  • Carrie I. Grace of Hillsboro Bridge, New Hampshire, signed in April 1882
  • Lettie Hale of North Sanbornton, New Hampshire
  • Julia A. Hall of Bradford, New Hampshire
  • Rette J. Hoyt of Hillsboro, New Hampshire.  Possibly Oretta J. (Dick) Hoyt, wife of Moses Hoyt
  • Bertie Loveren of Hillsboro Bridge, New Hampshire, signed on 13 November 1887
  • Ellen F. Lovering of Hillsborough, New Hampshire
  • D. S. Marshall, signed on 28 November 1877
  • Sophia McAdams of Hillsboro, New Hampshire
  • Mary M. Nelson of Hillsboro Bridge, New Hampshire, signed 26 January 1880
  • Nell T. Ordway of Hillsborough, New Hampshire; (she turned the page upside down to write)
  • Minerva M. Patten of Henniker, New Hampshire
  • L. S. Patten, Charlotte's teacher.  Perhaps Laura S. Patten?
  • Jennie Prichard, 22 July 1881
  • Nancy A. Smith of Hillsboro, New Hampshire
  • Clara M. Spaulding, signed 28 December 1876
  • Maggie Sullivan, signed at Hillsboro Bridge on 15 January 1880
  • Mamie Sullivan of Hillsboro Bridge, New Hampshire, signed on 19 January 1880
  • George H. Travis of Hillsboro, New Hampshire
  • Charlie T. Travis, signed at Hillsboro, New Hampshire, on 21 January 1877
  • Mary Whitaker of Hillsborough, New Hampshire; middle initial could be U or V
  • Mary S. White of Antrim, New Hampshire
  • L. P. White, signed 16 March 1877.  This may have been Leonard P. White, whom Charlotte M. Gibson married on 6 June 1882 at Antrim, New Hampshire.  Leonard P. White signed another page.
  • Leonard P. White of Antrim, New Hmapshire, signed on 15 March, 1877.  He would become the husband of Charlotte M. Gibson at Antrim on 6 June 1882.  He may have signed another page, as L. P. White.
  • Edgar M. Wilkins
  • Sarah Wilkins
  • E. Yatten of Hillsboro Bridge, New Hampshire, signed 1 October 1880
Hillsboro, New Hampshire


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Saturday, December 29, 2012

1870s Autograph Album of Georgia M. Bowen of Newton, Massachusetts


Note: Be sure to check the comments section for the results of a reader's research into Georgia M. Bowen.

1870s autograph album that, according to the seller, belonged to a Georgia M. Bowen.  The seller, back in 2006, indicated that other items that belonged to Georgia had previously been sold, so perhaps those items gave better clues to Georgia's identity. 

The inside front cover gives the owner's name as G. M. Bowen, and one page is inscribed to "Georgie".    The album is approximately 4"x 2" and contains 47 pages signed by Georgia herself and many youngsters who may have been her students or schoolmates.  A complete list of the signers appears at the end of this post.



 I haven't yet found a paper trail for a G. M. Bowen that fits the bill.     
One intriguing possibility is Georgianna Bowen, born 1859 at Roxbury, Massachusetts, who married Dr. Charles Francis Withington.  Her parents were Stephen and Georgia Anna (Richmond) Bowen.  Dr. and Mrs. Withington were an influential couple in the Boston area.  I haven't found a record, however, that shows a middle initial at all, let alone M., except after her marriage when she used B.

See a likely prospect for Georgia M. Bowen in the comments section, with research supplied by reader Ed.

One of the signers in the album was surnamed Bowen: Harry H. Bowen, who may have been the son of Ira A. and Caroline (Howard) Bowen.  For some reason, his name shows as Harry A. Stevens in the 1880 Census of Newton, Massachusetts, but later records show Bowen.  Whether the Census was in error, or Harry was adopted by Ira A. Bowen, and used the surnames Bowen and Stevens interchangeably, I don't know.



  Ira A. Bowen was a merchant in the Boston area, who is mentioned in the snippet, below, from the 1889 Illustrated Boston, Metropolis of New England:



Whether Georgia is related to this family or not, I don't know, but it seems a possibility.

Most of the signers in the album were around the ages of 10-13.  If the signer didn't leave a date, someone, Georgie presumably, wrote the date on the page in the upper right corner.   For this reason, it appears that Georgia may have been their teacher or a fellow student.  In a few instances, Georgie included years that a signer died or was married.

One signer gave the name of her school as the Harris School at Boston.  This was Bertha A. Gould, who was age 7 in 1878 when she signed her page.



Many signers gave their residence as Newton Highlands or Newton Centre or Boston.

Included in the album is a beautiful calling card sized piece bearing the name of N. Maria Henson.



Many scraps decorate pages throughout.  Here are some examples.



If you have a theory as to the identity of G. M. Bowen, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!

Alphabetical list of signers: [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]


  • Alice Andrews
  • Hattie B., signed at Boston, Massachusetts; age 12.  Written in upper right corner, apparently by the album owner: 1878
  • Willie F. Bedford of Concord, New Hampshire, age 8-1/2.  Written in upper right corner, apparently by album owner: 1878
  • Eddie Bent of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, 1877; age 12
  • Name could be Bertie Blake of Contoocook, New Hampshire, age 6.  Written in upper right corner, apparently by the album owner: 1878
  • Anna Blethen of Newton Centre, Massachusetts.  Written in upper right corner apparently by album owner: 1878
  • G. M. Bowen of Newton, Massachusetts, 1876; album owner.  One signer inscribed her page to "Georgie"
  • Harry H. Bowen, 1878; age 10
  • Harry Clay of Dorchester, Massachusetts, age 6-1/2.  Written in  upper right corner, apparently by the album owner: 1878
  • Alice G. Colburn of Newton, Massachusetts, age 7.  Written in upper right corner, apparently by album owner: 1878
  • Ida F. Cowan of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, age 14 years.  Written in upper right corner, apparently by the album owner: 1878
  • Inez P. Cowan of Newton, Massachusetts, age 9
  • Mabel G. Curtis of Newton Centre, Massachusetts, age 10.  Written in upper right corner, apparently by the album owner: 1876 
  • Emma E. Dunbar of Newton Centre, Massachusetts, 1877; age 13
  • Bertha A. Gould, signed at the Harris School, at Boston, Massachusetts, in 1878; age 7 years
  • Charlotte Graham of Fort Warren [I assume the fort that is at the entrance to the harbor of Boston, Massachusetts], age 14, written in ink.  Written in corners, apparently by the album owner: 1877 and "Died 1888"
  • Bernice Hanson of North ?, age 2
  • Fred W. Hatch of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, 1877; age 14
  • Mary C. Hazelton of Newton Centre, Massachusetts, 1876; age 13
  • N. Marie Henson.  Not a page in the autograph album but on a card that was tucked inside.
  • Lizzie Holden of Newton Centre, Massachusetts, age 10.  Written in upper right corner, apparently by the album owner: 1877
  • Adelle Houston of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, age 13.  Written in pencil in two corners, apparently by album owner: "Married 1883" and "1876"
  • Grace Howes of Newton Centre, Massachusetts, age 10.  Written in upper right corner, apparently by the album owner: 1877
  • Willie H. Jepson of Newton Centre, Massachusetts, 1877; age 13-1/2
  • Mabelle C. Knight of Dorchester, Massachusetts, 1878; age 7
  • Olive E. Knowles of Newton Centre, Massachusetts, 1877; age 12
  • May Lapworth of Boston, Massachusetts, 1880; age 11
  • Nettie S. Lapworth of Centre St., 1879; age 13
  • Emma Linscott of North Newcastle, Maine, 1876; age 15
  • Lillie J. Manson of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts; age 11
  • Sadie E. McCormick of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, 1877; age 11
  • Walter Norman of Boston, Massachusetts, 1878; age 12.  Image enhanced for legibility
  • Jennie Norton of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, 1878; age 8.  Perhaps a sister to signer Mary Norton, also of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts
  • Mary Norton of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, 1878; age 9.  Perhaps sister to Jennie Norton, another signer from Newton Highlands, Massachusetts.
  • Charles C. Paul of Newton Center, Massachusetts, 1877; age 11-1/2 years
  • James Richardson of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, age 14.  Written in upper right corner, apparently by the album owner:  1877
  • Mary P. Richardson, 1877, age 11 [or 18]
  • Lydia Robertson of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, 1878; age 11
  • David Robertson of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, age 13.  Written in upper right corner apparently by the album owner: 1876
  • Harry A. Ross of Manchester, New Hampshire, 1876.  Written in upper right corner, apparently by album owner: Age 14 yrs
  • Willie E. Ryder of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, 1878; age 9 [or 7]
  • Sarah L. Smith of Newton Centre, Massachusetts, 1876; age 11
  • Forrest Y. Stearns of Boston, Massachusetts, age 15
  • Bertha Stevens of Boston, Massachusetts, 1882; age 8
  • Annie H. Trowbridge of Newton Centre, Massachusetts, 1877; age 12
  • Grace A. Warren of Newton Centre, Massachusetts,  age 10 yrs, 10 mos.  Written in upper right corner, apparently by the album owner: 1876
  • Clara White of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, 1878
  • Addie F. Young of Dorchester, Massachusetts, age 7.Written in upper right corner, apparently by the album owner: 1878


Newton, Massachusetts


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Friday, December 28, 2012

1860s Autograph Album of Willie D. Peirce of Clinton, Massachusetts


Autograph album comprised mostly of pages signed in the 1860s by young adults from Clinton, Leicester and West Boylston, Massachusetts, many of them students at Leicester Academy.


The album  belonged to Willie D. Peirce of Clinton, Massachusetts.  He signed the first page in the album, but the date he signed, 16 May 1870, was later than any of the other dates shown in the album.  



The album is approximately 4" x 2-1/2" and contains 72 pages signed by Willie himself, his relatives, friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.

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

Willie D. Peirce was born 4 July 1856 at Clinton, Massachusetts, the son of William N. and Mary Ann (Dickinson) Peirce, who were born at Sutton, Massachusetts, and Leicester, Massachusetts, respectively.

Willie's paternal grandparents were John and Lucy (Carroll) Peirce.  His maternal grandparents were Loyal G. and Elizabeth (Burgess) Dickinson.  

Many records show the spelling variation Pierce, and it seems that various members of the greater Peirce/Pierce family adopted either spelling.

Sadly, Willie died at Leicester, Massachusetts, on 9 June 1872, at the age of 15.

Alphabetical list of signers: [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]


  • R. Edgar Avery of Union Village, New Hampshire, 1867
  • Etta A. Baldwin of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1868
  • Charles H. Baldwin of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Fannie E. Ballard of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Horace N. Broad of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Nettie Brown of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1867
  • Sarah J. Brown of Grafton, Massachusetts
  • Henry B. Clapp, signed at Leicester Academy, Leicester, Massachusetts, 1870
  • Eddie A. Cowee of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869; Edward A. Cowee
  • Emma F. Cutler of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1868
  • Abby E. Dame of Clinton, Massachusetts, 1867
  • Henry Fairbank of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Hattie E. Fairbank of West Boylston, Massachusetts
  • Willie H. Fairbanks of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Edwin C. Fairbanks of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Alice C. Fitts of Candia Village, New Hampshire, 1879
  • M. F. Gammell of West Boylston, Massachusetts
  • Hattie F. Goodell of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Mary D. Goodell of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1868
  • Charles Graff of Leicester, Massachusetts
  • F. C. Hardy of West Boylston, Massachusetts
  • Delia M. Hardy of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1867; album owner's cousin
  • Maria Harper, 1869
  • Linus G. Harris of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Vrylena Hathorn of West Boylston, Massachusetts
  • Emmie M. Holden of Ware, Massachusetts, 1867
  • George H. Holmes of West Boylston, Massachusetts
  • Sarah Houghton, 1869; perhaps the Sarah M. Houghton of West Boylston, Massachusetts, who signed the facing page in 1868
  • Sarah M. Houghton of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1868; perhaps the same Sarah Houghton as signed the facing page
  • Augustus F. Howell of Worcester, Massachusetts, 1867
  • John H. Howell of Worcester, Massachusetts, 1867
  • Louisa M. Hubbard, signed at Malden Hill, 1869; Willie's schoolmate
  • F. G. Johnson of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • B. Judkins, Jr., 1867.  This was likely Rev. Benjamin Judkins, Jr.
  • S. M. Judkins, 1867.  This was likely Sarah Judkins, wife of Rev. Benjamin Judkins, Jr.
  • Nellie E. Judkins, 1867.  Daughter of Rev. Benjamin Judkins and wife Sarah
  • Charles Keith of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1868
  • Frank A. Keith of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Laura M. Loring of Sterling Junction, Massachusetts, 1869
  • E. Lester Lovell of West Boylston, Massachusetts
  • Josie Merrifield of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1867
  • Charlie E. Merrifield of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869; Charles E. Merrifield
  • Charles D. Monroe of Leicester, Massachusetts
  • Charles F. Morse of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Eddie A. Murdock of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1867.  Edward A. Murdock, born about 1854
  • Carrie H. Murdock of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1868
  • Julia Belle Newton of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869; Willie's schoolmate
  • Willie S. O'Brien of Cherry Valley [I assume the Cherry Valley that is in Leicester, Massachusetts], signed at Leicester Academy in 1870
  • Susie E. Parker of Clinton, Massachusetts, 1867; album owner's cousin
  • M. Dora Parker of Clinton, Massachusetts, 1868
  • Willie D. Peirce of Clinton, Massachusetts; student at Leicester Academy, Leicester, Massachusetts
  • Mary D. Peirce of Clinton, Massachusetts.  Possibly Mary (Dickinson) Peirce, Willie Pierce's mother
  • Jennie Peirce of South Brookfield, Massachusetts, 1868
  • H. M. Peirce of Clinton, Massachusetts, 1867; cousin of Willie D. Peirce
  • Lucretia P. Peirce of South Brookfield, Massachusetts, 1868
  • John W. Peirce, Jr., of Clinton, Massachusetts, 1867.  He may have been the older brother of Willie's father William N. Peirce
  • George F. Perkins of West Boylston, Massachusetts; he may have been living at Minnesota at the time
  • Willie Phelps of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • H. R. Pierce of Worcester, Massachusetts, 1867
  • Maria L. Pierce of Grafton, Massachusetts, 1867
  • Henry Pratt of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1868
  • Edna Rand of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Josie P. Raymond of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1867
  • Abbie H. Ring of Clinton, Massachusetts, 1867
  • Lizzie Sawyer of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1868
  • Edna C. Smith of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Walter H. Smith of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1869
  • Isabell Taylor of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1868
  • ? Emma Twiss of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1867
  • Nellie C. Warren of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1868
  • Charles T. White of West Boylston, Massachusetts, 1868
  • Phebe Wilson of Boylston, Massachusetts, 1868
Clinton, Massachusetts


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Thursday, December 27, 2012

Two 1880s Autograph Albums of Nellie McAllister of Kingston, Illinois


Two autograph albums that were kept by Nellie McAllister of Kingston, Illinois during the 1880s.  The autograph album whose cover is shown above dates to the early 1880s.  The autograph album below dates to the mid and later 1880s.



The earlier album measures approximately 6" x 3-3/4" and contains 59 pages signed by Nellie herself, her relatives and friends.  The later album measures approximately 5-1/4" x 3-1/4" and contains 39 pages signed by Nellie herself, her relatives and friends.  

Alphabetical lists of the signers, some of whom signed in each album, appear at the end of this post.

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

Nellie Thankful McAllister was born 15 June 1869 at Kingston, Illinois, the daughter of Charles H. McAllister and Rebecca (Cameron) McAllister.  Nellie's mother and father signed pages in her earlier album.





Nellie's paternal grandparents were Charles and Thankful McAllister.  Her maternal grandparents were William and Sarah R. (Warbritton) Cameron.

On 18 June 1895, Nellie Thankful McAllister became the second wife of Sidney Edwin Butterfield, son of Solomon V. and Helen M. (Wales) Butterfield.  Their marriage did not last.  

In December of 1898 Nellie married Allen Mowers, son of Aaron and Margaret (Rickard) Mowers.  He was the widow of Allie (Countryman) Mowers.

I don't know if Nellie had any children or not, but there were none living with her in Census years.  Her second husband had had a daughter from his first marriage, but she died before the age of four months.  Her mother died later that same month.

If you have corrections to the information above, or further information on the McAllister, Cameron, Butterfield and Mower families, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Alphabetical list of the signers in the earlier album:  [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]


  • Tommie
  • Mary Ault, 1883; Nellie's schoolmate
  • J. A. Austin.  "Here's Shampaign for my friends and pain for my Sham Friends"
  • T. A. B. or J. A. B. or I. A. B., 1882
  • L. M. Bacon, signed at Kingston School, at Kingston, Illinois
  • Lora L. Ball, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1882
  • Ida M. Bean, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1883
  • Maggie Brinley of Kingston, Illinois, formerly of Spring Run, Franklin County, Pennsylvania; Nellie's schoolmate
  • Kittie Campbell, 1883
  • Ida E. Campbell, signed at school at Kingston, Illinois, in 1882; Nellie's schoolmate
  • Nellie Campbell, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1883
  • Emma J. Cole of Kingston, Illinois, 1882
  • Walter L. Cole, 1882
  • Allie Cole, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1883
  • Phebe A. Crosby
  • Sarah A. Davis of Kingston, Illinois, 1883
  • Jennie Dick
  • Mary Ells of Kingston, Illinois, 1882
  • Carrie Ells of Kingston, Illinois, 1882; Nellie later added "Aug 28, 1886 married"
  • Dena Fager, signed at Kirkland, Illinois, in 1887
  • Fred Gardner of Kingston, Illinois, 1884
  • Kate M. Gardner, signed at school at Kingston, Illinois, in 1883
  • Myrtie Giliam, 1883.  Not sure of last name
  • Miss Hattie Gorham of Kingston, Illinois, 1883
  • Nora D. Grass of Mayfield, Illinois, 1883
  • A. B. Hancock of Fort Dodge, Iowa, 1883.  Possibly Albert B. Hancock
  • Fred H. Hancock of Kingston, Illinois
  • G. A. Harmes of Kingston, Illinois, 1883
  • Frank Heckman; Nellie's schoolmate
  • Lillian Hill; Nellie's schoolmate
  • Mary Hitchcock, signed at Kingston, Illinois in 1882
  • Laura Hitchcock, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1882
  • Maud Johnson of Kingston, Illinois, 1883
  • Jennie Kerkman, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1882
  • Emma Laverty, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1882
  • Nellie McAllister of Kingston, Illinois, 1886; album owner
  • Rebecca McAllister.  Nellie's mother, Rebecca (Cameron) McAllister
  • "Your Affectionate Father", C. M. McAllister.  Nellie's father Charles M. McAllister
  • V. H. McAllister, signed at Kingston, Illinois
  • J. P. McAllister, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1882
  • Jennie McAllister, signed at Genoa, Illinois, in 1882.  Possibly the Jennie McAllister who was the daughter of Nellie's uncle James McAllister
  • May Northrop, signed at Kingston, Illinois
  • Maude Peake, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1882; Nellie's schoolmate
  • E. Evalena Peterson
  • Ella Poust of Kingston, Illinois, 1882
  • Mary B. Poust, 1882; Nellie's schoolmate at Kingston, Illinois
  • Susie A. Quigley, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1883
  • Ella Rogers; Nellie's schoolmate at Kingston, Illinois
  • Maud Shadford of Kingston, Illinois, 1883
  • Jennie D. Sherman of Kingston, Illinois, 1882
  • Genie R. Sherman, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1882
  • Frank Shrader, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1882
  • Stuart Shrader of Kingston, Illinois, 1882
  • Lillian Thomson, signed at Clarion, Iowa, in 1886
  • Emma Thurlby, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1882; Nellie's schoolmate
  • Amanda Uplinger, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1882
  • Emma Warnaca, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1882
  • Charles Wells, 1883; Nellie's cousin
  • May Wells, 1883; Nellie's cousin


Alphabetical list of signers in the later album: [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]


  • Ida, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1884; Nellie's schoolmate
  • Nell, 1886; apparently Nellie's schoolmate
  • Nellie's schoolmate who used initials I can't decipher; possibly  J. O. G.
  • Effie, 1886
  • Edward; 1885.  Sketch
  • Frank; signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1884
  • Grace; signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1884
  • Emma, signed at Kingston, Illinois
  • Hattie
  • Maud S.; appears to be Nellie's schoolmate
  • Charles, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1884
  • Minnie Boodle of Henrietta, Illinois, 1886
  • Maggie Brinley, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1884
  • Allie Cole, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1884
  • George Cowell, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1887
  • Irvin Crissinger, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1884
  • Lillian Hill.  She signed in both of Nellie's albums
  • Grace Hitchcock, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1887
  • Maggie Hollearn, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1884; apparently Nellie's schoolmate
  • Maud Johnson, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1884
  • Vernia Landis, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1884.  Alvernia Landis, sister of another signer, Henry Landis
  • Henry Landis, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1887; brother of another signer, Vernia Landis [Alvernia Landis]
  • Nellie McAllister of Kingston, Illinois, 1884; owner of album
  • Jennie McAllister, signed at Genoa, Illinois, 1884; she could be the Jennie McAllister who was the daughter of Nellie's paternal uncle James McAllister
  • John O'Brien, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1887
  • R. L. P. of Leaf River, Illinois, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1887
  • Mary Poust, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1884
  • Em Poust, signed at Henrietta, Illinois, in 1887
  • E. G. Poust, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1884
  • Susie A. Quigley, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1884
  • Nora Saum, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1887
  • Harry Sherman of Kingston, Illinois, 1884
  • Genie Sherman of Kingston, Illinois, 1884
  • Stuart Shrader, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1884
  • Alta Stuart, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1887
  • Kate Thurston of Kingston, Illinois, 1884
  • Carrie Thurston, signed at Kingston, Illinois, in 1884
  • Willie Whitney; Nellie's schoolmate
  • Alta Wyllys, signed at Kingston, Illinois, 1887


Kingston, Illinois


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Friday, December 21, 2012

1880s Autograph Album of Etta M. Lovering of Biddeford, Maine


1880s autograph album of Etta M. Lovering of Biddeford, Maine.



The album is approximately 4" x 2-1/2" and contains 28 pages signed by Etta herself, her relatives and friends.  An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.

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

Etta Mary Lovering, or Mary Etta Lovering, was born about June 1868 at Charlestown, Massachusetts [according to her marriage record], or Biddeford, Maine [according to her son's birth record], the daughter of Moses B. and Mary Jennie (French) Lovering, both of whom I believe were born at Lee, New Hampshire.

At the time of the 1880 Census of Biddeford, Maine, Etta was living with her grandmother Eliza (Smith) French and Eliza's daughters, one of whom was Hattie French [see her page below].  At that time, Etta's parents were living at Boston, Massachusetts, with Etta's younger sister Ida Bell Lovering.

Ida Bell Lovering signed two pages in her sister Etta's album.





A Jennie Lovering of Charlestown, Massachusetts, also signed a page in Etta's album, in 1883.  Jennie was possibly Etta's mother, but there are other possibilities of relatives and in-laws.



As noted above, Etta's maternal aunt Hattie French of Biddeford, Maine, signed a page in 1881.



On 8 January 1889 at Lawrence, Massachusetts, Etta Mary Lovering married Harry Eugene Bean, son of Samuel Thing Bean and Lucy Jane (Palmer) Bean.  Harry was born at Biddeford, Maine, on 20 December 1866.

The couple had at least two children: Linwood Samuel Bean and Gladys Belle Bean.

If you have corrections to the information above or additional information on the Lovering, French, Glover, Smith, Bean and/or Palmer families, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!

Alphabetical list of the signers in Etta M. Lovering's album [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]


  • Eliza Bardsley, 1881.  She lived at Biddeford, Maine and was a sister to signer Sarah Bardsley
  • Sarah Bardsley of Biddeford, Maine, 1881.  Sister to signer Eliza Bardsley
  • C. R. Bates of Biddeford, Maine; not sure of initials
  • Cora B. Billings of Biddeford, Maine, 1881
  • Miss Ada Carter of Biddeford, Maine, 1881
  • Kophman Clark of Boston, Massachusetts, 1881
  • Wilbur Cleaves. 1881.  Possibly the Wilbur Cleaves who lived at Biddeford, Maine
  • Hattie Foss of Biddeford, Maine
  • Hattie P. French [not sure of middle in initial] of Biddeford, Maine, 1881.  I believe this was the younger sister of Etta's mother Mary Jennie (French) Lovering
  • Miss Eunice G. Fuller of Boston, Massachusetts, 1881
  • Hattie W. Hazeltine, 1881  Hattie Hazeltine was in the 1880 Census of Biddeford, Maine, as was signer Lillie (Lillian) Hazeltine, Hattie's sister
  • Lillie Hazeltine, 1881.  Lillian Hazeltine was in the 1880 Census of Biddeford, Maine, as was signer Hattie W. Hazeline, Lillie's sister
  • Howard Libby of Biddeford, Maine
  • Angie E. Lord, 1881
  • Etta M. Lovering; album owner
  • Ida Bell Lovering of Boston, Massachusetts.  Etta's younger sister.  She signed two pages
  • Jennie Lovering of Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1883.  Perhaps Etta's mother Mary Jennie (French) Lovering?
  • Frank Lyons of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1881.  Either Mr. precedes his name or a fancy initial
  • Hatty Morrill of Biddeford, Maine, 1881
  • Minnie E. Nelson of Biddeford, Maine, 1881
  • Samuel H. Newell of Manchester, New Hampshire, signed at Biddeford, Maine, in 1880
  • Edgar E. Small of Biddeford, Maine, 1881
  • Miss Emma Smith of Biddeford, Maine, 1881
  • Harry S. Twombley of Biddeford, Maine, 1881
  • Howard Van Alstyn or Alstyne
  • Jessie Wales of Biddeford, Maine, 1881
  • Frank Whitten of Biddeford, Maine, 1881
Biddeford, Maine


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Thursday, December 20, 2012

1880s Autograph Album of Emily Boynton of Machias, Maine


1880s autograph album of Emily Boynton of Machias, Maine.



The album is approximately 4" x 2-1/2" and contains 33 pages signed by Emily herself, her relatives and friends, most of whom signed their messages in 1880.  An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.

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

Emily Jane Boynton was born 15 October 1867, I believe at Machias, Maine, the daughter of Roscoe Green Boynton and Martha Ann (Bowker) Boynton, who were born at Machias, Maine, and Marshfield, Maine, respectively.

Emily's paternal grandparents were Stephen Boynton and his second wife Amira (Brown) Boynton.  Emily's maternal grandparents were Levi and Martha G. (Crocker) Bowker.

About 1890, Emily married Bradford J. Estey, son of Samuel Richard Estey and Eliza (Kelly) Estey.  Bradford was born 14 November 1865 at Whiting, Maine.

They settled at Whiting, Maine, and raised at least two children, daughters Cora Ruth Estey, born 14 June 1891, and Martha Kathline Estey, born 22 July 1983.  Bradford worked as a blacksmith and manager of a lumber company.

Three of Emily's siblings signed pages in her album.  One of them, Annie C. Boynton signed a page on 29 January 1880.  Sadly, she died a short time later, on 14 August 1880.



An Almira Boynton signed one of the first pages in Emily's album.  I believe this was the Almira who was Emily's older sister.  Sadly, Almira also died young, in 1884.



Emily's younger brother George B. Boynton signed a  page in 1881.  He went on to a successful career in the banking, canning and lumber industries.  He was born 13 October 1870 at Machias, Maine.  I believe he married at least twice: (1) Gertrude Frances Perry, daughter of John and Sylvia Perry and (2) Mrs. Florence (Bradford) Snow.



Emily's cousin Dora A. Boynton of Machias, Maine, signed a page in 1880.  She was the daughter of Emily's father's half-brother Amos Boynton, whose mother was Hannah (Jewett) Boynton.



A very faint page seems to have been signed by a May Boynton of Machias or Marshfield, Maine.   She may have been another one of Emily's cousins, the daughter of Thomas and Hannah Boynton.  Thomas was a full brother of Dora's father Moses Boynton, and thus another older half-brother of Emily's father Roscoe Green Boynton.



If you have corrections to the information above or more information on the Boynton, Brown, Bowker, Crocker and Estey families, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Alphabetical list of signers [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]


  • Eliza [possibly] of Machias, Maine, 1881.  Very faint
  • Minnie G. Albee of Machias, Maine, 1881
  • Edith Allen of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • Mina Andrews of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • Abbie O. Berry of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • R. E. Berry.  Possibly Rovenah E. (Crocker) Berry, married to James Berry
  • Fred Bosworth; signed facing pages
  • Lucy Bowers of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • Emily Jane Boynton of Machias, Maine; album owner
  • Almira Boynton of Machias, Maine.  Almira Boynton, born 1862, a sister of Emily Jane Boynton.  Almira died in 1884.
  • Dora A. Boynton of Machias, Maine, 1880; Emily's cousin.  Her father Amos Boynton was an older half-brother to Emily's father Roscoe Green Boynton
  • Annie C. Boynton of Machias, Maine, 29 January 1880; Emily's sister.  Sadly, Annie died later that year, 14 August 1880.
  • George Boynton of Machias, Maine, 1881; likely George B. Boynton, Emily's brother
  • Very faint, but I believe the page was signed by May Boynton of a town that starts with M, possibly Machias, Maine, or Marshfield, Maine
  • Lizzie B. Conners of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • Nettie C. Drew of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • Julia Flannery of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • Mary Foss of Machias, Maine, 
  • Mabel Furbush of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • Possibly M. C. Hanscom of Machias, Maine
  • Florence Hanscom of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • Edith G. Longfellow of Machias, Maine, 1880 or 1888
  • Ella Longfellow of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • J. C. M.; not sure of last initial
  • Rosa E. McCabe of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • Fannie McPherson of Marchias, Maine, 1880
  • J. R. Ransom
  • Clara M. Smith of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • Ettie Smith of Machias, Maine
  • Grace Stoddard of Machias, Maine
  • Lizzie F. Stratton of Machias, Maine, 1880
  • Lucy Williams of Machias, Maine, 1880


Machias, Maine  [About to celebrate its 250th anniversary]


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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

2 1880s Autograph Albums of Sisters Charlotte and Janette Bell of Goshen, Virginia


1880s autograph albums of sisters Janette Bell, above, and Charlotte Bell, below, of Goshen, Virginia.  I found various spellings for Janet.



Janette's autograph album is approximately 4" x 2-1/2" and contains 19 pages signed by her relatives and friends.  Charlotte's autograph album is approximately 5-1/2" x 3-1/2" and contains 15 signed pages.

Alphabetical lists of the signers in each album appears at the end of this post.  Charlotte's album has notations added later to several pages to indicate the marital status or death of the signer.

Each album contains a page signed by their father Joseph C. Bell at Goshen, Virginia, on the same day, 16 September 1888, where he refers to the death of the girls' brother Marshall, apparently on 13 September 1888, judging from one of his messages.

Joseph's page in Janette's album:




Joseph's page in Charlotte's album:



The first born in the family was a son Hugh M. Bell, born 25 March 1868 in Rockbridge County, Virginia.  Perhaps his middle initial stood for Marshall.

Charlotte signed a page in her sister Janette's album.



A Janet signed a page in Charlotte's album.



Their sister Sadie signed pages in both albums.  In Janette's album:



In Charlotte's album:



Another sister, Elizabeth Carrick Bell, "Carrie", signed a page in Janette's album.



Janette, the youngest in the family, was born 24 December 1877 at Goshen, Virginia.  Charlotte was born about 1872.  I believe there were five children in the family, in the order of Hugh M.; Elizabeth Carrick; Mary C.; Charlotte; Sadie; and Janette.

Their parents were Joseph C. and Margaret Bell.  I don't have information on Margaret's maiden name or parents, but Joseph's parents were John Marshall Bell and Charlotte (Crawford) Bell.

If you have corrections to the information above or additional information on the Bell family, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!

Alphabetical list of the signers in the autograph album of Janette Bell of Goshen, Virginia [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]


  • David, signed at Goshen, Virginia, 1887; friend
  • Jim, 1889
  • Ada
  • Maud
  • Rosa
  • Nelson
  • Janette Bell of Goshen, Virginia
  • Papa, 1888; Janette's father Joseph Bell
  • Charlotte, 1888; Janette's sister Charlotte Bell
  • E. Carrick Bell, 1888; Janette's sister
  • Sadie, 1889; Janette's sister
  • Nancie B., 1894; "Sis"
  • T.C.G.; not sure of the initials
  • Margaret Hargroves, signed at Portsmouth [VA ?], 1888
  • J. H. Haynes
  • Jessie Lyle, 1892
  • E. D. Moore of Lexington, Virginia, 1890
  • Margarita Moore
  • R. E. Pilkinton, signed at Goshen, Virginia, 1888
  • J. B. Wood
Alphabetical list of the signers in the autograph album of Charlotte Bell of Goshen, Virginia [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]
  • "Stranger", illegible page
  • Illegible, 1893
  • Illegible
  • A page of many initials, 1894
  • "Yankee"; someone, Charlotte perhaps, later wrote the word "Married"
  • Rosa S or L; someone, Charlotte perhaps, later wrote the word "Married"
  • "Mr. Ribs"
  • Charlotte Bell, owner of the album
  • Joseph C. Bell, 1888; Charlotte's father
  • Janet; perhaps Charlotte's sister Janette Bell
  • Sadie Bell of Goshen, Virginia, 1888; Charlotte's sister
  • Jeannie C. Gratton of Click's Mill, Wa [could be VA, WVA or WA], 1894; someone, Charlotte perhaps, later wrote the word "Married"
  • William T. Liscomb, C. & O., 1888; Someone, Charlotte perhaps, later wrote "Scratch him off, he is married now"
  • ? A. Parsons of Davis, West Virginia, 1890
  • J. C. Roadcop, 1890; someone, Charlotte perhaps, later wrote the word "Dead" on the page
  • B. Wood
Goshen, Virginia


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