Saturday, March 16, 2013

1880s Autograph Album Presented to Minnie M. Penrod of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, upon her move to California


1880s autograph album that was presented to Minnie M. Penrod by her friends at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, as she prepared to move to California.



The album is approximately 8" x 5" with puffy velour covers and contains 105 pages of the sentiments of Minnie's relatives, classmates and friends.  An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.



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

Minnie M. Penrod was born 1 May 1867 at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Eli Abraham Penrod and Martha Ann (Proud) Penrod, who were born at Chippewa, Canada, and Edinboro, Pennsylvania, respectively.

Minnie's paternal grandparents were William and Laura (Taylor) Penrod, who emigrated from Great Britain to Canada.  Her maternal grandparents were William and Laura (Davis) Proud, who were born in England and Pennsylvania, respectively.

A couple of the signers indicated they were students at N.W.S.N.S., which I think stood for Northwest State Normal School, located at Edinboro.  Minnie may have been a student there as well.

At some point in late 1886 or in 1887, Minnie and her family relocated to Petaluma, California.  I'd be interested in knowing what motivated them to move west.

About 1896, Minnie married Ira Burnside Raymond, son of Edgar and Sarah A. (Smith) Raymond, who were both Iowa natives.  Ira was born 30 May 1867 in Iowa.

The couple raised at least two children, daughters Ethel and Edith, at Petaluma, where they operated a dry goods store.  I found a montage of photographs of Minnie, Ira and their daughters here.

Minnie died in 1934, and Ira in 1943.

Two signers in the album indicated they were Minnie's cousins.  They were sisters Cynthia (Beam) Richardson and Georgie (Beam) Dunn of Ontario, Canada.  Their mother was Mary Ann Taylor, who may have been a sister or other relative of Minnie's paternal grandmother Laura (Taylor) Penrod.  


Cynthia Richardson of Port Colborne, Ontario signed her page in August 1886.



Georgie Dunn of Ridgeway, Ontario, signed her page on 5 August 1886.




Elnora Lawrence of Conneautville, Pennsylvania signed a page on 29 June 1886 at N.W.S.N.S., which was Northwest State Normal School, located at Edinboro, Pennsylvania.



If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or information on any of the signers listed below, 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.]

  • Clara, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania on 25 July 1886.  She may have signed her surname in another area but it's very hard to read.
  • A. G. Aspin of Edinboro, Pennsylvania
  • U. S. Bacon of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, signed there on 3 August 1886.  Love his saying: In times of Prosperity our friends are many, But the times of adversity Proves them."
  • Florence Bacon, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 2 August 1886
  • Bertha Bacon, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 2 August 1886
  • Mae Baker of Bradford, Pennsylvania, signed on 23 July 1886
  • Myrtha Baker, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 4 August 1886
  • Anna Beebe, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, in 1886
  • Joe W. Beebe
  • Merle Benn, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 7 August 1886
  • Margie Benn of Edinboro, Pennsylvania.  Not sure of her surname
  • W. A. Bissell of North East, Pennsylvania
  • Josie E. Brown of Erie, Pennsylvania, signed on 22 July 1886
  • Nellie Burchfield, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania in 1886
  • J. H. Chadwick, signed at Sunset, Pennsylvania, on 24 July 1886
  • Dora Conover of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 8 August 1886
  • J. A. Cooper, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 28 June 1886
  • Robert R. Cornell, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 9 August 1886
  • Nina Coulter, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 8 August 1886
  • Fannie Coulter, signed on 8 August 1886
  • Lola Culbertson, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 7 August [no year, but likely 1886]
  • Agnes Culbertson, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 21 July 1886; Minnie's classmate
  • Eugenia Deamer of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, signed "8-10-86"
  • H. W. Decker, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 2 August 1886
  • Mrs. A. W. Decker, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 24 July 1886
  • Kate G. Dormen, signed at Petaluma, California, on 5 May 1887
  • Georgia Dunn, signed at Ridgeway, Ontario, on 5 August 1886; Minnie's cousin.  She may have been related through Minnie's father Eli Abraham Penrod, who was born in Canada.
  • W. W. Fell of Orangeville, Ohio, signed 1 July 1886
  • Delia Freeman of Crofsingville, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 23 July 1886
  • F. J. George, or T. J. George, signed at Corsica, Pennsylvania, on 24 July 1886
  • Mrs. Nellie Gibson, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 24 July 1886
  • Initials hard to decipher, but possibly M. S. Gillaspie of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, signed on 9 August 1886.  Name looks more like Gillaspie. Interestingly, there was a Martin S. Gillespie of Edinboro.
  • Kittie Greenfield, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 27 July 1886
  • Minnie Greenfield, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 28 July 1886
  • C. M. Greenfield
  • James M. Grimes of New Providence, New Jersey, signed on 24 July 1886
  • Mattie Hatch, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 2 August 1886
  • Sallie Hawkins, signed on 4 August 1886
  • Mary Hawkins, signed on 4 August 1886
  • Etta Henderson of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, signed there on 17 July 1886
  • Mrs. Hotchkiss, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 2 August 1886
  • Mr. and Mrs. Peter R. Kelley of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, signed on 8 August 1886
  • Peter R. Kelley of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, signed on 8 August 1886.  He or a relative of the same name signed another page, shared with his wife.  The handwriting is very similar.
  • Winnie Kenyon, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 10 August 1886
  • Hollis E. King, signed at Petaluma, California, on 1 May 1887
  • Charles Krebbs, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania on 29 June 1886
  • E. M. Lang of Brookville, Pennsylvania, signed on 7 August 1886; Minnie's classmate.  Wonderful sentiments upon Minnie's leaving for California.  Possibly future teacher Edward M. Lang
  • Myrna C. Langley of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, signed 31 July 1886, mentions Y.W.C.T.U.
  • G. A. Langley: "May the golden gate of California be the Golden Gate to your life, is the sincere wish of your friend"
  • Elnora M. Lawrence of Conneautville, Pennsylvania, signed at N. W. S. N. S. on 29 June 1886.  Northwestern State Normal School
  • Mrs. G. A. Longley, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 30 July 1886
  • Name appears to be T. J. Lynch of Troy Centre, Pennsylvania, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 7 July 1886.  Could also be F. J. Lynch.  Not positive of Troy
  • Mame Mace, of New Castle, Pennsylvania, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania on 29 June 1886
  • Margaret Marsh, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 1 July 1886
  • L. W. Mason
  • Mrs. Carrie W. Mason of Union City, Pennsylvania, signed on 1 July 1886
  • Libbie McBeth, signed on "7-11-1886
  • Gussie McCandless, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 29 June 1886
  • William C. McCay of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, signed there on 25 July 1886.  Sentiments in English and in French
  • R. Guy McClancy, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 1886-8-10.  Not sure if I've deciphered the name correctly.
  • J. M. McClymonds, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 5 August 1886
  • Mrs. P. M. McClymonds, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 7 August 1886.  Not sure of first initial.
  • Maud McClymonds, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 29 July 1886
  • Maria A. McCoy of Edinboro, Pennsylvania
  • Edith McCoy signed on 25 July 1886
  • Mattie J. McCreary of West Millcreek, Pennsylvania, signed on 22 July 1886
  • J. L. McCullough of Deer Lick, Pennsylvania, signed on 30 June 1886.  Signer used a multi-colored shadowed scrip
  • Halla McWilliams, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 5 August 1886
  • Joe Messenger of Ridgeway, Pennsylvania, signed on 22 June [no year, but probably about 1886]
  • Hattie Overholser, signed at Petaluma, California, on 2 May 1887
  • Mrs. Emma Patterson
  • Nellie Patterson of Edinboro, Pennsylvania
  • Minnie M. Penrod of Edinboro, Pennsylvania.  This album was presented to her by her Edinboro friends as she was about to move to Caifornia in late 1886 or 1887
  • G. S. W. Phillips of Townville, Pennsylvania, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 1 July 1886
  • Roy S. Proud of Saegertown, Pennsylvania, signed on 1 August 1886
  • W. A. Proud of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, signed "8-10-1886".  Likely a maternal relative of Minnie.
  • N. W. Proud of Saegertown, Pennsylvania, on 1 August 1886
  • Charles Proudfit, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 8 August 1886
  • Cordie Randall, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 8 August 1886
  • Mrs. C. T. Reeder.  She inscribed her page to Lillie.  Either Mrs. Reeder meant to inscribe her sentiments to Minnie's younger sister Lillian, or she confused the two.
  • Belle Reeder; Minnie's classmate
  • Edd Reeder of Edinboro, Pennsylvania
  • Guy Reeder of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, signed on 22 July 1886
  • Allie Reeder, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 22 July 1886.  "Your neighbor"
  • Estella Reeder
  • Bertha Reininger of New York,  New York, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 28 June 1886
  • Cynthia Richardson, signed at Port Colborne, Ontario, in August 1886.  She called herself Minnie's cousin.  Cynthia (Beam) Richardson's mother was Mary Ann Taylor, born in England about 1823.  Minnie's paternal grandmother was Laura Taylor, also born in England and an immigrant to Canada.  The two could have been sisters or otherwise related.
  • Kate Roberts of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, signed on 2 August 1886
  • Will Sheridan of Defiance, Ohio
  • G. S. Sigendall of Saegertown, Pennsylvania, signed on 30 June 1886
  • Millie Taylor of Edinboro, Pennsylvania
  • Harry Taylor, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on "7-1-86"
  • Etta Thomas signed a message spanning two pages at Edinboro, Pennsylvania on 25 July 1886; Minnie's schoolmate
  • T. J. Ticknor, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania
  • W. J. Todd of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 29 June 1886
  • Bertha Tryon, signed at Springboro, Pennsylvania
  • Minnie Underwood, signed at Edinboro, Pennsylvania, on 22 July 1886.  "Your Chum & Twin"
  • Jessie Underwood
  • Frankie Varse or Vose or ? of Edinboro, Pennsylvania
  • Maggie Wade of Edinboro, Pennsylvania
  • Mrs. J. T. Wade. Inscribed a poem by Charlotte Cossit.
  • Lulu M. Wallace of Mount Jackson, Pennsylvania, signed on 1 July 1886
  • Etta Wilcox of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, signed on 6 August 1886
  • Jennie Winters
  • Ida Young, signed at Petaluma, California, on 26 April 1887








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