Autograph album of Elizabeth Sarah (Brown) Dole of North Haven, Maine, kept from the time before her marriage, with later entries from her children and grandchildren. Elizabeth's nickname was Lizzie.
The first entry in the album was penned by Lizzie's cousin Clara, at North Haven, Maine, on 25 December 1877. The album may have been a present for that Christmas.
Actually, there was an earlier entry, scrawled upside down on the inside front cover, by Evelyn Brown, with the number 7 after her name, perhaps indicating her age at the time.
The album is approximately 7" x 4-1/4" and contains 40 pages signed by Lizzie's relatives and friends. An alphabetical list of the signers, including the sentiments they left for Lizzie, appears at the end of this post.
From online research, hopefully correct: [corrections & additions welcome]
Elizabeth Sarah Brown was born 11 July 1857 on North Haven island, the daughter of Wilder P. Brown and Abigail P. (Murch) Brown. Each of them signed pages in Lizzie's album.
Lizzie had a sister, Leonora, who also signed a page, as Nora F. Dole at 13 January 1878 at North Haven, Maine. Lizzie and Nora married brothers, William Rand Dole and Asa S. Dole, respectively.
Lizzie's future husband William Rand Dole of Gray, Maine, signed a page on 25 September 1882. They would be married in 1888.
Nora's husband Asa S. Dole signed his page on 3 March 1878.
William Rand Dole and Elizabeth Sarah (Brown) Dole farmed on North Haven island and raised, I think, two children, both daughters. There was a son mentioned in one reference but I couldn't find a definitive record.
There was a tradition of taking in orphaned children as fishermen led, and still lead, a dangerous life. In fact, William and Lizzie's son-in-law, Corydon Staples Brown, husband of Florence A. (Dole) Brown, was the son of orphaned Mary Ella Clemmons, who was taken in by the Brown family.
Several online trees have a death year for Lizzie as 1902. However, she was still alive through the 1930 Census and for what appears to have been a family gathering in 1935 when several of her grandchildren signed pages, including, for example, granddaughter Frances Brown, who signed a page on 1 January 1935
I believe she died 1 December 1936. William was still alive at the time of the 1940 Census; he died in 1946.
See the list below for the names of other children, grandchildren, relatives and friends. If you can provide additional information on any of the signers, or if you have corrections to information provided on the Brown and Dole families, please leave a comment or contact me directly. Thanks!
Surnames
Banks
Beverage
Brown
Calderwood
Dole
Dyer
Grant
Green
Heath
Kilton
Knight
Mills
Raymond
Staples
Thomas
Alphabetical list of signers: [Note: Given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]
- Cousin Clara, signed at North Haven, Maine, on Dec. 25th 1877; May your life have only clouds enough To make a glowing sunset. Cousin Clara"
- Arlene, signed on Jan. 2, 1935; Elizabeth's granddaughter. "You've asked me to write in your album, I'm sure I don't know what to say, Unless I tell you, I love you, And love you more every day. Your loving Grand-daughter". [I believe her to have been Arlene R. Brown.]
- Elsie A. Banks, signed at North Haven, Maine, on Jan. 15, 1878. If every wish was a rose, And every rose without a thorn, Your path through life, dear friend, With choice flowers, I would adorn. Your friend
- Marietta Banks, signed at North Haven, Maine, on Jan. 15, 1878. "The earnestness of life Is the only passport to the satisfaction of life. Your friend"
- Etta J. Banks, signed at North Haven, Maine, on Nov. 8, 1885. "When far away by love you're carried And to some little fellow married, Remember me for friendship sake, And send me a piece of wedding cake. Your friend"
- Elroy V. Banks, signed at North Haven, Maine, on Jan. 16, 1878. "The memory of my friend shall be As changeless as the Cedar tree."
- Jennie Banks, signed at North Haven, Maine, on Sept. 17th, 1884. "True friendship like the rose Although among the thorns it grows. Your friend"
- Theodore E. Beverage of North Haven, Maine, signed on Sept. 31, 1935
- Mrs. Theodore Beverage, signed March 6, 1935. "Dear Gram, Everyone else has written a line so I am just going to sign."
- Elizabeth Sarah Brown, who later married William Rand Dole - album owner
- Evelyn
- Corydon Brown of North Haven, Maine, signed on Jan. 2th 1935. Corydon was perhaps Corydon Staples Brown, husband of Elizabeth's daughter Florence
- Frances Brown, signed on 1 January 1935. Elizabeth's granddaughter, daughter of Florence A. (Dole) and Corydon Staples Brown. "I hope you will never feel like the color of this page (blue). As we travel long the pathway of life, We must rough it for many a mile. But at last we'll find joy, peace and good luck If we greet everything with a smile."
- Blanche A. Brown, signed at North Haven, Maine, on July 18th 1880. "May angels twine for thee A wreath of immortality"
- John Brown, signed on Jan 3, 1935
- Alice Elizabeth Brown, signed at North Haven, Maine, on January 3, 1935. Elizabeth's granddaughter, daughter of Florence A. (Dole) and Corydon Staples Brown. "Always your friend"
- Wilder P. Brown, signed at North Haven, Maine, on March 3thm 1878. Elizabeth's father. "All that I ask is a little spot on which to write forget me not."
- Abigail E. Brown, signed at North Haven, Maine, on January 13, 1878. Elizabeth's mother, Abigail E. (Murch) Dole. "May your path through life be fair and bright, May pleasant friends surround you, May every care pass ? the light, May God in Heaven crown you. Your Mother"
- George W. Brown, signed on January 2, 1935. George William Brown, Elizabeth's grandson
- "Idie E. Brown, signed at North Haven, Maine, on July 18th, 1880. ""Remember me. One little word of kindness spoken, A motion or a tear; Has often healed a heart that is broken, And made a friend sincere.
- Ever your true friend."""
- May Calderwood, signed at Pulpit Harbor, Maine, on Oct. 29th 1885. May all the blessings life can give Be yours, my friend, while here you live, And may you always find a friend True as the one these lines have penned. Always your friend."
- "Nora F. Dole, signed at North Haven, Maine, on 13 January 1878. She was Leonora F. (Brown) Dole, sister to album owner Elizabeth Sarah Brown. ""May the cares and trials of life Pass over you lightly,
- Is the wish of your Sister."""
- Florence Dole, signed at North Haven, Maine, in Nov 1901. This was Elizabeth's daughter Florence.
- William R. Dole of Gray, Maine, signed on September 25, 1882. William Rand Dole would become Elizabeth Sarah Brown's husband on 22 December 1888 at North Haven, Maine. "Remember me"
- Your daughter, Florence, signed Dec 1903 the 28. "He prayeth best who loveth best all things both great and small for the dear God made and loveth all. Your daughter."
- Florence A. Dole, Elizabeth's daughter, signed at North Haven, Maine, on Dec. 26, 1906. Remember me. Age 10"
- Ruth E. Dole of North Haven, Maine, signed on Feb. 23, 1906. "Age 8"
- Ruth Dole "Remember me"
- Asa S. Dole, signed at North Haven, Maine, on March 3th, 1878. Asa was the husband of Elizabeth's sister Leonora and the brother of Elizabeth's husband William Rand Dole. "Friendship has between us past, I trust it has been true And may this friendship ever last Between myself and you."
- Evalina Dyer, signed at North Haven, Maine, on Sept 1884. Alas, how light a cause may move Dissension between hearts that love; Hearts that the world has tried And sorrow more closely tied. Your friend"
- Mrs. Julia F. Grant, signed on July 21st 1878. "To Lizzie, Maiden that readst this simple rhyme Enjoy thy youth - it will not stay; Enjoy the fragrance of the prime For oh! it is not always May! Enjoy the spring of love and youth To some good angel leave the rest; For time will teach thee soon the truth - There are no birds in last year's nest. From your friend"
- Adelia E. Green, signed at Vinalhaven, Maine, signed on May 3th, 1878. "When you are sitting all alone Thinking of the past, Remember that you have a friend That will forever last. Your Friend."
- Annie O. Heath, signed on Dec 21st 1883. She mentions both Green's Landing, Maine, and North Haven, Maine. "Little deeds of kindness., Little words of love; Make our earth an Eden Like the Heaven above. Sincerely your friend"
- Minnie Kilton, signed at North Haven, Maine, on May 15th, 1887. "Safely down life's ebbing tide May our vessels smoothly glide And anchor side by side in heaven. Yours Sincerely"
- Mabel L. Knight of East Windham, Maine, signed at North Haven, Maine, on Apr. 23rd, 1893. "May all your days be spent in bliss, May all your plans succeed. Be but as happy as I wish, And you'll be blest indeed."
- Hannah L. Mills of North Haven, Maine, signed on Feb. 20th 1878. "When friends forsake, and fortune flies, When strong ties break, and friendship dies, When these we loved and cherished here Have proved themselves so insincere, Oh! Then how blessed 'tis to die."
- Roger Alfred Raymond, signed on January 2, 1935
- F. O. Staples, signed at North Haven, Maine, on March 21, 1878. "Ever your friend"
- Corydon S. Staples. He was the Postmaster at Pulpit Harbor, Maine. "Words tell what we should be; Deeds what we are. Respectfully, Corydon S. Staples"
- Mary E. Staples of North Haven, Maine, signed on April 14, 1878. "A long life and a happy one is the wish of your friend. Remember me."
- Ella L. Thomas, signed at North Haven, Maine, on May 15th, 1887. "These few lines to you are tendered By a friend, ? and true, Hoping but to be remembered When I'm far away from you. Ever your Friend"
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