Sunday, January 12, 2014

1870s-1890s Autograph Album of Mary A. Lewis of New Hope, a Village in Niles, New York


1870s-1890s autograph album that belonged to Mary A. Lewis of the Village of New Hope in Niles, New York.


The album is approximately 6-1/4" x 3" and contains the sentiments of 69 of Mary's relatives, schoolmates and friends.  Many of her paternal Lewis relatives and maternal Baker relatives inscribed pages in the album. An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this list.


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

Mary A. Lewis was born about March 1858, the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Lewis, Sr., and Mary Adaline (Baker) Lewis.  Mary's mother signed a page in her album on December 4, 1878.  December 4, 1878 sounds like it was a day of family gathering, as several Lewis and Baker folks signed pages on that day.


I think the B. ? Lewis who signed one of the first pages in Mary's album was her father Benjamin Franklin Lewis, Sr., who signed his page on December 4, 1878.


Mary's maternal grandparents, Jonas and Phebe (Smith) Baker signed pages in her album, both at New Hope, New York, on December 4, 1878.  Jonas noted his birth year of 1791.  He would live until 1884.   Phebe died in 1881.



I believe the Frank Lewis, Jr., who signed a page on December 5, 1878, was Mary's brother Benjamin Franklin Lewis, Jr.


In the 1900 Census of Niles, New York, Mary A. Lewis was listed as living in the household of her maternal aunt Matilda Baker; Mary's widowed father Benjamin Franklin Lewis, Sr., was also in the household.

Mary isn't listed in the plot with her parents and brother Frank at the New Hope Cemetery.  There is a Mary A. Lewis buried there, but her birth year is 1866, unless this is a transcription error.  Mary may have married after 1900.

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!

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

  • S. A. E., of Niles, New York, signed on January 21, 1878
  • Katie, signed on December 13, 1878
  • Lydia, signed on December 16, 1878; Mary's schoolmate
  • Willie H. ?, possibly Willie H. Glenn, of North Lansing, New York, signed on January 29, 1879
  • E. T. L. signed on January 15, 1879
  • F. D., signed on December 20, 1878
  • Minnie, signed on July 4, 1885
  • Jonas Baker, signed at New Hope, New York, on December 4, 1878.  " I was born 1791 May 12, ? and am now nearly blind but this is my signature in my own hand written for my granddaughter Mary A. Lewis."  His wife Phebe (Smith) Baker also signed a page in the album.
  • Phebe Baker, signed at New Hope, New York, on December 4, 1878.  "I was born 1796.  Written for my Grand Daughter Mary A. Lewis."  She was Phebe (Smith) Baker; her husband Jonas Baker also signed a page in the album.
  • Dor E. Baker, signed at Kellogsville, New York, on April 11
  • Anson J. Baker, signed on December 8, 1878
  • Vesta M. Baker of New Hope, New York, signed on October 10, 1887
  • Simeon M. Baker, signed on December 19, 1878
  • Cornelia A. Baker
  • Eva Baker, signed on July 7, 1893
  • Day Baker of New Hope, New York, signed on February 23, 1879
  • Mrs. Ella Baker off New Hope, New York, signed on March 7, 1879; Mary's cousin
  • Jennie L. Baker, signed on April 17, 1879; Mary's cousin
  • Mrs. J. H. Baker; her husband Anson S. Baker signed the right facing page.
  • Anson S. Baker; his wife Jane H. (?) Baker signed the left facing page.  Anson was a brother to Mary's mother, Mary Adaline (Baker) Lewis.
  • Elizabeth Baker, signed on Owasco, New York, on September 27, 1888; Mary's aunt
  • Myra E. Bentley of Homer, New York
  • Jefferson Brown of New Hope, New York, signed on March 18, 1881
  • Frank E. Cady, signed on March 15, 1879
  • H. G. Cady, signed on May 25, 1879
  • Miranda Cady
  • John Carpenter, signed on August 27, 1880
  • William Carver, signed at New Hope, New York, on December 16, 1868 [not sure he wrote the correct year as it's earlier than any of the other dates signed]
  • Henry Carver, signed on February 3, 1879
  • Irene Carver of New Hope, New York, signed on March 31, 1877
  • Jerrie Cook, signed on March 11, 1886
  • Sarie Davis, signed on January 31, 1879; Mary's schoolmate
  • Charles Dennis of New Hope, Bearswamp, Niles, Cayuga County, New York
  • Lena DeWaters of Elbridge, New York, signed at The Retreat on August 29 [no year written]
  • Darwin DeWitt
  • Hattie Elster, signed on February 28, 1879 [reader's comment: Hattie Elster is the daughter of David Elster. They were from New Hope Niles, NY.  She was born 1864 in Niles, NY married James Greenfield. She passed away 8-29-1960. 2 children.]
  • Frankie Garfield of Syracuse, New York, signed on August 15, 1890
  • Matie E. Greene, signed at New Hope, New York, on December 13, 1878; Mary's schoolmate
  • Charles H. Greenfield, signed on December 10, 1878
  • Hobert Holcomb of New Hope, New York, signed on February 28, 1879
  • Mrs. Mary G. Holcomb, signed on February 28, 1879
  • George Hoyt, signed on December 13, 1878
  • Carrie B. Ives of Auburn, New York, signed on January 1, 1879
  • Lydia M. Ives of Auburn, New York, signed on March 25, 1879
  • Jennie A. Landers, signed on December 20, 1878; Mary's cousin
  • Mary A. Lewis of New Hope, New York; album owner
  • B. Lewis, Sr., signed on December 4, 1878; not sure of middle initial; but presumably Benjamin Franklin Lewis, Mary's father.  His wife Mary Adaline (Baker) Lewis signed a page farther in the album.
  • Frank Lewis, Jr., signed on December 5, 1878,  Presumably this was Mary's brother Benjamin Franklin Lewis, Jr.
  • Hattie Lewis of New Hope, Cayuga County, New York, signed on December 13, 1889
  • Mary Adaline Lewis, signed on December 4, 1878; Mary A. Lewis' mother, Mary Adaline (Baker) Lewis; her husband Benjamin Franklin Lewis, Sr., also signed a page.
  • Willie Lewis, signed at New Hope, New York in December 1892
  • Cora Lewis, signed at Scipio, New York, on March 21, 1886
  • Minnie McLaughlin of New Hope, New York, signed on March 27, 1888
  • Frank Morehouse of New Hope, New York, signed on December 13, 1880
  • A. T. Parsons of North Lanson, New York, signed on September 14, 1879
  • Katie Pitts, signed on December 15, 1889
  • James A. Roberts of New Hope, New York, on April 4, 1887
  • William Slade, Jr., of Kelloggsville, New York, signed on February 7, 1879
  • William E. Stoker of New Hope, Cayuga County, New York, signed on February 28, 1879
  • Burley Stout of New Hope, New York; not sure of surname.  Could be Strout, Stuart, etc
  • Maria Summer, signed on December 13, 1878
  • J. Summer, signed on September 5, 1886
  • Louisa Summer of New Hope, New York, signed on September 5, 1886
  • Hard to read, but might be E W. Tippett; possibly Eugene W. Tippett
  • Mary Van Orden, signed on February 28, 1879
  • S. Elouise Whitfield of Auburn, New York, signed on July 23, 1892
  • Estella Whiting, signed on February 28, 1879
  • Mary A. Whiting of New Hope, New York, signed on July 5, 1885
  • Frances Wilcox, signed on April 15, 1881
  • Emma Williams, signed on December 13, 1878
Niles, New York


Thanks for stopping by!

4 comments:

  1. Hattie Elster is the daughter of David Elster. They were from New Hope Niles, NY.
    She was born 1864 in Niles, NY married James Greenfield. She passed away
    8-29-1960. 2 children.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for that extra information. I'm adding it to the post, in bold with a credit to your comment.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, should have mentioned - if you'd like me to send you a scan of the page Hattie signed, please contact me. My email address is at top.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello I would love the scan, I couldn't get to your email, mine is cme5797@yahoo.com if you could, If you have any other Elster's from this area, and Virgil, NY please let me know Carlene Elster McCall

      Delete