Saturday, June 28, 2014

1873-1881 Autograph Album of Nellie Quarles Choate of Beverly, Massachusetts


1873-1881 autograph album that belonged to Nellie Quarles Choate, while she was at Beverly High School, Beverly, Massachusetts, and at the University of Minnesota.


The album is approximately 7-3/4" x 6" and contains the sentiments of 80 of Nellie's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  A surname list and an alphabetical list of the signers, with any accompanying residence, school or family relationship information, appear at the end of this post.


The album was printed by the J. C. Riker Company of New York and contains several illustrated pages throughout.  The illustrations are framed in boxes that are not centered on the page, apparently by design, such as on the page below.


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

Nellie Quarles Choate was born 22 July 1859 at Beverly, Massachusetts, the daughter of Frederick William Choate, a lawyer, probate judge and state senator, and his second wife Olive Eleanor (Johnson) Choate.  The F. W. Choate who signed a page in the album was presumably Nellie's father Frederick William Choate.


Frederick William Choate was first married to Eliza M. Breck, with whom he had three daughters and a son; Eliza died in 1853.  The son, Theodore Breck Choate, died at the age of two, but the daughters survived to adulthood and signed pages in Nellie's album.

The Eliza B. Foster who signed a page on December 30, 1873 was presumably Eliza Breck (Choate) Foster, wife of Captain Samuel Jeremiah Foster, and daughter of Frederick William Choate and Eliza (Breck) Choate.  See sample pages and extensive descriptions of Eliza's 1874 and 1875 diaries here.


The Alice Choate of Beverly, Massachusetts, who signed a page on July 7, 1874, was presumably Alice Dunlap Choate, daughter of Frederick William Choate and Eliza (Breck) Choate.


The Grace Choate of Beverly, Massachusetts, who shared a page with Sara Pierrepont McNair, was presumably Nellie's half-sister Grace Choate, daughtert of Frederick William Choate and Eliza (Breck) Choate.  Grace's future husband, Charles L. Eaton signed two pages in Nellie's album.


Sara Pierrepont McNair, who shared the page above and inscribed her name on January 2, 1879, is shown in most records as Sarah Pierrepont McNair.  She was Nellie's fellow student at the University of Minnesota.

Frederick William Choate had five children with second wife Olive Eleanor (Johnson) Choate, but two died in childhood and another, William Choate, at the age of about 30, not long after the death of his parents.  Surviving were Emma Choate, who moved to Sharon, Massachusetts, birthplace of her mother, and album owner Nellie Quarles Choate.  Emma didn't sign a page in the album, but several signers noted that they were at Sharon, Massachusetts, at the time of signing, and were perhaps relatives of Nellie's mother Olive Eleanor (Johnson) Choate, who was born there.

A few of the signers indicated that they were Nellie's classmates at Beverly High School at Beverly, Massachusetts.  One of these was Ettie F. Preston, presumably Esther F. Preston, who signed her page on February 13, 1874.


After high school, it appears that Nellie Quarles Choate attended the University of Minnesota.  She's shown in a University of Minnesota catalog that lists the attendees for the year 1878-1879.

Nellie's cousin, once removed, Hettie Augusta Smith, daughter of Massachusetts natives William Judson Smith and Augusta (Norwood) Smith, signed a page in Nellie's album at Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 13, 1878.


Hettie was also a student at the University of Minnesota, where her mother Augusta (Norwood) Smith was an English instructor - it was she who decided on the school colors of maroon and gold, which are still in use today.

Perhaps William and Augusta invited Nellie to visit and to attend the University of Minnesota.  Augusta (Norwood) Smith was the daughter of Adaline Augusta (Choate) Norwood, a sister to Nellie's father Frederick William Choate.

Nellie's cousin Helen Norwood, Augusta (Norwood) Smith's sister, signed a page at Beverly, Massachusetts, on September 2, 1874.  She would marry George Morris Bard on 16 June 1881 at Beverly, Massachusetts, and they would move to the Midwest.


At some point, Nellie Quarles Choate returned to Massachusetts, where she married Austin Hardy Eaton, son of Edwin E. Eaton and Sarah Elizabeth (Slocomb) Eaton, on 9 June 1886 at Beverly, Massachusetts.  Nellie and Austin settled at Boston, Massachusetts, and then Newton, Massachusetts.  Their children:
  1. Edwin Choate Eaton, born 25 March 1887 at Boston, Massachusetts
  2. Sargent Flint Eaton, born 23 October 1888 at Boston, Massachusetts
  3. Frederick Choate Eaton, born 8 July 1890 at Boston, Massachusetts
  4. Eleanor Johnson Eaton, born about April 1892 at Boston, Massachusetts
  5. Twin Elizabeth Eaton, born 23 September 1894 at Boston, Massachusetts
  6. Twin William Austin Eaton, born 23 September 1894 at Boston, Massachusetts
  7. Isabella Eaton, born 17 December 1895 at Newton, Massachusetts
If you have corrections and/or additions to any of the information above, or information on any of the signers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!


A few interesting pages:

Rev. James A. McGowan of Shakopee, Minnesota, inscribed a page on April 16, 1879.  He was James Alexander McGowan, born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 5, 1843.


J. S. Sherrill of Litchfield, Minnesota, signed a page, also on April 16, 1879.  He was Presbyterian Rev. John Saxton Sherrill, born at Pike, New York, on 18 February 1844.


Gussie E. Kiefer of Saint Paul, Minnesota, signed a page at the University of Minnesota, on October 28, 1878.  She was Augusta Elizabeth Kiefer.


Surnames in the album

?     [4]
Adams
Allen
Andrews
Baker
Barrett
Choate     [4]
Chute
Dodge
Eaton
Endicott     [3]
Florer
Foster     [2]
Galloupe
Gates
Girdler
Gordon
Haddock
Harris
Hathaway
Hinkley     [2]
Hobart
Hollister
Hopkins
Iddings
Jackson
Jones     [2]
Kiefer
Kilham     [4]
Kreis
Lanphear
Learoyd
Lee
Martin
McGowan
McNair
McNear
Meacom
Mixer
Norwood     [2]
Parsons
Potts
Powell
Preston     [2]
Raymond
Richardson
Robinson     [2]
Rogers
Roundy     [2]
Seaver
Sherrill
Smith     [2]
Sperry
Story
Sweat
Trask
Whitmarch
Whitney
Willis
Woodberry
Woodward
Wyman

Signers in the album

?
  • Delia S., N.B.M., signed on May 21, 1875
  • A. S. S., signed on February 16, 1874; page shared with M. E. W.
  • M. E. W., signed on February 16, 1874; shared the page with A. S. S.
  • Soph.
A
  • Annie B. Adams, Class of 1874 at Beverly High School at Beverly, Massachusetts
  • Mary Annette Allen of Northampton, Massachusetts, on February 14, 1876
  • Annie C. Andrews, signed at New Briscoe, Beverly, Massachusetts, on May 18, 1875
B
  • Bessie A. Baker, signed on January 22, 1874 at B.H.S., presumably Beverly High School at Beverly, Massachusetts
  • Fannie L. Barrett of Kingston, New York, signed at Sharon [presumably Massachusetts] on August 25, 1875
C
  • Nellie Quarles Choate of Beverly, Massachusetts; album owner
  • Grace Choate of Beverly, Massachusetts; presumably the Grace Choate who was Nellie's older sister; shared the page with Sara Pierrepont McNair
  • F. W. Choate, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on December 30, 1873. Presumably Nellie's father Frederick William Choate or his son.
  • Alice Choate of Beverly, Massachusetts, signed on July 7, 1874. She may have been Alice Dunlap Choate, Nellie's older half sister.
  • Sara B. Chute, signed at Sharon [presumably Massachusetts] on August 25, 1875
D
  • Alice M. Dodge of Beverly, Massachusetts, signed on November 28, 1881; shared the page with Carrie A. Robinson
E
  • C. L. Eaton, signed on January 16, 1874. Presumably Charles L. Eaton, husband of Nellie's older half sister, signer Grace (Choate) Eaton.  He may have been the C. LO. Eaton who signed another page.
  • Kittie M. Endicott, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on August 3, 1874
  • George Endicott of New York, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on July 29, 1878
  • Bessie Endicott of New York, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on July 30, 1878
F
  • Claire Florer of Wabasha, Minnesota, at University on November 3, 1878. [She may have been Clara Constance Florer.]  Shared the page with Fred A. Jackson
  • Eliza B. Foster, signed on December 30, 1873; presumably Eliza Breck (Choate) Foster, wife of Samuel Jeremiah Foster, and half sister of album owner Nellie Quarles Choate.
  • Nellie Foster of Beverly, Massachusetts, signed on January 16, 1874; shared the page with Ida L. Woodberry
G
  • Wilhelmina Galloupe, signed November 27, 1874 at 255 Beacon Street [presumably the Beacon Street at Boston, Massachusetts]. She would marry Samuel J. Mixter in 1879.
  • Bettie S. Gates of Marietta, Ohio, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on July 20, 1875
  • Lillie L. Girdler of Beverly, Massachusetts
  • Stephen M. Gordon of Beverly, Massachusetts, signed in 1874
H
  • E. S. Haddock of Beverly, Massachusetts, signed on February 19, 1875
  • Edith C. Harris of New London, Connecticut, signed on November 14, 1877
  • Cora Hathaway of Pleasant Grove, Minnesota, signed at Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 22, 1878.  Cora Belle Hathaway; shared the page with Louise Elma Hollister
  • C. W. Hinkley, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1873. Possibly Carrie W. Hinkley
  • Mamie W. Hinkley, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on February 21, 1874
  • M. T. Hobart, signed on February 25, 1874. C.P.T.H., February 24, 1874
  • Lou E. Hollister of Janesville, Minnesota, signed on November 22, 1878; "814". She was Louise Elma Hollister of Marshfield, Minnesota.  She shared the page with Cora Hathaway.
  • Lou B. Hopkins of Duluth, Minnesota, signed on March 31, 1879 [presumably at the University of Minnesota]. Lucy Bridges Hopkins.
I
  • F. W. Iddings of Grand Forks, Dakota, signed on April 16, 1879. North Dakota would gain statehood on November 2, 1889.  Shared the page with ? Martin and Susie A. Meacom
J
  • Fred A. Jackson, '77 [possibly a member of the Class of 1877 at the University of Minnesota]; page shared with Claire Florer
  • Lizzie Jones of Beverly, Massachusetts, signed on February 10, 1876
  • Mattie A. Jones, signed at North Beverly, Massachusetts, on April 29, 1874
K
  • Gussie E. Kiefer of Saint Paul, Minnesota, signed at University [University of Minnesota], on October 28, 1878. She was Augusta Elizabeth Kiefer.
  • Eleanor Kilham, signed on September 7, 1874. Though she didn't note a residence, she was from Beverly, Massachusetts. Presumably Eleanor Bridge Kilham, sister of Alfred Chadwick Kilham, who may have been the A. C. Kilham who signed a page.
  • A. C. Kilham, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on August 29, 1877. Presumably Alfred Chadwick Kilham, brother of signer Eleanor Kilham.
  • Bessie L. Kilham of Beverly, Massachusetts, signed in March 1876. Perhaps sister of signer L. H. Kilham, who might have been Lizzie H. Kilham.
  • L. H. Kilham, signed on March 18, 1874. Perhaps Lizzie H. Kilham, sister of signer Bessie Kilham.
  • Laura A. Kreis of Monticello, Minnesota, signed at the University of Minnesota, on November 22, 1878. Laura Augusta Kreis.
L
  • M. Lizzie Lanphear, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on April 13, 1874. Presumably Mary Lizzie Lanphear who would marry Hezekiah Ober Woodbury that same year.
  • Henrietta Learoyd, signed at B.H.S., on June 25, 1874 [presumably Beverly High School at Beverly, Massachusetts]
  • Katie Lee, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on October 14, 1874
M
  • ? Martin [possibly H. Martin]; on a page shared with Susie A. Meacom and F. W. Iddings
  • Rev. James A. McGowan of Shakopee, Minnesota, signed on April 16, 1879. James Alexander McGowan, born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 5, 1843
  • Sara Pierrepont McNair of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 2, 1879 - records show Sarah Pierrepont McNair; page shared with Grace Choate
  • Nellie F. McNear of Wiscasset, Maine, signed at the University of Minnesota on March 5, 1879. Nellie Frances McNear was the daughter of Captain Wilson McNear and Mary Elizabeth (Kennedy) McNear. Sadly, Nellie died in 1881.
  • Susie A. Meacom, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on January 22, 1874; page shared with ? Martin and F. W. Iddings
  • Carrie L. Mixer of Unionville, Ohio, signed at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, on May 15, 1879. She was Carrie Louise Mixer
N
  • Helen Norwood, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on September 2, 1874; "Your affectionate cousin". Album owner Nellie Choate's father, Frederick William Choate, and Helen Norwood's mother, Adaline Augusta (Choate) Norwood, were brother and sister.
  • Vina B. Norwood of Hyde Park, Illinois. She would marry J. Blackburn Jones at Hyde Park, Illinois, on 30 August 1877.
P
  • Fannie E. Parsons, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on January 23, 1875
  • Mrs. Plantagenet Potts. "Nellie - Adieu", perhaps reflecting that Nellie would be leaving Beverly, Massachusetts, for Minnesota, or vice versa.  Or the name was a joking reference to the Plantagenet Potts of literature.
  • Jeannie Powell of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, signed at University in 1878.  She was Jane Marvin Powell
  • Ettie F. Preston, signed at Beverly High School at Beverly, Massachusetts, on February 13, 1874; presumably Esther F. Preston
  • Laura Preston, signed on February 13, 1874
R
  • Hattie A. Raymond of Beverly, Massachusetts, signed in February 1874
  • Lillie C. Richardson of Cambridge, Massachusetts, signed on August 11, 1874
  • Lillian S. Robinson of Boston, Massachusetts, signed at Sharon [presumably Massachusetts] on June 14, 1878
  • Carrie A. Robinson of Boston, Massachusetts, signed on June 16, 1878; shared the page with Alice M. Dodge
  • James Rogers of Farmington [no state mentioned], signed in April 1879; page shared with Maggie Whitney
  • Martha E. Roundy, signed on February 13, 1874. [Lived at Beverly, Massachusetts.]
  • Alice M. Roundy, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on September 2, 1878
S
  • Harry E. Seaver of Charlestown, Massachusetts, signed on 6 July 1877
  • J. S. Sherrill of Litchfield, Minnesota, signed on April 16, 1879. Rev. John Saxton Sherrill, born 18 February 1844 at Pike, New York; Presbyterian minister at Litchfield, Minnesota
  • Lizzie Smith, signed on February 14, 1873
  • Hettie A. Smith, signed at Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 13, 1878; Nellie's cousin, once removed. Hettie's parents were William Judson Smith and Augusta (Norwood) Smith. Augusta's (Norwood) Smith's mother was Adaline Augusta (Choate) Norwood, a sister to Nellie's father Frederick William Choate. Hettie's family may have been the reason that Nellie went to Minnesota.
  • W. G. Sperry, signed at Beverly, Massachusetts, on March 2, 1874; possibly Willard G. Sperry, but I'm not sure of his middle initial.
  • Mattie S. P. Story of Essex, Massachusetts, signed on January 26, 1876
  • Jessie M. Sweat of Brownfield, Maine, signed on December 19, 1878; shared the page with C. L. Eaton
T
  • Addie L. Trask, signed at B.H.S. on February 16, 1874, presumably Beverly High School at Beverly, Massachusetts
W
  • Alice E. Whitmarch of Beverly, Massachusetts, signed on January 5, 1874
  • Maggie Whitney, signed on February 6, 1874; shared the page with James Rogers.
  • Georgie M. Willis of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, signed on August 18, 1875
  • Ida L. Woodberry; shared the page with Nellie Foster
  • Abbie Woodward, signed on August 3, 1875. "W.T.N.H.L. ; not sure of the T and N
  • Addie Wyman, signed at Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 21, 1879; student at the University of Minnesota
Beverly, Massachusetts



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