1870s+ Autograph Album of Ozro Julius Corliss of Saint Albans, Vermont, while a Student at Barre Academy

1870s/1880s autograph album of Ozro Julius Corliss of Saint Albans, Vermont, kept mainly while he was a student at Barre Academy at Barre, Vermont, with a few from his service on the U.S.S. Richmond and a few from his years in Kansas.   He left notes on a few pages indicating careers, marriages and deaths, though he was off on a few dates.  Perhaps the album had come to light in his later years, and he was relying on his memory.

There was more than one Ozro Julius or Julius Ozro in the Corliss family but fortunately I found a multi-page biography of an Ozro Julius Corliss in "A Biographical History of Central Kansas", Volume II, published in 1902.  This Ozro was born in Vermont, attended Barre Academy, served in the U.S. Navy and moved to Kansas, so I feel confident that he was the owner of this autograph album.  The article goes into some detail of his family history, military service and years in Kansas.

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

Ozro Julius Corliss was born at Swanton, Vermont, on 12 April 1857, the son of John Rae Corliss and Lovica (Eaton) Corliss.  One of Ozro's brothers, Clark Alonzo Corliss of Saint Albans, Vermont, signed a page in the album.

According to the biography, Ozro was at Barre Academy from the age of 16 to 19.  A few of the faculty and many students at Barre Academy signed pages in the album, as did a few from Swanton Academy.

The alphabetical list of Barre Academy students online at the Morgan Library of Ohio website was an enormous help in deciphering the identities of signers who used initials for their first and middle names.

Jacob Shedd Spaulding was principal of Barre Academy from 1852 to 1880; his wife Mary W. (Taylor) Spaulding also taught there.  They signed facing pages in the album in 1876.  In the late 1880s, Barre Academy was renamed Spaulding High School in honor of Jacob Shedd Spaulding.

One of the Barre Academy students who signed a page, in 1877, was Chauncey Hoyt Hayden of Underhill, Vermont.  He was the future husband of Mary Alice Lane, whose autograph album, in which Chauncey also signed, was featured in another post.

After Barre Academy, Ozro worked at the home farm in Vermont before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1878 at the Charlestown Navy Yard at Boston, Massachusetts.  His first ship was the U.S.S. Wabash; he was then transferred to the man-of-war U.S.S. Richmond and traveled around the world for the next three years.  He was on the ship near Corsica when it was damaged during the Great Storm of 1879.  He left the service in 1881.

A fellow shipmate on the U.S.S. Richmond was Samuel A. Moore, Engineer Yeoman, who signed while the ship was at Panama on September 27, 1881.

Ozro had been very careful with his money while in the service and had lent it out with interest over his tour so that he had a nest egg of over a thousand dollars when his tour ended.  He went back to Vermont and, on April 12, 1882 at Saint Albans, married Udella Mary Dutton, daughter of Lucius and Mary (Keeler, according to the biography) Dutton.

After a couple years, the couple moved to Sylvan Grove, Kansas, where they purchased the first of several farms they owned over the years.  Ozro worked for a while as a druggist at Sun City, Kansas, which explains the several pages signed by Sun City, Kansas, residents, including that of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Douglas, who signed shared page in 1890.

They lived for a short while in Oklahoma before returning to Barber County, Kansas, where they purchased a fine farm; Ozro was involved in civic affairs.  The couple had two sons, Clark Lucius Corliss and Bruce Ray Corliss.  The biography mentioned that the sons were educated back East; they apparently stayed there or returned there at some point as Clark died in Connecticut and Bruce in Vermont, both after long lives.

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.

Surname list

?
Allen           [3[
Allen
Allen
Babcock
Bailey
Bass
Batchelder
Beckett
Beckley
Bigelow
Bisbee
Bradley
Camp
Clark
Conlan
Corey
Corliss          [3]
Corliss
Corliss
Crane
Cushman
Davis
Day
Dickinson
Dinsmore
Dodds           [3]
Dodds
Dodds
Douglas          [2]
Douglas
Downer
Edmiston
Evans
Ferrin
Fisk
Flint              [2]
Flint
Fuller
Gile
Gleason
Graves
Hayden
Haynes
Hazen
Hempleman
Henry
Hill
House
Hovey
Huntington
Huse
Hutchinson
Jewett
Ketchum
Kingsley          [2]
Kingsley
Knight
Lamson            [2]
Lamson
Lockert
Locklin
Manning
Merrill
Moore             [2]
Moore
Morris             [2]
Morris
Northrop
Parsons
Peck
Perkins
Perrin
Rice                   [2]
Rice
Richardson          [2]
Richardson
Robinson
Seymour
Simonds
Skeels
Spaulding           [2]
Spaulding
Stafford
Stiles
Story
Swasey
Townsend          [2]
Townsend
Tupper               [2]
Tupper
Wade
Watson
Webster
Wheelock
White
Whittemore          [2]
Whittemore
Wood
Wright

Signers in the album         [Note: Given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]

?

• H. H. of Philipsburg, Quebec, signed on January 18, 1877; not sure of initials

A

• Left of facing pages entitled "Chums": Fred O. Allen of Westford, Vermont, B.B.H., signed on March 22, 1875. Fred Otis Allen, a student at Barre Academy. The right page has the inscription of Hermon Oliver Webster.
• George A. Allen of Westford, Vermont, signed at Barre, Vermont, on October 14, 1875. He was George Arthur Allen, a student at Barre Academy.
• Hattie M. Allen of South Hero, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy in 1876. She was Hattie Manda Allen and mentions that the owner was her brother, though it must have been a religious, social or in-law relationship.

B

• Frank B. Babcock of Northport, New York, on Long Island, signed at Barre Academy on April 17, 1875.
• Surname is Bailey, and I think the initials are G. W., signed at Barre Academy in 1876. Possibly George Whitefield Bailey of Greensboro, Vermont.
• George E. Bass of Williamstown, Vermont, signed at Barre, Vermont, on October 1, 1875. He was a student at Barre Academy.
• Ivers B. Batchelder of South Woodbury, Vermont, signed at Barre, Vermont, on April 17, 1875. Student at Barre Academy.
• Charles H. Beckett of Williamstown, Vermont, signed on September 28, 1875. Later note: "Clerk Serogate [Surrogate?], N.Y. City N.Y." He was Charles Henry Beckett.
• Fred D. Beckley of Barre, Vermont, signed on November 10, 1875. He was Fred David Beckley, a student at Barre Academy.
• W. A. B?, possibly William Albert Bigelow of Brookfield, Vermont, a student at Barre Academy
• A. B. Bisbee of Waitsfield, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy. He was Arthur Brown Bisbee.  Shared the page with H. C. Gleason
• Julia Bradley of Fairfield, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy in the Spring of 76.

C

• Clayton F. Camp of Orange, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on September 27, 1875
• Elroy Clark of North Hero, Vermont, signed on December 15, 1875 at Barre Academy. Later note: "Attorney for Denver & Rio Grande, Denver, Colo". Elroy N. Clark.
• M. F. Conlan of New York City, signed on the U.S.S. Richmond at Panama, on September 28, 1881
• Edmund W. Corey of Grand Isle, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on October 14, 1875. He was Edmund Walworth Corey.
• O. J. Corliss of St. Albans, Vermont. Ozro Julius Corliss, the album owner, son John Rae Corliss and Lovica (Eaton) Corliss
• Rev. H. G. Corliss; cousin of Julius Ozro Corliss. Presumably Herbert George Corliss, son of Levi Orson Corliss and first wife Almira Pierce (Griffin) Corliss
• Clark A. Corliss of St. Albans, Vermont; brother of album owner Ozro Julius Corliss.
• Alice Crane, signed on February 15, 1876. Later note: "Married Lelan Tupper, died in the 90s in Kan." She was Alice Eliza Crane who married Leland Ellis Tupper. Alice died in 1901.
• H. H. Cushman of Rochester, Vermont. He was Henry Herbert Cushman, a student at Barre Academy.

D

• Eugene Willard Davis of Rutland, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on March 22, 1875
• Martha P. Day of South Barre, Vermont
• Minnie E. Dickinson of Williamstown, Vermont, B.B.H., signed during the Spring Term, 1877. Student at Barre Academy.
• Willie W. Dinsmore of Alstead, New Hampshire, signed at Barre Academy on October 13, 1875. He was Willie Warner Dinsmore.
• J. W. Dodds of North Hero, Vermont, signed at Barre, Vermont, on April 2, 1874. James Watson Dodds, a student at Barre Academy.
• Emma J. Dodds of North Hero, Vermont, signed on March 12, 1876 at Barre Academy. Emma Jane Dodds.
• Mary C. Dodds of North Hero, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on January 14, 1876.
• C. H. Douglas; shared the page with Mrs. C. H. Douglas who signed at Sun City, Kansas, on March 16, 1890.  
• Mrs. C. H. Douglas, signed at Sun City, Kansas, on March 16, 1890; shared the page with her husband C. H. Douglas
• W. A. Downer of Rochester, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on September 5, 1876. Willard A. Downer.

E

• A. A. Edmiston of Bloomfield, New Jersey, signed on the U.S.S. Richmond at Panama on September 28, 1881
• W. V. Evans of Sun City, Kansas, signed on April 29, 1887

F

• H. E. Ferrin of Hinesburgh, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on September 25, 1875. He was Holman Ela Ferrin.
• Amy B. Fisk of Waitsfield, Vermont, signed at Barre, Vermont, on March 7, 1876. Teacher and Preceptress at Barre Academy.
• Eleanor S. Flint of Barre, Vermont
• Hattie L. Flint of Barre, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on April 17, 1875. She was Harriet Lillie Flint or Hattie Lillie Flint.
• Genora A. Fuller of Huntington Center, Vermont, signed on August 17, 1875

G

• Carrie H. Gile of West Hartford, Vermont, signed at B.B.H. on January 12, 1876. She was Carrie Hannah Gile, a student at Barre Academy.
• H. C. Gleason of Waitsfield, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy. He was Herbert Carlisle Gleason of Waitsfield, Vermont; shared the page with Arthur Brown Bisbee.
• Len K. Graves of Waterbury, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy in 1875. Leonard Knight Graves.

H

• Chauncey H. Hayden of Underhill, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy in 1877. He was Chauncey Hoyt Hayden; see another post featuring the album of his future wife Mary Alice Lane of Underhill, Vermont: http://heirloomsreunited.blogspot.com/2014/08/1882-1888-autograph-album-of-mary-alice.html
• W. A. Haynes of Natick, Massachusetts, signed at Barre Academy, '75. Presumably Willard Augustus Haynes.
• Left of facing pages entitled "Chums": A. H. Hazen of North Hero, Vermont, signed in the Spring term 1875. He was Arthur Herbert Hazen, a student at Barre Academy. The right facing page was signed by Darwin Pearl Kingsley.
• O. M. Hempleman of Richmond, Indiana, signed on the U.S.S. "Richmond", at Panama U.S.C., on September 28, 1881
• Walter S. Henry of Waterbury, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on April 17, 1875. He was Walter Scott Henry.
• Arthur H. Hill of Isle La Mott, Vermont, signed on March 27, 1876 at B.A., Barre Academy, Class of '78. Arthur Henry Hill.
• Kitty E. House of Oconto, Wisconsin, signed at Barre Academy on March 28, 1876. She was Kitty Emily House.
• Hattie R. Hovey of Jericho Centre, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on March 20, 1876. She was Harriet Rhoda Hovey.
• Written on the page upside down: W. D. Huntington of Rochester, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on March 5, 1875. Later note: "Died in Rochester Vt about 1910". William Daniel Huntington.
• George R. Huse of Waterbury Centre of Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on April 16, 1875
• Fannie E. Hutchinson of Barre, Vermont

J

• George A. Jewett of Swanton, Vermont. Later note: "Died about 84 or 5"

K

• C. A. Ketchum of Barre, Vermont, signed on March 7, 1875. He was Charles A. Ketchum.
• Lena P. Kingsley of Alburgh Centre, Vermont, signed on May 12, 1876 at B. B. H., presumably at Barre Academy. Lena Parmilla Kingsley
• Right of facing pages entitled "Chums": D. P. Kingsley of Alburgh Center, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on March 24, 1875. Later note: "President N.Y. Life Insurance Co." The left facing page was signed by Arthur Herbert Hazen.
• H. A. Knight of North Hero, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy in the Fall Term of 1875. He was Homer Albert Knight.

L

• George Lamson of Brookfield, Vermont, signed on February 13, 1876 at Barre Academy
• William Lamson of Brookfield, Vermont, signed at B.B.H. on February 13, 1876
• Dora E. Lockert, signed at Sun City, Kansas on March 7, 1891. Later note: "Died Chicago, Ill, August 1917"
• W. B. Locklin of Fairfield, Vermont, signed at Barre, Vermont, on January 5, 1876. Wallace Byron Locklin, a student at Barre Academy.

M

• John H. Manning of U.S.S. Richmond
• L. A. Merrill of Williamstown, Vermont. He was Leroy Albert Merrill, a student at Barre Academy.
• James A. Moore, Engineer Yeoman, signed on the U.S.S. Richmond at Panama on September 27, 1881. "Your Old Shipmate" "Europe, India, China, Japan"
• W. J. Moore of Champlain, New York, signed at Barre Academy on April 16, 1875
• W. C. Morris of Rochester, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy during the Fall Term, on October 22, 1875. He was Wilson Cooper Morris.
• E. S. Morris, signed at Sun City, Kansas, on March 22, 1890

N

• Mandie C. Northrop of Fairfield, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy

P

• Edward L. Parsons of Swanton, Vermont, signed on January 17, 1877
• O. W. Peck of Montgomery, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on March 4, 1876. Presumably Oscar Wait Peck.
• N. F. Perkins, signed on the U.S.S. Richmond, 2nd Rate, at Panama, on September 27, 1881
• Helen Perrin of Berlin, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on March 22, 1876.

R

• Alger W. Rice of Barre, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on October 22, 1875. Alger William Rice
• J. E. Rice of Westford, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy during the Fall Term of 1874. Possibly John E. Rice.
• J. B. Richardson of Barre, Vermont, signed on January 25, 1876. Perhaps John Burton Richardson, an instructor and assistant principal at Barre Academy
• Annie May Richardson of Leavenworth, Kansas, signed at Barre Academy, Class of 1876.
• Emma H. Robinson of South Hero, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy in 1876. She was Emma Harriet Robinson.

S

• Edmund Seymour of Saint Albans, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy in 1875.
• W. D. Simonds of Roxbury, Vermont, signed in November 1875 at Barre Academy. Class of 1876. Presumably William Day Simonds who would go on to Amherst College in the fall of 1876.
• A. C. Skeels of Swanton, Vermont, signed on January 18, 1877. Presumably Amos C. Skeels
• J. S. Spaulding, signed in 1876. Added note: "Died in 1879". Jacob Shedd Spaulding, principal of Barre Academy at Barre, Vermont; his wife Mary W. (Taylor) Spaulding of Barre, Vermont, signed the right facing page.
• M. W. Spaulding of Barre, Vermont, signed on February 14, 1876. Mary W. (Taylor) Spaulding, whose husband Jacob S. Spaulding signed the left facing page. She was a teacher at Barre Academy.
• Wendell P. Stafford of Barre, Vermont, signed on October 27, 1875, Class of 1877. Later note: "Judge Supreme Court Dist. Columbia" Wendell Phillips Stafford, a student at Barre Academy.
• W. M. Stiles of Montgomery Center, Vermont, signed on January 4, 1876 at Barre Academy. He was William Miller Stiles.
• D. R. Story of North Fairfax, Vermont, B.B.H. No. 12. Later note: "Died several years ago." He was Daniel Richardson Story, a student at Barre Academy.
• G. T. Swasey of Waterbury, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy in March 1875; "your old schoolfellow". George Truman Swasey.

T

• Emily S. Townsend of Barre, Vermont, signed on February 26, 1876. Late note: "Died about 1879 or 80".
• Ella M. Townsend of Barre, Vermont. She was Ella Mary Townsend, a student at Barre Academy.
• Leland E. Tupper of Bakersfield, Vermont. Leland Ellis Tupper, a student at Barre Academy.
• Fred S. Tupper of Bakersfield, Vermont. Later note: "Died Fairfield, Vt., about 1915". He was Frederick Simon Tupper.

W

• Henry Wade of Waterbury, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on March 22, 1875
• Ida B. Watson of Swanton, Vermont, signed on January 17, 1877 at S. A., presumably Swanton Academy
• Right of facing pages entitled "Chums": Hermon O. Webster of Alstead, New Hampshire, B.B.H., signed on March 22, 1875. He was Hermon Oliver Webster, a student at Barre Academy. The left facing page was signed by Fred Otis Allen.
• Carrie M. Wheelock, Class of 1877. She was Carrie Mandana Wheelock of Barre, Vermont.
• J. F. White of Lonsdale, Rhode Island; not sure of initials.
• Evelyn D. Whittemore of Northfield, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on February 15, 1876. She was Evelyn Dorcas Whittemore.
• L. D. Whittemore of Northfield, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on April 16, 1875. He was Luther Denny Whittemore.
• Fred Wood of Shelburne, Vermont, student at Barre Academy
• T. C. Wright of Waterbury, Vermont, signed at Barre Academy on March 25, 1875. Tillman Christopher Wright.

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