Tuesday, September 29, 2015

1858-1861 Autograph Album of Emily C. White of Londonderry, New Hampshire; future wife of Samuel Dean Leavitt of Eastport, Maine


1858-1861 autograph album of Emily C. White of Londonderry, New Hampshire, given to her by her brother Henry Harrison White.  Emily Colby White Leavitt (1835-1921)


On August 7, 1860, Emily would marry inscriber Samuel Dean Leavitt, a fellow student at Franklin Academy, and move to Samuel's hometown of Eastport, Maine, where at least one of the autographs was acquired.

The album measures approximately 8-1/4" by 7" and contains the sentiments of 27 of Emily's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appear at the end of this post.

The album, published by Leavitt & Allen of New York City, also contains five full page engravings, in addition to that on the title page.


Below, a cabinet photograph of Emily in middle age, taken by the Loring studio of Eastport, Maine.


From brief online research, hopefully correct - corrections requested:

Emily Colby White Leavitt (1835-1921) was born at Londonderry, New Hampshire, the daughter of Reuben and Rachel (Corning) White.  Judging from several of the inscriptions, Emily apparently attended Franklin Academy in New Hampshire, which her future husband, Samuel Dean Leavitt, also shown as Samuel Deane Leavitt, also attended.  

Samuel left an inscription in Emily's album in May 1860, three months before their marriage.


Samuel Dean(e) Leavitt was born August 12, 1838 at Exeter, New Hampshire, son of Benjamin Brackett Leavitt and Harriet (Lamprey) Brackett.  Emily and Samuel had, I believe, six children, but it appears that several, if not five of them, died young.  Their youngest, Amy White Leavitt, who married Henry Chapman Waters, is shown below as a child.


Samuel Dean Leavitt was an influential citizen at Eastport, Maine.  Read more about him here in Maine: A History, Volume 4, by Louis Clinton Hatch, published in 1919.  Included in the biography is a photograph of Samuel Dean Leavitt.


Below, a cabinet photograph of Samuel Dean Leavitt's father, Benjamin Brackett Leavitt, another influential Eastport, Maine, citizen:


If you have corrections and/or information to share, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Surnames in the Album

? [4]CC ?DDaniell [2]MMillerTThompson
B ?Clark [2]EEmery [2]Moore [2]WWhite [2]
BaldwinCorning ?GGarvinNNesmith
Boyce [2]CorningLLaddPPaine
Leavitt [2]Poor

Inscribers in the Album - given names within a specific surname might not be in alphabetical order.
  • Franc, inscribed at Manchester, New Hampshire, on January 21, 1859.   Possibly a nickname for Frances
  • Eldora, inscribed at Londonderry, New Hampshire, on February 28, 1860.  Possibly Eldora Garvin, daughter of Benjamin F. Garvin and Nancy M. (Spinney) Garvin of Londonderry, New Hampshire
  • Sarah, inscribed at Franklin, New Hampshire, in March 1860
  • Maggie, inscribed on June 8, 1861
  • C. B.
  • F. Esther Baldwin, inscribed at Manchester, New Hampshire, on November 11, 1858.  Presumably Frances Esther Baldwin (1837-1860), adopted daughter of Cyrus and Susan Baldwin and future wife of John D. Green.
  • Nute Boyce, inscribed at Londonderry, New Hampshire, on July 9, 1860.  Presumably Newell Boyce, husband of inscriber Celinda C. (Flanders) Boyce.
  • Celinda C. Boyce, inscribed at Londonderry, New Hampshire, on July 8, 1860; Celinda C. (Flanders) Boyce, wife of inscriber Nute Boyce, known formally as Newell Boyce
  • Lucy W. C., inscribed at Franklin, New Hampshire in March 1860.  Presumably Lucy W. Clark, a schoolmate of Emily C. White at Franklin Academy.  She may have been the daughter of Charles and Mary Clark.
  • Lucy I. Clark, or Lucy J. Clark, inscribed at Franklin, New Hampshire, on March 30, 1860.  She may have been Lucy Jane (White) Clark (1814-1864), wife of Joseph Clark and mother of James Adams Clark, a schoolmate of Emily C. White at Franklin Academy
  • Lucy W. C., inscribed at Franklin, New Hampshire in March 1860.  Presumably Lucy W. Clark, a schoolmate of Emily C. White at Franklin Academy.  She may have been the daughter of Charles and Mary Clark.
  • ? Corning, inscribed at Concord, New Hampshire, on April 18, 1860.  Not sure of initial(s) or surname.  Perhaps Rt. Corning, for Robert Corning; or R. N. Corning.  The surname could also be Comins or ?  If R. N. Corning, he might have been Robert N. Corning, a railway conductor at Concord, New Hampshire.
  • Regina A. Corning, inscribed at Londonderry, New Hampshire, on July 8, 1860
  • Mary E. Daniell, inscribed at Franklin, New Hampshire in March 1860.  Presumably Mary Eastman Daniell (1840-1910), daughter of Jeremiah Fisher Daniell and Annette (Eastman) Daniell
  • Warren F. Daniell, inscribed at Franklin, New Hampshire, on March 20, 1860
  • S. F. Emery, inscribed on August 5, 1860.  She may have been Sarah Frances Emery (1826-1898).  Inscriber E. G. Emery may have been Elbridge Gerry Emery, her brother.
  • E. G. Emery, inscribed in May 1860; inscribed to "Dear Madam", so presumably a male.  Perhaps Elbridge Gerry Emery (1818-1877).  Inscriber S. F. Emery may have been his sister Sarah Frances Emery.
  • Eldora, inscribed at Londonderry, New Hampshire, on February 28, 1860.  Possibly Eldora Garvin, daughter of Benjamin F. Garvin and Nancy M. (Spinney) Garvin of Londonderry, New Hampshire
  • Harriett L. Ladd, inscribed at Franklin, New Hampshire, in March 1860.  Presumably the Harriette Louisa Ladd born November 11, 1840, the daughter of Dudley and Amanda (Palmer) Ladd.  She was a teacher at Franklin, New Hampshire.
  • M. M. Leavitt, inscribed at Franklin Academy in March 1860; Mary M. Leavitt, according to a Franklin Academy catalog of 1857.   Emily would marry Samuel Deane Leavitt; perhaps a relative of Mary
  • S. D. Leavitt, inscribed in May 1860.  He was Samuel Deane Leavitt, Emily's schoolmate at Franklin Academy and her future husband 
  • Angie D. Miller, inscribed at Lawrence, Massachusetts, on June 23, 1860
  • Lo P. Moore, inscribed at Manchester, New Hampshire, on June 4, 1860.  Perhaps a nickname for Louisa or Lovina, or perhaps Loring P. Moore (1839-1894)
  • Sarah A. Moore, inscribed at Manchester, New Hampshire, on June 19, 1860
  • Annie Nesmith, inscribed at Franklin, New Hampshire, in March 1860.  Schoolmate of Emily C. White at Franklin Academy.  Possibly the Annie Nesmith born July 24, 1841, daughter of George and Mary (Brooks) Nesmith 
  • Fanny H. Paine, inscribed at Eastport, Maine, on September 2, 1861; presumably after Emily's marriage to Samuel Deane Leavitt and move to Eastport from New Hampshire
  • C. M. Poor, inscribed at Londonderry, New Hampshire, on May 15, 1860.  Possibly Caroline M. (Chipman) Poor, wife of Perry Poor
  • Dora Thompson, inscribed at Franklin Academy, on April 2, 1860; presumably Aldorah J. Thompson, shown in the 1850 Census of Franklin, New Hampshire, as the daughter of Joseph and Sarah Thompson
  • Emily C. White of Londonderry, New Hampshire; album owner.  She was presented the album by her brother Henry Harrison White.
  • C. G. White, or C. C. White, or ?, inscribed at Londonderry, New Hampshire, on June 24, 1860.  Inscribed to "Sister Em".  Not sure if the inscriber was a sibling, a sibling-in-law, or if "Sister" was an honorific.


Sunday, September 27, 2015

1892-1898 Journal of the Methodist Episcopal Sociable at Pembroke, Maine


1898-1905 journal of the Methodist Episcopal "Sociable" at Pembroke, Maine.  There was a reference to the Iron Works Church, so this organization may have been associated with that church, though there was at least one other in the town.  Read more about the Iron Works here.

See the next journal in succession, covering the years 1898 to 1905.  More journals are available, from 1892 to 1926.

Found at the end of this post:
  • an alphabetical surname list
  • an alphabetical list of names found within the journal, many repeated dozens of times; corrections welcome!
  • images of all pages in the album

The journal, one of several found, measures approximately 8-1/4" by 7".  It was kept by several of the members serving terms as secretary, with varying handwriting and spelling.  If you notice errors, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

One page consists of the names of members.  [Click on any image to enlarge it.]


Members shown above, in the order they appear.  For an alphabetized list, see farther below; it may include some given names of members or those of their husbands.
  • Mrs. Pulk
  • Mrs. Ransom
  • Mrs. Sherrard
  • Mrs. Clark
  • Mrs. Wright
  • Mrs. Lindsay
  • Mrs. Dudley
  • Mrs. Dean
  • Mrs. Holman
  • Mrs. Wilder
  • Mrs. D. Wright
  • Jennie Strail
  • Mrs. Porter
  • Mrs. McQuary or perhaps McQuarrie
  • Mrs. Burns
  • Mrs. Babcock
  • Mrs. J. Porter
  • Lyman Smith
  • Mrs. Smith
  • Mrs. Davis
Constitution and By-Laws:


Surnames in the Journal  - Some may be variant names for the same people

AAllen [2]DDavisLLaughlinRRansom [2]
BBabcockDean [2]LindsayReynolds [2]
BaldwinDennysville LumberLittle [2]Rogers [3]
BoydenDudley [3]LurchinSSherrard
Bridges [3]GGahan [2]MM ? [2]Smith [2]
BrownGardnerMaharSprague
BuckGiles or GillisMcInnesStrail
BurnsGillisMcQuarrieWWadsworth
CCampbell [2]HHatchMolzWadsworth's (Ship Chandlery, Eastport, Maine)
CapenHayesOOwenWilder [3]
CarsonHersey [4]PPattangall [2]Wright [4]
ClarkHobart [2]PorterYYoung
Hobart's StorePorter [4]
HolmanPulk [2]

Names in the Journal - Some may be variant names for the same people
  • Lizzie Allen
  • Fannie Allen
  • Mrs. Babcock
  • Gertie Baldwin
  • Grizelda Boyden
  • Willy Bridges
  • Charles Bridges
  • Mrs. Henry Bridges
  • Mrs. Brown
  • Mr. Buck
  • Mrs. Burns
  • Mrs. Emma Campbell
  • Mrs. B. A. Campbell
  • Mrs. Capen
  • Mrs. Carson
  • Mrs. Robert Clark
  • Mrs. James Davis
  • Mrs. John Dean
  • Minna Dean
  • Dennysville Lumber
  • Mrs. John Dudley
  • John Dudley
  • Mrs. Vic Dudley
  • Mr. Gahan, minister
  • Mrs. Gahan
  • Mrs. Calvin Gardner
  • Emma Giles or Gillis
  • Mr. J. Gillis
  • Mrs. George K. Hatch                  
  • Mr. Hayes
  • Sanford Hersey
  • Mrs. Hersey
  • Mr. Hersey
  • Mr. A. Hersey or U. Hersey
  • Mrs. George Hobart
  • Mrs. William Hobart
  • Hobart's
  • Mrs. James Holman
  • Mrs. Laughllin
  • Mrs. Joseph Lindsay
  • Mr. Little
  •  Mrs. Emma Little            
  • Mr. Lurchin
  • Mr. and Mrs. Monie [?]
  • Willie M ?
  • Annie Mahar
  • Mrs. Allen McInnes
  • Mrs. McQuarry or McQuarrie
  • Mrs. Emma Molz
  • Mrs. Lou Owen
  • Mrs. Ezra H. Pattangall
  • Mrs. Edwin Pattangall
  • Mrs. John Porter
  • Mrs. H. Porter
  • Mrs. Cassius Porter
  • Mrs. Eva Porter
  • Mrs. C. Porter
  • Mrs. Pulk, written as Polk
  • Mrs. Matthew Pulk
  • Mrs. Laura Ransom, wife of Henry Ransom, "Harry"
  • Helen Ransom
  • Reynolds
  • Mrs. Bert Reynolds
  • Mrs. Rogers
  • Miss B. Rogers
  • Mrs. Bernard Rogers
  • Mrs. Sherrard
  • Lyman Smith
  • Mrs. Smith
  • Mrs. E. H. Sprague 
  • Jennie Strail; Mrs. Charles Strail
  • Mrs. Eliza Wadsworth
  • Wadsworth's (presumably the Ship-Chandlery at Eastport, Maine)
  • Mrs. Fred Wilder
  • E. Wilder & Son
  • Mrs. Seddie Wilder
  • Mrs. Charles Wright
  • Mrs. David Wright, Jr.
  • Mrs. David Wright
  • Mrs. Jane Wright
  • Rev. O. S. Young
See all of the pages here - use full-screen and stop action to read.



Friday, September 25, 2015

1846-1870 Farm Journal of John Morrell of Eliot, Maine; Mentions His Children and Neighbors


1846-1870 journal of the Morrell farm of Eliot, Maine, which includes many mentions of John Morrell and his son Benning Morrell, especially, and also of John's sons Andrew Jackson Morrell; Franklin Jefferson Morrell; and daughter Henrietta Morrell, as well as of other area folk.

The journal, with covers and spine, measures nearly 8-1/2" by 7".  A few smaller journal pages, measuring about 8" by 6-1/2" without the covers, are tucked in the journal and describe the farm's dealings in sheep, lambs and bees from the same time frame.

See images of the entire journal, and the pages tucked within, at the end of this post.

The first two pages are more narrative than the majority of pages.  They describe the establishment and improvement of the farm.  The majority of pages describe the weather and farm activities in a laconic fashion.



Sadly, no births, marriages or deaths are recorded, even of immediate family members.  Holidays mentioned in the journal:
  • Thanksgiving, mentioned each year, including during the Civil War Years, as "Thanksgiving in all Lincoln States".  In 1865 Thanksgiving was on December 7; as per the proclamation by President Andrew Johnson of October 28, 1865.
  • Lent, mentioned at least once,
  • Fast Day
  • White Sunday, by which I believe he meant Whit Sunday
Farm losses to the Morrells, and to their neighbors, were duly noted.
  • Mr. Joseph Farbush, presumably Joseph Furbush, lost an ox on August 29, 1859 when lightning hit the barn.  
  • Mr. James Jenkins lost his barn due to lightning on July 29, 1859.  
  • Sheep losses on the Morrell farm
1859 must have been an intense year for lightning, as evidenced by the above and an entry that indicates Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was struck by lightning five times on June 21, 1859.   Another interesting phenomenon noted was the occultation of Venus by the Moon on April 24, 1860, which was noted on the line for April 25.


Places mentioned in the journal:
  • Eliot,  Maine
  • Dover, New Hampshire, site of the Fair, where in 1859, the horse Draco won in two minutes and 41 seconds
  • Portsmouth, New Hampshire
  • Rocky Hills
  • River Pasture
  • Marsh
  • Portland,  Maine
People mentioned in the journal
  • Mr. Joseph Farbush, presumably Joseph Furbush - his ox was killed by lightning in the barn on August 29, 1859
  • D. Hersey
  • Levi Hersey; middle initial possibly T; who did sheep business with the Morrell farm
  • Mr. Daniel Jenkins, who did sheep business with the Morrell farm
  • Mr. James Jenkins; his barn burned on July 20, 1859
  • Benning Morrell; son of John Morrell
  • Franklin J. Morrell; Franklin Jefferson Morrell, son of John Morrell
  • J. Morrell; referring to himself, John Morrell
  • C. E. Morrell; Charles Edward Morrell, son of John Morrell
  • Henrietta Morrell, daughter of John Morrell
  • John Raitt
  • Miss H. H. Shapleigh, teacher; perhaps Harriet H. Shapleigh, daughter of Dennis and Ruth (Chase) Shapleigh
From brief online research, hopefully correct:  [corrections and additions requested!]

John Morrell was born October 17, 1797, the son of Joel and Hannah (Wilson) Morrell.    On November 15, 1821, at South Berwick, Maine, John Morrell married Sarah Jenkins, whose parents I haven't found, though it is tempting to think that the James Jenkins and Daniel Jenkins mentioned above were Sarah's relatives, or in-laws in case she had previously been married to a Mr. Jenkins.

John died November 26, 1881; and Sarah on November 13, 1865, unmarked in the journal.  They are buried in the Morrell Cemtery at Eliot, Maine.

John and Sarah had, I think, at least seven children, several of whom are mentioned in the journal:
  • Benning Morrell, born October 15, 1822 at Eliot, Maine; died April 7, 1879; buried there in the Morrell Cemetery.  Mentioned many times in the journal.
  • Mary Ann Morrell, born July 5, 1825 at Eliot, Maine; died May 31, 1909; buried in Morrell Cemetery
  • Franklin Jefferson Morrell, born January 2, 1828 at Eliot, Maine; died January 10, 1891; buried in Morrell Cemetery.  Mentioned several times in the journal.
  • Charles Edward Morrell, born May 1832 in Eliot, Maine; died September 15, 1865 at Eliot, Maine, and buried there in Morrell Cemetery.  Mentioned at least once in the journal, but no mention of his death.
  • Andrew Jackson Morrell, born November 16, 1834; died February 6, 1882; buried in Morrell Cemetery
  • Henrietta Morrell (twin of Horace), born November 2, 1838; died March 12, 1912; buried in Morrell Cemetery
  • Horace Morrell (twin of Henrietta), born November 2, 1838; died January 10, 1871; buried in Morrell Cemetery
If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.



Monday, September 21, 2015

1898-1905 Journal of the Methodist Episcopal "Sociable" Club at Pembroke, Maine


1898-1905 journal of the Methodist Episcopal "Sociable" at Pembroke, Maine.  There was a reference to the Iron Works Church, so this organization may have been associated with that church, though there was at least one other in the town.  Read more about the Iron Works here.

See an earlier journal that covers the years 1892-1898 here.  More journals in the set are from 1892 to 1926.

Found at the end of this post:
  • an alphabetical surname list
  • an alphabetical list of names found within the journal, many repeated dozens of times; corrections welcome!
  • images of all pages in the album

The journal, one of several found, measures approximately 8-1/2" by 7".  It was kept by several of the members serving terms as secretary, with varying handwriting and spelling.  If you notice errors, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Two pages contain the by-laws and two others list the members:  [Click on an image to enlarge it.]





Members, shown above, and listed below as they appear, not in alphabetical order:

Mrs. Robert Clark
Mrs. Mathew Pulk
Mrs. Henry Ransom
Mrs. Robert Sherrard
Mrs. David Wright
Mrs. Joseph Lindsey
Mrs. John Dudley
Mrs. John Dean
Mrs. James Holman
Mrs. Fred Wilder
Mrs. David Wright, Jr.
Mrs. Charles Strail
Mrs. Cassius Porter
Mrs. Maquary; presumably McQuarrie
Mrs. Burns
Mrs. Babcock.  Died
Mrs. John Porter
Mr. Lyman Smith
Mr. Lyman Smith (perhaps a Jr.)
Mrs. James Davis
Mrs. Herbert Sprague
Mrs. Herbert Reynolds
Mrs. I. S. Lowe;  Mrs. Irving S. Lowe
Mrs. Ren Campbell; perhaps Mrs. Reynold Campbell
Mrs. B. A. Campbell
Mrs. George Hobart
Mrs. W. T. Hobart
Mrs. Joseph Rogers
Mrs. C. R. Gardner
Mrs. Ezra Pattingall
Mrs. Emery Little
Mr. Doon Gardner
Miss Annie Mahar
Mrs. Charles Wright
Miss Stelle Lowe
Mrs. Alfred Hume
Mrs. Henry Bridges
Mrs. Alice Ollson
Mrs. B. A. Carter
Mrs. Edward Brown
Mrs. Fred Clark
Mrs. Lucius Smith
Mrs. Frank Harris
Mrs. Charles Polk

Surnames in the Journal


BBabcockHH ?OOllsonTTrott
BartlettHarrisPPattangall [2]VVarney
BridgesHobart [2]PearsonWWilder
BrownHolmanPolk or PulkWright [6]
BurnsHumePorter [3]
CCampbell [3]KKingPulk
Carson [3]LLaughlinRRansom
Carter [2]LincolnReynolds [3]
Clark [7]LindseyRogers [2]
CogginsLittleRoss
CrockerLowe [2]SS ?
DDavisLurchinSherrard
Dean [2]MMaharSmith [6]
DudleyMcPhail ?Snow
GGahanMcQuarrie ?Sprague
Gardner [2]MinerSprague
Giles [2]Moore [2]Strail
GilpatrickStrail

Names Mentioned in the Journal - many appear dozens of times; given names within a specific surname might not be in alphabetical order.
  • Mrs. Babcock.  Died
  • Mrs. Bartlett
  • Mrs. Henry Bridges
  • Mrs. Edward Brown
  • Mrs. Burns
  • Mrs. Ren Campbell; perhaps Mrs. Reynold Campbell
  • Mrs. B. A. Campbell
  • Mrs. A. Campbell
  • Mr. Carson
  • Mrs. Carson
  • Samuel Carson; hosted picnic at his farm on Boyden Lake
  • Mrs. B. A. Carter
  • Rev. A. B. Carter or B. A. Carter
  • Mrs. Robert Clark
  • Mrs. Fred Clark
  • Mr. Clark
  • Mrs. Robert Clark
  • Mrs. Frank Clark
  • Mrs. R. C. Clark
  • Charles Clark; the Nov. 23, 1905 mtg was canceled due to his death
  • A. B. Coggins
  • Mrs. Crocker
  • Mrs. James Davis
  • Mrs. John Dean
  • Mabel Dean
  • Mrs. John Dudley
  • Mr. Gahan, presumably the pastor until 1899, and wife
  • Mrs. C. R. Gardner
  • Mr. Doon Gardner
  • Annie Giles
  • Osmer M. Gillis, born March 6, 1905.  Osmer Merrill Gillis, son of Atkinson Gillis and Sarah (Cox) Gillis
  • Mrs. Gilpatrick
  • D. H. Hantinton [?]
  • Mrs. Frank Harris
  • Mrs. George Hobart
  • Mrs. W. T. Hobart
  • Mrs. James Holman
  • Mrs. Alfred Hume
  • Mrs. F. King
  • Mr. Laughlin
  • Mrs. Lincoln
  • Mrs. Joseph Lindsey
  • Mrs. Emery Little
  • Mrs. I. S. Lowe;  Mrs. Irving S. Lowe
  • Miss Stelle Lowe
  • Mrs. Lurchin
  • Miss Annie Mahar
  • Miss McFall; possibly McPhail
  • Mrs. Maquary; presumably McQuarrie
  • Willie Miner
  • Mr. Moore, new pastor as of May 3, 1899
  • Mrs. Moore
  • Mrs. Alice Ollson
  • Mrs. Ezra Pattingall
  • Mrs. Ed Pattangall
  • Rev. N. R. Pearson
  • Mrs. Charles Polk; might be Mrs. Charles Pulk
  • Mrs. Cassius Porter
  • Mrs. John Porter
  • Miss Blanch Porter
  • Mrs. Mathew Pulk
  • Mrs. Henry Ransom
  • Mrs. Herbert Reynolds
  • Simeon Reynolds
  • Mr. L. Reynolds
  • Mrs. Joseph Rogers
  • Mrs. Barnard Rogers; sometimes written as Bernard Rogers
  • Mrs. Ross
  • Ernest ?, possibly Stevens or S?
  • Mrs. Robert Sherrard
  • Mr. Lyman Smith
  • Mr. Lyman Smith (perhaps a Jr.)
  • Mrs. Lucius Smith
  • Mrs. Buther Smith  [?]; possibly Bertha Smith ?
  • Rev. E. M. Smith
  • Bertha Smith
  • Mr. Snow of Boston
  • Mrs. Herbert Sprague
  • Mrs. H. B. Sprague; perhaps Mrs. Herbert Sprague
  • Mrs. Charles Strail
  • Mrs. Jennie Strail
  • Mrs. Thomas Trott
  • Miss Julia Varney
  • Mrs. Fred Wilder
  • Mrs. David Wright
  • Mrs. David Wright, Jr.
  • Mrs. Charles Wright
  • Mrs. Jane Wright
  • J. C. Wright
  • Miss Estella Wright, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Wright

Make YouTube full-screen and stop action to read.



Thursday, September 17, 2015

1860s-1880s Autograph Album of Eliza A. Shuey of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania; Before and After Marriage to William Shuey Dotter


1864-1990s autograph album that belonged to Eliza A. Shuey of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, before and after her marriage to William Shuey Dotter.

The album was dedicated by William Gerhardt of Jonestown, Pennsylvania, on October 18, 1865.  He was presumably the W. G. who inscribed another page on that same date.  Helen Gerhardt and L. A. Gerhardt also inscribed pages.


The album measures approximately 8" by 6-1/2" and contains the sentiments of nearly 40 of Eliza's relatives, friends and possibly a teacher, and six engravings.   It was published by Moss and Brother of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appear at the end of this post.

Most of the pages were signed individually but there was one group page; several of the people who inscribed their names on the group page also inscribed individual pages.


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

Eliza A. Shuey was born August 10, 1844 at Union Township, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Amos and Anna M. (Boeshore - also seen as Bashore and Baeshore) Shuey.  I believe she had eight siblings, several of whom died young.

One page was intriguingly inscribed by Jasper to: "a mon eleve".  Was Jasper Eliza's teacher or Sunday School teacher?

On December 18, 1866, during the span of this album, Eliza married her second cousin William Shuey Dotter, son of John and Catherine (Shuey) Dotter.  Eliza and William shared great grandparents John Henry Shuey and Mara Barbara (Tice) Shuey.

Eliza and William had two children:
  1. John Shuey Dotter, born February 4, 1869 at East Hanover Township, Pennsylvania; married Carrie Moyer Speck
  2. Maria Catherine Dotter, born July 23, 1871 at East Hanover Township, Pennsylvania; married Galen M. Houser
Find more information on William Shuey Dotter here.

Several people with the surname of Shuey and Dotter inscribed pages in the album:
  • A. J. or A. S. Dotter inscribed a page at East Hanover, Pennsylvania, on February 25, 1871 [or 1871 or ?].  He may have been Abraham Shuey Dotter, brother of Eliza's husband William Shuey Dotter
  • Andrew Dotter, inscribed at Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in October 1877.  He was Andrew Shuey Dotter, a brother to Eliza's husband William Shuey Dotter.
  • A. Dotter, who inscribed a group page.  He may have been Abraham Shuey Dotter, Andrew Shuey Dotter, or another person 
  • D. B. Shuey, inscribed at New Providence, Pennsylvania, in September 1882.  He was Eliza's brother Rev. Dennis Boeshore Shuey, also seen as Rev. Dennis Bashore Shuey.
  • Emma C. Shuey, inscribed at Hamilton, Ohio, in July 1866.  Presumably Emma Catherine Shuey, daughter of Adam  who was the daughter of Charlotte (Potter) Shuey and Adam C. Shuey, who was a brother to Eliza's father Amos Shuey.
  • Charlotte P. Shuey, inscribed at Hamilton, Ohio, on April 30, 1866.  Wife of Adam C. Shuey, brother of Eliza's father Amos Shuey, and mother of Emma Catherine Shuey.

Surnames in the Album

?? [5]DDonmoyerSShuey [3]
BBaeshoreDotter [3]Shuey
BashoreDresslerTTangeman [3]
Benson [2]GG ?WWoefly
BerryGerhardt [3]
BlouchHHedrick
BordlemayMMcAdam
BordnerPPatton
BowmanPotter
BuckRRencker [2]
Burgner

Inscribers in the Album - Given names within a surname might not be in alphabetical order
  • Myra, inscribed on August 21, 1870
  • Emma, inscribed in August 1873
  • Jasper, inscribed "A mon eleve", "To my student".
  • Laurie, inscribed at Jonestown, Pennsylvania, on January 23 [no year written]; not sure of name
  • Miriam, inscribed on July 9, 1879; perhaps the Miram C. Rencker who inscribed a group page
B
  • William. H. Baeshore, inscribed at Union, Pennsylvania, on July 19, 1882.  Presumably a variant of the surname of Eliza's mother Anna M. Boeshore, to whom he was likely related.
  • Mrs. Lydia E. Bashore, inscribed at Union Township, Pennsylvania, on July 18, 1882
  • Mary M. Benson, inscribed on March 29, 187x [possibly 1870 or 1875]
  • Mary May Benson; on a page with multiple signatures.  Possibly the Mary M. Benson who inscribed an individual page.
  • H. B. S. Berry; on a page with multiple signatures.  Also inscribed an individual page on November 9, 1879
  • A. H. Blouch of Annville, Pennsylvania, inscribed on April 7, 1878.  Possibly Amos H. Blouch
  • W. S. Bordlemay, inscribed at East Hanover, Pennsylvania, on December 14, 1865
  • H. D. Bordner, inscribed at Sickdale, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, on January 18, 1886
  • B. F. Bowman; on a page with multiple signatures
  • Beckie R. Buck; on a page with multiple signatures.  She also inscribed an individual page on December 15, 1877 at Lebanon, Pennsylvania
  • J. B. Burgner, inscribed on September 26, 1870; possibly Jacob C. Burgner.  Not sure of surname; could be Brugner or ?
D
  • H. F. Donmoyer of East Hanover, Pennsylvania; inscribed to Eliza A. Dotter, so after her December 18, 1866 marriage to William Shuey Dotter.  Possibly Hiram F. Donmoyer
  • A. J. Dotter, or A. S. Dotter, inscribed at East Hanover, Pennsylvania, on February 25, 1870 [perhaps 1871 or ?].  If A. S. Dotter, perhaps Abraham Shuey Dotter, brother of Eliza's future husband, William Shuey Dotter
  • A. Dotter; on a page with multiple signatures
  • Andrew Dotter, inscribed at Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in October 1877; "Your Brother"; Eliza's brother-in-law Andrew Shuey Dotter (1847-1925)
  • W. George Dressler; on a page with multiple signatures.  He inscribed an individual page on June 19, 1881
G
  • W. G., inscribed at Jonestown, Pennsylvania, on October 18, 1864; presumably William Gerhardt
  • William Gerhardt, inscribed the Dedication Page at Jonestown, Pennsylvania, on October 18, 1864; he is presumably the W. G. who inscribed another page at Jonestown, Pennsylvania, on October 18, 1864
  • Helen Gerhardt, inscribed at Jonestown, Pennsylvania, on February 16, 1865
  • L. A. Gerhardt, inscribed on January 25, 1865 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
H
  • Emma C. Hedrick; on a page with multiple signatures
M
  • Mollie M. McAdam, inscribed at Lebanon, Pennsylvania, on January 18, 1878
P
  • William C. Patton; on a page with multiple signatures
  • Mrs. Emeline Potter
R
  • Miriam C. Rencker; on a page with multiple signatures.  Perhaps the Miriam who inscribed an individual page on July 9, 1879
  • Emma L. Rencker; on a page with multiple signatures
S
  • Eliza A. Shuey of Lebanon, Pennsylvania; album owner
  • D. B. Shuey, inscribed at New Providence, Pennsylvania, on September 16 [or 15], 1882.  Eliza's brother Rev. Dennis Boeshore Shuey or Dennis Bashore Shuey.
  • Emma C. Shuey, inscribed at Hamilton, Ohio, on July 19 [or 14], 1866; presumably Emma Catherine Shuey, Eliza's first cousin, daughter of Eliza's father's brother Adam C. Shuey.
  • Charlotte P. Shuey, inscribed at Hamilton, Ohio, on April 30, 1866.  Charlotte (Potter) Shuey, mother of Eliza's cousin, inscriber Emma Catherine Shuey.
T
  • George P. Tangeman of Lockland, Ohio, inscribed on July 12, 1866; son of inscriber Elizabeth Jane (Patterson) Tangeman.  He was presumably George Patterson Tangeman (1848-1919)
  • E. J. Tangeman, inscribed at Wyoming, Ohio, on July 19, 1866.  Presumably Elizabeth Jane (Patterson) Tangeman, wife of John Henry Tangeman
  • Fannie P. Tangeman, inscribed at Wyoming, Ohio, on July 12, 1866.  Fannie Patterson Tangeman, daughter of inscriber Elizabeth Jane (Patterson) Tangeman 
W
  • Minnie E. Woelfly of Jonestown, Pennsylvania, inscribed on September 9, 1882