Monday, October 31, 2016

Photographs of Siblings Zenas Downs Hartshorn and Hattie Mae Hartshorn of Swanville, Maine


Photographs of siblings Zenas Downs Hartshorn and Hattie Mae Hartshorn of Swanville, Maine.   They were the offspring of Charles Andrew Hartshorn and Martha (Downs) Hartshorn.

Zenas Downs Hartshorn was presumably named after his maternal grandfather Zenas Downs of Swanville, Maine.  See another post that features a photograph of Zenas Downs.


Zenas Downs Hartshorn made an inscription in 1901 in the autograph album of William J. Matthews of North Searsport, Maine, as shown below.


Zenas Downs Hartshorn was born June 20, 1873.  In 1904 at Swanville, Maine, Zenas, by then a teacher, married Esther Lula Smith, daughter of inventor Winfield Scott Smith and Alvenia Matilda (Jordan) Smith of Kingman, Maine.  Esther was born about November 1879 at Columbia Falls, Maine.  I believe Zenas and Esther had one child, a daughter.

On October 24, 1924, Zenas married Amy Ellura Stoddard, daughter of Augustine O. Stoddard and Martha E. (Smart) Stoddard.  Amy was born September 19, 1883 at Athol, Massachusetts.

Hattie Mae Hartshorn was born July 23, 1883 at Swanville,  Maine.  On March 21, 1906 at Swanville, Maine, Hattie, by then also a teacher, married Andrew Park Moore, son of Elias B. Moore and Martha A. (True) Moore.  I didn't find a record of children for Hattie and Andrew.

See another post that features a photograph of Hattie Mae (Hartshorn) Moore as a middle aged woman, married to Andrew Park Moore and living at Bangor, Maine.


Andrew Park Moore died in 1952.  I'm not sure of Hattie's death date as the photograph of her stone is too hard to read.  They're buried, with Hattie's parents and her other sibling, Cleaveland S. Hartshorn, in the Greenlawn Cemetery at Swanville, Maine.


If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Sources:  Maine Birth Records; Maine Marriage Records; U.S. Censuses; Find a Grave

c1883 Cabinet Photograph of Elberta Harriet Hemenway of Framingham, Massachusetts, in her Wedding Dress; Married Frederick W. McLanathan


c1883 cabinet photograph of Elberta Harriet (Hemenway) McLanathan of Framingham, Massachusetts, in her wedding dress.  She married manufacturer Frederick W. McLanathan on October 16, 1883 at Lawrence, Massachusetts.

The photograph was taken at the studio of O. A. Kenefick of Lawrence, Massachusetts.  Someone wrote Elberta's name on the reverse, along with the date of her wedding and the fact that she was wearing her wedding dress at the time the photograph was taken.  This person also wrote the date 1885, which is confusing, unless Elberta happened to wear the same dress in 1885.


From brief online research, hopefully correct - corrections and additions requested:

Elberta Harriet Hemenway was born December 14, 1858 at Framingham, Massachusetts, the daughter of Elbert and Lucy Bennett (Sanger) Hemenway.  Elberta's husband Frederick William McLanathan was born December 31, 1846 at Lowell, Massachusetts, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Dickey) McLanathan.

Elberta and Frederick had two children, I believe, son Frank and daughter Rebecca.   Frederick died in 1907 and is buried at Framingham, Massachusetts.   Elberta was still living by the time of the 1930 Census of Methuen, Massachusetts.  Her daughter Rebecca was living with her.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Sources:  Massachusetts Birth Records; Massachusetts Marriage Records; U.S. Censuses

1872 Autograph Album at Eastman Business College in New York of a Student, Presumably Allen Tibbits Cook of Indiana


Autograph album with inscriptions acquired at Eastman National Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York by a student, presumably Allen Tibbits Cook of Warsaw, Indiana.  His initials and surname appear in the upper right corner of the page shown below.


The album measures approximately 7" by 4" and is thicker than usual, with nearly 150 pages inscribed by Allen's relatives and fellow students, though some of them inscribed more than one page.  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 contains an engraving of the residence of Harvey Gridley Eastman, founder of the college, as well as an inscription by him.



Clues to the identity of the owner, presumably Allen Tibbits Cook:
  • The initials A. T. Cook on the first end paper, though the middle initial could be another letter
  • The page inscribed by the owner's mother, who called him Allen
  • Two pages inscribed by an Annie Cook, who called herself the owner's sister - Allen Tibbits Cook had a younger sister named Annie Elizabeth Cook
  • A page inscribed by J. W. Cook - Allen Tibbits Cook's father was John Woolson Cook
  • A page inscribed by P. S. Cook of Mount ?, Ohio [possibly Mount Union or Mount Vernon - see an image of the page farther below], who inscribed "Remember you have Friends at home".  He may have been Peter Sylvester Cook, older brother of Allen Tibbits Cook
  • A page inscribed by Cowgill Wilson of Portland, Indiana, who implied that Allen was a fellow resident of Indiana
  • The stamp of the Kosciusko County Historical Society of Warsaw, Indiana, on the inside back cover.  The album was apparently deaccessioned, as the number is crossed out, and the album subsequently sold online, where I purchased it several years ago.
From brief online research, hopefully correct - corrections and additions requested:

Allen Tibbits Cook was born September 22, 1849, the son of John Woolson Cook and Ann (Pittenger) Cook.  Ann inscribed the first page in the album; John inscribed a page near the middle of the album.



Allen's younger sister Annie Cook, presumably Annie Elizabeth Cook, inscribed two pages in the album:



The page inscribed by the aforementioned P. S. Cook, possibly Peter Sylvester Cook, older brother of Allen Tibbits Cook; P. S. Cook was living at Mount ?, Ohio, possibly Mount Union or Mount Vernon:


About 1877 Allen Tibbits Cook married Cora Belle Irwin, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Smith) Irwin.  By 1880, Allen and Cora were farming at Warsaw, Indiana; they raised several children.  Cora died in 1927 and Allen in 1934.  They're buried with many family members in the Oakwood Cemetery at Warsaw, Indiana.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or comments on any of the inscribers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Surnames in the Album


? [3]DDanielGGallupKKierstedQQuigleyWWeatherby
AAbneyDavisGeiseLLassiterQuinn [2]Weber
AckerDay [3]GilbertLizanoRRaffertyWhite
Adamsde VillaGortariLookinland [2]ReedWhitney
AmermanDelmonteGrahamLovellRenoudWiese
AndersonDeweesGustinLovettRiceWilbur
AtwaterDickermanHH ?LyonRivasWillard
AtwellDorland [2]HannahMMartinez [2]RosenbaumWilliams
BBaldwinDouglassHaymanMcCarthyRossWilson
BergerDownsHercyMcCurdySSerillisWoodworth
BladesDudley [2]Hill [2]MersereauSheltonZZimmerman
BowenDunkle [2]HillMooneySisson
BoydEEastmanHolmesMouldsSloan
BoyerEichelberger [2]HoughtonMurchisonSmith [2]
BrinkleyEshizawaHubbardNNissleySolomon [2]
BryanFFerst [2]HuntOOdellStevenson
BullFolgerHurstOrrTTanguy [2]
CCahoonFrancisIIngramPPerryTompkins [2]
CarrascoFraserJJackettPhelpsTrimble
CassFreeman [2]JacksonPhilesUUnger
ClarkJoinerPowell
Cook [6]Jones [2]Powers
Crippen [2]Prince
Prouty

Inscribers in the Album - Some People Inscribed Multiple Pages - given names not necessarily in alphabetical order
  • ? of Selma, Alabama, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on July 2, 1872.  Possibly J. J. Fellows, which might be Jonathan J. Fellows of Selma, Alabama, but could also be Bellows or ?
  • J. C. ? of Poughkeepsie, New York, inscribed on July 14, 1872
  • A line of characters
  • O. Abney of Marshall, Texas, inscribed at Eastern National Business College on July 16, 1872; middle initial looks like S, but if L, could be Dr. Olin L. Abney (1852-1923)
  • D. Acker of Yonkers, New York
  • S. A. Adams of Swanton, Vermont, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on June 21, 1872
  • Alonzo Amerman of Mansfield, Pennsylvania
  • A. A. Anderson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, inscribed at Eastman College on October 10, 1872
  • S. H. Atwater of Windham, New York, inscribed on August 1, 1872, C.C.
  • J. Atwell of Stellaville, Georgia, inscribed on October 10, 1872
  • Frank Baldwin of Weston, Ohio, in Wood County, inscribed at Eastman's on June 5, 1872
  • H. W. Berger of Cressona, Pennsylvania, inscribed on July 27, 1872, at Eastman National Business College
  • James B. Blades of Bishopville, Maryland, in Worcester County
  • J. H. Bowen of Warrensburgh, New York, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on May 16, 1872
  • C. Boyd of Parkers Landing, Pennsylvania, inscribed at Eastman National Business College, on October 10, 1872; middle initial possibly M. or W.
  • G. M. Boyer of Memphis, Tennessee, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on July 5, 1872
  • J. T. Brinkley of Scotland Neck, North Carolina; not sure of surname
  • W. M. Bryan of Haywood,  North Carolina, inscribed on October 9, 1872
  • ? J. Bull of Saranac, New York, inscribed on July 30, 1872; possibly H. J. Bull or A. J. Bull
  • D. G. Cahoon of Watertown, New York, inscribed on August 24, 1872
  • J. Carrasco of Remedirez, Cuba, inscribed at Poughkeepsie, New York, on October 10, 1872
  • Cass of East Troy, Wisconsin; initials too ornate to determine, but possibly A. J.
  • T. N. Clark of Kingston, Tennessee, in East Tennessee; inscribed on June 5, 1872
  • A. T. Cook, album owner, presumably Allen Tibbits Cook of Warsaw, Indiana
  • Ann Cook, Allen's mother, presumably Ann (Pittenger) Cook (1822-1902)
  • Annie Cook, Allen's sister, presumably Annie Elizabeth Cook (1851-1881)
  • Annie C., "Your Sister", presumably Annie Elizabeth Cook (1851-1881)
  • J. W. Cook, inscribed on July 30, 1874.  Presumably John Woolson Cook (1814-1886), father of album owner Allen Tibbits Cook.
  • P. S. Cook of Mount ?, Ohio, possibly Mount Union or Mount Vernon
  • O. D. Crippen of Seward, New York, inscribed on June 1, 1872; perhaps Orlando D. Crippen
  • ? D. Crippen of Seward, New York, inscribed on October 11, 1872.  Could be the O. D. Crippen of Seward, New York, inscribed another page.
  • Arthur K. Daniel of Warsaw, Alabama
  • ? Davis; initials very ornate, but possibly C. D. Davis or G. D. Davis
  • H. C. Day of Auburn, Maine, inscribed at Eastman National Business College at Poughkeepsie, New Jersey
  • Joseph W. Day of Rockland, Delaware, inscribed on October 10, 1872; not sure of middle initial
  • Joseph W. Day of Rockland, Delaware, inscribed on October 10, 1872
  • Francisco de Villa of Medellin, Colombia, inscribed at Eastman College on July 10, 1872
  • R. Delmonte of C Matanzas, Cuba, inscribed on June 22, 1872
  • W. B. Dewees of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, inscribed at Eastman National Business College in 1872
  • F. C. Dickerman of New Haven, Connecticut, inscribed on October 10, 1872
  • J. E. Dorland of Poughkeepsie, New York
  • J. E. Dorland of Poughkeepsie, New York
  • ? Douglass of Oneida, New York, possibly H. H. Douglass
  • O. P. Downs of Warsaw, Indiana; presumably Oliver P. Downs (1833-1888)
  • Henry I. Dudley, or Henry J. Dudley, of North Leverett, Massachusetts, inscribed on October 4, 1872, C.C. & C. of L.
  • M. C. Dudley of Montague, Massachusetts, inscribed on October 10, 1872
  • S. L. Dunkle of Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania, inscribed on October 10, 1872
  • Samuel L. Dunkle of Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania, inscribed on September 17, 1872
  • H. G. Eastman; presumably Harvey Gridley Eastman, founder of Eastman Business College [or Eastman National Business College] at Poughkeepsie, New York.  Cousin of George Eastman.  
  • E. Eichelberger of Lewistown, Illinois, inscribed on October 10, 1872
  • E. Eichelberger of Lewistown, Illinois, inscribed on October 10, 1872
  • Gansky Eshizawa of Yokohama, Japan, inscribed at Eastman  National Business College.  He also wrote two lines in Japanese.
  • J. Ferst of Savannah, Georgia
  • Joe Ferst of Savannah, Georgia
  • J. Frank Folger of Pickens C.H., South Carolina
  • C. C. Francis of Sterling, Minnesota, inscribed on June 22, 1872
  • R. Fraser of Mongaup Valley, New York, in Sullivan County, inscribed on July 30, 1872
  • W. B. Freeman of North Port, Alabama in Tuscaloosa County, inscribed in July 1872
  • William B. Freeman of North Port, Alabama, inscribed at Eastman National Business College
  • C. H. Gallup
  • Owen N. Geise of Dawson, Georgia, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on July 20, 1872
  • S. E. Gilbert of Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, inscribed at Poughkeepsie, New York, on October 11, 1872
  • F. Gortari of Monterey, Mexico, inscribed on May 18, 1872
  • H. W. Graham, inscribed on February 6, 1878
  • H. H. Gustin of Bay City, Michigan, inscribed on September 12, 1872
  • W. S. H? of Dayton, Alabama
  • T. R. Hannah of Dawson, Georgia, inscribed at Eastman College on July 20, 1872; not sure of middle initial.
  • S. S. Hayman
  • ? Hercy of Freemansburg, Pennsylvania in Northampton County; not sure of surname
  • David B. Hill of Powers, Georgia in Terrell County
  • E. A. Hill of Windham Center, can't read initials for state, possibly New York or New Jersey or New Hampshire or ?
  • A. Holmes, Jr., of New York City
  • J. "Sid" Houghton of New York, written in a humorous Dutch way
  • L. R. Hubbard of Middletown, Connecticut, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on July 18, 1872
  • E. Hunt of Poughkeepsie, New York, inscribed at Eastman National Business College, on October 9, 1872; middle initial might be L.  Might also be E. Hurst
  • E. D. Hurst of Poughkeepsie, New York, inscribed on the page upside down, at Eastman National Business College in 1872; not sure of surname
  • T. B. Ingram of Florence, Alabama, inscribed at Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York on August 28, 1872
  • H. R. Jackett of Eddyville, New York, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on June 21, 1872
  • J. J. Jackson of Cleaveland, Ohio, inscribed at Poughkeepsie, New York
  • F. E. Joiner, or T. E. Joiner, of Starkville, Mississippi; not sure of first initial
  • F. A. Jones of Savannah, Georgia, inscribed on July 5, 1872
  • James W. Jones of Gainesville, Florida
  • J. M. Kiersted of Mongaup Valley, New York, in Sullivan County
  • R. C. Lassiter of Winton, North Carolina
  • P. Lizano of Costa Rica, Central America
  • J. A. Lookinland of Highgate Centre, Vermont
  • J. A. Lookinland of Highgate Centre, Vermont
  • R. P. Lovell of Savannah, Georgia, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on October 10, 1872
  • William Lovett of Tarrytown, New York, inscribed on October 10, 1872
  • N. N. Lyon of Saranac, New York; not sure of initials
  • F. U. Martinez, or T. U. Martinez, of Habana, Cuba, inscribed at Poughkeepsie, New York, on July 6, 1872; not sure of initials
  • J. J. Martinez of Habana, Cuba
  • M. McCarthy of Rosendale, New York
  • Cary McCurdy of Van Wert, Ohio
  • J. F. Mersereau of Owego, New York, inscribed at Eastman's on July 27, 1872
  • F. A. Mooney of Middletown, Connecticut, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on October 11, 1872
  • Nelson D. Moulds of Bennington, Vermont, inscribed on August 20, 1872
  • J. A. Murchison of Fayetteville, North Carolina; not sure of middle initial
  • J. A. Nissley of Middletown, Pennsylvania; not sure of middle initial
  • C. E. Odell of Freehold, New Jersey
  • W. L. Orr of Sandersville, Georgia, inscribed on Eastman National Business College on June 22, 1872
  • ? Perry of Union, West Virginia, inscribed on July 15, 1872; not sure of initials but possibly F M. or J. M.
  • W. E. Phelps of Poughkeepsie, New York
  • W. ? of Madison, Ohio, inscribed on September 30, 1872; possibly W. H. Philes
  • W. J. Powell of Tuskaloosa, Alabama, inscribed on July 24, 1872
  • Virgil Powers of Macon, Georgia; not sure of surname
  • W. S. Prince of Charleston, South Carolina, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on October 10, 1872
  • J. W. Prouty of Wilmington, Vermont, inscribed on May 24, 1872, C.C. & C. of L.
  • W. G. Quigley of Brockwayville, Pennsylvania, inscribed on July 27, 1872, C.C. & C. of L.; not sure of middle initial
  • J. H. Quinn; not positive of first initial
  • J. A. Quinn of Buck  Mountain, Pennsylvania, inscribed at E.P.D. on "6-5-72"
  • Lawrence Rafferty of Columbus, Georgia, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on August 31, 1872
  • F. A. Reed of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, inscribed on May 30, 1872; not sure of initials
  • C. Renoud of New Rochelle, New York; not sure of initials
  • J. W. Rice of Heathsville, Virginia
  • Luis Rivas of Colombia, South America
  • ? Rosenbaum of Poughkeepsie, New York, inscribed on May 28, 1872; possibly J. C. Rosenbaum
  • Floyd Ross of Macon, Georgia
  • ? Serillis of Monterey,  Mexico
  • J. C. Shelton of Bridgeport, Connecticut, inscribed on "8.3.72", C.C.
  • George W. Sisson of Pattens Mills, New York, in Washington County
  • C. A. Sloan of Savannah, Georgia
  • Thomas Smith of Sandersville, Georgia, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on June 22, 1872.  Middle initial might be N
  • ? O. Smith of York Springs, Pennsylvania; possibly J. O. Smith
  • S. M. Solomon of Macon, Georgia; not sure of surname but if Solomon, he may have been Steven M. Solomon
  • S. M. Solomon of Macon, Georgia
  • E. L. B. A. Stevenson of Lewiston and Chicago, Illinois, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on October 10, 1872
  • George B. Tanguy of Logansport, Indiana
  • George B. Tanguy of Logansport, Indiana, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on July 28, 1872.  C.C. and C. of L.
  • J. G. Tompkins of Edgefield, South Carolina
  • J. G. Tompkins of Edgefield, South Carolina
  • J. E. Trimble of Cross Keys, Alabama, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on May 29, 1872
  • Unger of Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania, inscribed on May 16, 1872; not sure of initials, but possibly A. F.
  • B. B. Weatherby of Pedricktown, New Jersey
  • John W. Weber of Rondout, New York, inscribed on August 28, 1872
  • E. White of Poughkeepsie, New York, inscribed on May 14, 1872
  • C. E. Whitney of Petaluma, California, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on July 16, 1872
  • B. ? of Rondout, New York, inscribed in August 1872; surname is possibly Wiese
  • W. J. Wilbur of Ferrona, New York
  • Haskel Willard of Charlestown, New Hampshire, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on June 1, 1872
  • E. Williams of Poultney, Vermont, inscribed on July 10, 1872 at Eastman National Business College
  • Cowgill Wilson of Portland, Indiana, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on June 27, 1872.  "As From One State We Came, As Friends We Shall Remain"
  • Harry Woodworth of Pekin, New York, inscribed at Eastman National Business College on July 31, 1872; mentions something about Bed Bugs
  • Harry Zimmerman of Union Deposit, Pennsylvania, inscribed at Eastman's on July 23, 1872

Saturday, October 29, 2016

1841+ Autograph Album of Ellwood Thomas at Westtown Boarding School, West Town, Pennsylvania



Autograph album started in 1841 by Ellwood Thomas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a student at Westtown Boarding School at West Town, Pennsylvania.

The album is missing its covers, if it ever had them.  It measures approximately 8" by 5" and contains the sentiments of 42 of Ellwood's schoolmates and others.  An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered or that I derived from the Morgan Library list, appear at the end of this post.

Westtown Boarding School was founded as a Quaker school in 1799 and is still operating today as Westtown School.   The school's website contains a history and timeline.  In addition, the school maintains the Esther Duke Archives, which contains records, manuscripts, photographs, artifacts, textiles, artwork, furniture and other items relating to the history of the school.

Read a history of the school here - from A Brief History of Westtown Boarding School, with a General Catalogue of Officers, Students, etc., published in 1884.

Ellwood penciled in the names of many of the inscribers in the upper right hand corner of the pages.  This was a great help as some of his fellow students wrote only an initial and surname or even less.  Another great help was the list of Westtown Boarding School students found on the Morgan Library of Ohio website.

The inscriptions were mostly left in February and March, with the months indicated as "2nd" or "2" or "3rd" or "3".  Quakers preferred  not to use the names of months named after gods and eventually adopted the numbering practice for all months, as you can see in this explanation on the Swarthmore College website.

One of the pages was inscribed on "3 mo 24, 1841" by Davis Reece, a teacher and governor at Westtown Boarding School.


Surnames in the Album

? [3]JJones [2]SS ?
AAllenLLightfootStephens
BBailey & Baily [2]MMagillStokes
CC ?MurrayTTaylor
CoatesNNewlinThomas
CrenshawPP ?UUnderhill
DD ?PennellVVail
EEldridgeQQuinbyWWalton
EmlenRReeceWarner
HH ?Rhoads [2]Warrington
HainesRichardson [2]YYarnall
HarperRoberts
HowellRudolph

Inscribers in the Album
  • Henry of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Henry C. William
  • W. or M.
  • F. T. or F. S. or F. F. or F. ?.
  • Charles J. Allen, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School on March 19, 1841; Charles J. Allen of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, presumably the same Charles J. Allen who became a treasurer of Westtown Boarding School
  • E. Bailey; possibly Edward Baily of Coatesville, Pennsylvania; or Eleanor Baily of Parkersville, Pennsylvania; or Elizabeth Baily of Parkersville, Pennsylvania; or Elmira Bailey of Cincinnati, Ohio
  • W. L. Baily, inscribed at West Town, Pennsylvania in 1841; either William L. Baily of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or William L. Baily of Coatesville, Pennsylvania
  • George C? of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, inscribed on February 26, 1841
  • G. Coates of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, inscribed on February 25, 1841.  George Coates of Coatesville, Pennsylvania
  • Edmund Crenshaw of Virginia, inscribed on February 23, 1841;  Edmund Crenshaw of Richmond, Virginia [spelled Edmond in a school document]
  • E. D., inscribed at West Town, Pennsylvania, on February 23, 1841
  • Abner Eldridge, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School on March 22, 1841
  • James Emlen, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School in April 1841.  Perhaps the James Emlen of Middletown, Pennsylvania, who attended Westtown Boarding School in 1802 and may have returned as an instructor; or the James V. Emlen of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who attended Westtown Boarding School in 1830 and may have returned as an instructor
  • William H., inscribed at West Town, Pennsylvania, on March 23, 1841; presumably William H. Nicholson of Haddonfield, New Jersey
  • E. Haines, inscribed at West Town, Pennsylvania.  Possibly Edwin Haines of Medford, New Jersey; Emmor Haines of Lockport, Pennsylvania; or Erasmus W. Haines of Christiana, Pennsylvania
  • Benjamin Harper, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School on March 3, 1841. Benjamin Harper of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Joshua R. Howell, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School on March 25, 1841; Joshua R. Howell of Edgmont, Pennsylvania
  • G. Jones, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School on February 23, 1841; possibly George Jones of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania
  • J. Jones or T. Jones or ? Jones, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School on March 5, 1841
  • F. Lightfoot, inscribed on March 10, 1841; Francis Lightfoot of Goshen, Pennsylvania
  • Edward Magill, inscribed at West Town, Pennsylvania, on February 23, 1841; Edward H. Magill of New Hope, Pennsylvania
  • John Murray of New York, New York, inscribed on February 23, 1841
  • Levis P. Newlin, inscribed in March 1841; Levis P. Newlin of Middletown, Pennsylvania
  • C. A. P.
  • Larkin Pennell, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School on March 19, 1840; Larkin Pennell of Chichester, Pennsylvania
  • Watson Quinby, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School on February 23, 1841; Watson F. Quinby of Brandywine, Pennsylvania
  • D. Reece, inscribed on March 24, 1841; presumably Davis Reece who was a teacher and governor at Westtown Boarding School
  • George Rhoads, inscribed at West Town, Pennsylvania; George Rhoads of Springfield, Pennsylvania
  • J. P. Rhoads, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School on February 22, 1840, "Washington's Birth Day"; presumably John P. Rhoads of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • John Richardson; presumably John Richardson of Wilmington, Delaware, who was a student at Westtown Boarding School in 1839
  • Joseph P. Richardson, inscribed at West Town Boarding School in 1841; Joseph P. Richardson of Wilmington, Delaware
  • John F. Roberts, inscribed at West Chester, Pennsylvania; John F. Roberts of West Chester, Pennsylvania
  • T. Rudolph, inscribed at West Town, Pennsylvania; Thomas Rudolph of Springfield, Pennsylvania
  • S. R. S. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, inscribed on February 25, 1841; Samuel R. Shipley of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; student at Westtown Boarding School
  • William Stephens, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School on February 23, 1841; William Stephens of Tredyffrin, Pennsylvania
  • Edwin Stokes, inscribed at West Town, Pennsylvania, on February 25, 1841;  Edwin Stokes of Marlton, New Jersey
  • Benjaminn F. Taylor, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School on February 23, no year specified;  Benjamin F. Taylor of Taylorsville, Pennsylvania
  • Ellwood Thomas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; his autograph album started on February 20, 1841, compiled while a student at Westtown Boarding School at Westtown, Pennsylvania; he inscribed the first and last pages.
  • Robert Underhill of New York, New York; inscribed on February 23, 1841
  • Hugh D. Vail, inscribed at West Town, Pennsylvania, in March 1841; Hugh D. Vail of Plainfield, New Jersey
  • Joseph Walton, Jr.; possibly the Joseph Walton of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who was a student at Westtown Boarding School in 1830
  • Yardley Warner; Yardley Warner of Fallsington, Pennsylvania
  • Thomas Warrington, inscribed on March 24, 1841; Thomas Warrington of Moorestown, New Jersey
  • Howard Yarnall, inscribed at Westtown Boarding School on March 16, 1841; Howard Yarnall of Edgemont, Pennsylvania, a student at Westtown Boarding School in 1828 - perhaps he returned as a teacher.
If you have information to share on any of the people mentioned above, especially album owner Ellwood Thomas, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Westtown was described in a 19th century school publication as a day's ride from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Friday, October 28, 2016

Vintage Photograph of the Band of the Daniel E. Geagan Post 98 of Brewer, Maine


Vintage photograph, approximately 8" by 10", of the band of the Daniel E. Geagan Post 98 of the American Legion; Brewer, Maine.  Sadly, no identifications on the reverse.

Daniel E. Geagan, a native of Waltham, Massachusetts, who moved to Brewer,  Maine, was a private with the 103rd Infantry Regiment, 26th Infantry Division in World War I.  He died on July 22, 1918 in France and is buried in the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery at Fere-en-Tardenois, France.  He may have been the Daniel Earl Geagan born at Waltham, Massachusetts, on September 6, 1896, son of John H. Geagan and Susan A. (Rooney) Geagan.

If you can clarify the family history of Daniel E. Geagan or identity any of the band members, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Cabinet Photograph of Young Woman; Photo by the Preble & Jordan studio of Waterville, Maine


Cabinet photograph, possibly from the 1880s-1890s era, of a young woman identified on the reverse as Eva Morrill.  The photograph was taken by the studio of Preble & Jordan of Waterville, Maine.

Waterville, Maine, was - and is - a service area for central Maine, so Eva could have been a resident from a wide range of towns.


From brief online research, hopefully correct - corrections and additions requested:

She may have been the Evalina Abbie Morrill, "Eva", born October 29, 1852, daughter of Alvin and Alvira (Whittier) Morrill of Chesterfield, Maine.  According to the 1870 Census of Chesterville, that Eva was already teaching school at the age of 17.  She died in 1875 and is buried with her parents in the Chesterville Hill Cemetery at Chesterville, Maine.  I'm not convinced that the photograph was taken as early as 1875, however, though it's possible.

An Eva Angie Morrill was born September 24, 1870 at Vienna, Maine, daughter of William H. Morrill and Angeline (Graves) Morrill.  Could this photograph have been taken in the 1890s?  Could it have been this Eva who married William H. McLane at Bangor, Maine, on February 8, 1893?

There were other women born Eva Morrill in Maine during the latter part of the 19th century.

Or perhaps Morrill was Eva's married name, which opens up many more possibilities.  If you recognize this woman from your family photographs or research, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

1901 Photograph of Maude Gerring Ballou of 56 Fairview Street, Winthrop, Massachusetts


1901 photograph of a teenage girl identified on the reverse as Maude Ballou of 56 Fairview Street, Winthrop, Massachusetts.

The photograph was taken at the Lundahl studio at 58 Winter Street, Boston, Massachusetts.  The identification does not give Maude's exact street address in Winthrop, but several of her school records do.


From brief online research, hopefully correct - corrections and additions requested:

Maude Gerring Ballou was born December 18, 1886 at Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of bookkeeper John Sanford Ballou and Martha Parsons (Gerring) Ballou.

Martha Parsons (Gerring) Ballou was the daughter of George Gerring and Abbie Amanda (Crouse) Gerring Steward, whose photograph is featured in another post.

Maude attended the State Normal School at Bridgewater, Massachusetts in 1907 and 1908.  She sang First Alto with the Glee Club.  By 1909 she was teaching or student teaching at the Fairlawn School at Lincoln, Rhode Island.

Apparently Maude stayed in Rhode Island, as she appears on the 1925 Rhode Island Census and the 1930 and 1940 Federal Censuses as a resident of Providence.  I didn't find a marriage record for her or a death record until her maiden name.

Maude was involved in animal welfare in Rhode Island.  At the very beginning of her teaching career, she served with the "Helpers of the Helpless" at Fairlawn School, as noted in Animals, Volumes 41-42, published by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, published in 1908.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.