1869-1880 Autograph Album of Mattie, Possibly Mattie Sims, Presumably of the Buffalo, New York Area

1869-1880 autograph album that belonged to a Mattie, possibly Mattie Sims, presumably from the Buffalo, New York area, where many of her inscribers lived.

The inside front cover bears a name in very tiny handwriting that appears to be Mattie ?, perhaps Sims, and there did happen to be a Mattie Sims, born about 1850, the daughter of Elisha Sims, living at Buffalo, New York during the album's era.  I found an 1853 marriage of Elisha to Louisa Poland, so perhaps Elisha had a previous marriage.

Any comments as to the surname would be most appreciated!

The album measures approximately 8" by 5" and contains the sentiments of 19 of Mattie's friends, most of whom who listed a residence gave Buffalo, New York, or Black Rock, New York.

Surnames in the Album


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	? [6]		Root
	Bird		Ryerse ?
	Edge		Sill
	Gazlay		Stone ?
	Hersee		Thompson
	Lapp [3]		Warren
	Manly

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A few of the pages:

Dell ?, possibly Dell Stone; inscribed on June 14, 1880, the latest inscription in the album.  Possibly inscribed at Milan, New York.

Frank M. Lapp of Black Rock, New York; inscribed on May 14, 1869.  I believe the inscriber was Mary Frances Lapp, born in 1846;  sister to two other inscribers: Sarah M. Lapp and Joel Edwin Lapp, the children of Isaac G. Lapp and Sarah M. (Hayden) Lapp.

Matty W. Hersee; inscribed on May 18, 1869; presumably Martha Waller Hersee, born in 1853, daughter of James Waller Hersee and Catherine (?) Hersee

R. D. Gazlay; presumably Richard D. Gazlay (1853-1884), son of Dickinson Gazlay and Lydia (Davis) Gazlay

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, a theory as to album owner Mattie's identity, or information on any of the inscribers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Inscribers in the Album

• Mattie, possibly Mattie Sims, of the Buffalo, New York area, possibly Black Rock.  Album owner
• Dell ?, possibly Dell Stone, at ?, possibly Milan or Indian; inscribed in June 1880
• Marie
• Viola
• Eva; inscribed on May 18, no year written
• Unfinished sentiment
• Lizzie; inscribed at Fonthill, Ontario, on October 12 1870
• W. M. Bird; inscribed on May 7, 1869
• Elizabeth Edge; inscribed on May 18, 1869.  There were several women named Elizabeth Edge living at Buffalo, New York, during this time frame.  One of them was born in England in 1837, daughter of Edward Edge and Mary (possibly Roberts) Edge
• R. D. Gazlay.  Perhaps Richard D. Gazlay, born in 1853 in New York, son of Dickinson Gazlay and Lydia (Davis) Gazlay.  Richard married Ellen Jane Hill, had several children with her and died in 1884.
• Matty W. Hersee of Buffalo; inscribed on May 18, 1869.  Possibly Martha Waller Hersee, born in 1853 in New York, daughter of James Waller Hersee and Catherine (?) Hersee.
• Frank M. Lapp of Black Rock; inscribed on May 14, 1869.  Presumably Mary Frances Lapp, sister of inscribers Joel Edwin Lapp and Sarah M. Lapp and daughter of Isaac G. Lapp and Sarah M. (Hayden) Lapp.  She was born about 1846 in New York and was teaching at the time of the 1870 Census of Buffalo.  Was she the M. Frank Lapp who married Alfred C. Babcock in 1874 but described herself as single in the 1880 Census when she was living with her birth family?
• J. E. Lapp; inscribed on May 16, 1869.  Presumably Joel Edwin Lapp, born in 1851, brother of inscribers Frank M. Lapp [Mary Frances Lapp] and Sarah M. Lapp.  Joel was the son of Isaac G. Lapp and Sarah M. (Hayden) Lapp.
• Sarah M. Lapp.  Presumably the Sarah M. Lapp of Buffalo, New York, who was a sister to inscribers Frank M. Lapp [Mary Frances Lapp] and Joel Edwin Lapp.  Sarah was born in 1853, the daughter of Isaac G. Lapp and Sarah (Hayden) Lapp.
• Annie E. Manly; inscribed on May 18, 1869
• M. A. Root
• Ida J. Ryerse; inscribed on May 8, 1869
• Mary H. Sill; inscribed at Akron on January 26, 1878.  Research shows a Mary Helen Sill at Akron, Ohio, born there on November 8, 1855, daughter of Byron Washburn Hill and Helen M. (Grenell) Hill.
• Mattie, possibly Mattie Sims, of the Buffalo, New York area, possibly Black Rock.  Album owner
• Dell ?, possibly Dell Stone, at ?, possibly Milan or Indian; inscribed in June 1880
• Harry Thompson; inscribed on May 7, 1869
• Fred W. Warren; inscribed on May 8, 1869