1880s Autograph Album of Croft Thompson, Presumably of Dubuque, Iowa

Note of 3/11/18 - Be sure to scroll down to the comments for a reader's research of Croft Thompson, who was John Croft Thompson, and his niece Dorothy Ann (Dawson) Ballschmidt, "Dosy"

Autograph album kept through the 1880s by Croft Thompson, presumably of the Dubuque, Iowa, area, where most of the inscribers resided.  Croft may have been a middle name.

The album measures approximately 7" by 4-1/4" and contains the sentiments of eleven of Croft's relatives and friends.  An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.

Surnames in the Album

• ?  [2]
• Cragin  [2]
• Dawson  [2]
• Ireland
• McCraney
• Thompson   [3]
• Waldron

Clues to Croft's identity:

• Dorothy A. Dawson; inscribed on February 8, 1892.  Croft's niece.  She was identified by a reader as Dorothy Ann (Dawson), "Dosy", whose married surname would become Ballschmidt; see the comments below. 

• Adelia Thompson; inscribed on August 21, 1881.  Croft's cousin; sister to inscriber Hannah Thompson.  Daughter of English immigrants Mathias Thompson and Marie Ann (Gooding) Thompson.  Read Adelia's own words here.

• Hannah Thompson of Dubuque, Iowa; inscribed on December 25, 1880.  Croft's cousin; sister of inscriber Adelia Thompson.  Daughter of English immigrants Mathias Thompson and Marie Ann (Gooding) Thompson.  Read Hannah's own words here.  

The Thompson cousins mentioned in their stories - links provided above - that their father Mathias Thompson came from Lincolnshire, England to Iowa.  Presumably Croft's father was a brother to Mathias.

I found a death record for a Croft Thompson who died at Chicago, Illinois, in 1924. The record noted that his father was King Thompson and that his wife was Dora Thompson, but whether this is album owner Croft, I don't know.  It's also possible that Croft was a middle name, leaving many possibilities.

If you have a theory as to Croft's identity, please leave a comment or contact me directly.   A reader has identified Croft as John Croft Thompson, born about November 1850 in Iowa, son of John Thompson and Dorothy (Dring) Thompson.  Croft would marry Amy L. Ridler on January 28, 1883 at Richardsville, Dubuque, Iowa. 

Inscribers in the Album

• Effie's Fathers - unfinished note
• Unfinished sentiment "To Croft"
• Alice L. Cragin of Dubuque, Iowa; inscribed on December 22, 1880
• M. Grace Cragin of Dubuque, Iowa; inscribed on December 21, 1880.  Presumably Mary Grace Cragin
• Dorothy A. Dawson; inscribed on February 8, 1892.  Croft's niece
• Phoebe C. Dawson; inscribed at Dubuque, Iowa, on August 21, 188x [possibly 1881]
• Sarah J. Ireland of Dubuque, Iowa; inscribed on April 5, 1881
• S. M. H. McCraney of Eagle Point, Dubuque, Iowa.  Dedicated her sentiment to Croft Thompson
• Adelia Thompson; inscribed on August 21, 1881.  Croft's cousin.  Sister of inscriber Hannah Thompson and daughter of English immigrants Mathias Thompson and Marie Ann (Gooding) Thompson.  Adelia would marry George Greenley.  Read Adelia's own words here.
• Croft Thompson of Dubuque, Iowa; album owner
• Hannah Thompson of Dubuque, Iowa; inscribed on December 25, 1880.  Croft's cousin.  Sister of inscriber Adelia Thompson and daughter of English immigrants Mathias Thompson and Anna Maria (Gooding) Thompson.  Hannah would marry James Ford.    Read Hannah's own words here. 
• J -anna or I-anna Waldron of Dubuque, Iowa; inscribed on August 12, 1888