Friday, October 23, 2020

1880s Autograph Album of Martelle A. Smith (1871-1959), "Martie, of Orrington, Maine

1880s autograph album that belonged to young Martelle A. Smith (1871-1959), "Martie", of East Orrington, Maine, who would later become a painter at Bangor, Maine.

The album measures just shy of 4" by 2-1/2", and contains the sentiments of 20 of Martie's relatives and friends. An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they left, appears at the end of this post.

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

Martelle A. Smith (1871-1959) was the son of Watson H. Smith (1834-1908) and Betsey A. (Marston) Smith (1838-1926). Martie married twice: 1) Rosette H. Seavey (1873-1908); 2) Nina B. (Raynes) Grace (abt 1881-possibly 1963).

Several of Martie's relatives inscribed pages in the album. His sister, Persis P. Smith (1866-1942), who would later marry Charles H. Atwood, inscribed her name on several pages, including the one below.

Martie's young brother Lemuel H. Smith (1869-1945), "Lemmie", also inscribed a page. He would later marry Blanche E. Arey.


Martie's "Aunt Newcomb" inscribed a page on January 16, 1882. She may have been Rosalinda (Smith) Newcomb (1819-1899), wife of Charles Newcomb. She was the older sister of Martie's father Watson H. Smith.

There's also an inscription from a Carrie Smith in East Boston, presumably Massachusetts.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information provided above and in the list of inscribers below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Alphabetical List of Inscribers

  • Unsigned
  • Annie M. Covell; inscribed on January 15, 1883. Annie M. Covell (abt 1873-1939), who would marry Albert K. Glass. 
  • D. H. Covell of East Orrington, Maine; inscribed at school on April 21, 1882. Presumably Daniel H. Covell (abt 1865-1927), who would marry Edith Elizabeth (Page) Haskell. His FindaGrave memorial spells his name as Covelle. 
  • Mabel E. Currier of Brewer, Maine; inscribed on September 18, no year written. Perhaps Mabel Estelle Currier (1866-1943), who married Jeremiah Sweetser Ferguson.  
  • George Eldridge of East Orrington, Maine; inscribed on January 12, 1883. Perhaps George Messinger Eldridge (1873-1937), who would marry Beatrice M. Thurlow.  
  • Ralph W. Eldridge of East Orrington, Maine; inscribed on April 20, 1882. Perhaps the Ralph W. Eldridge (abt 1871-1960) who would marry Mary E. Chapman. 
  • Arthur Elms of East Orrington, Maine. Presumably Arthur Elms, born about 1868, older brother inscriber Estelle Elms.
  • Estelle Elms of Orrington, Maine; inscribed on April 25, 1878.  Presumably Estelle A. Elms (1870-1956), who would marry Louis J. Mutty. 
  • Nellie M. Essig of East Orrington, Maine. Presumably Nellie M. Essig (abt 1866-), who would marry Augustus Frederick Cook. 
  • Lulu George of East Orrington, Maine; inscribed on April 20, 1882. Presumably Lucy Richards George (1869-1941), "Lulu", who would marry George Fairbanks Gibson.  
  • Clara M. Jameson of East Orrington, Maine; inscribed on April 25, 1882. Presumably the Clara M. Jameson (1868-1924) who would marry Charles Severance.  
  • Alice Lufkin of East Orrington, Maine; inscribed on April 20, 1882. Presumably Alice M. Lufkin (1870-1923) who married Randall S. Pierce.  
  • Aunt Newcomb; inscribed on January 16, 1882. Possibly Rosalinda (Smith) Newcomb (1819-1899), wife of Charles Newcomb and older sister to Martelle's father Watson H. Smith. 
  • Katie Ober of East Orrington, Maine; inscribed on April 23, 1882. Perhaps the Kate Ober born in 1872, daughter of George Ober and Harriet (Stackpole) Ober and future wife of Adoniram J. McGowen [middle name possibly Judson] 
  • Edgar A. Rowell of East Orrington, Maine; inscribed on April 25, 1882. Presumably Edgar Angeir Rowell (1871-1958), who would marry Emma W. Weiler.
  • G. E. Rowell of East Orrington, Maine; inscribed in 1882. Perhaps George E. Rowell
  • Carrie Smith of East Boston; inscribed on September 18, 1881. Presumably a relative of the album owner Martelle A. Smith (1871-1959), "Marty.
  • Lemmie H. Smith of East Orrington, Maine; Lemuel H. Smith (1869-1945), brother of album owner Martelle A. Smith, "Marty". He would marry Blanche E. Arey. 
  • Martelle A. Smith (1871-1959) of East Orrington, Maine, "Martie"; album owner; he wrote his name in several places in the album, including on the first and last pages. He would marry 1) Rosette H. Seavey; 2) Nina B. (Raynes) Grace. 
  • Persis P. Smith (1866-1942) of East Orrington, Maine, sister of album owner Martelle A. Smith, "Marty"; she wrote her name in several places in the album. Persis would marry Charles H. Atwood. 
  • Po. A. Smith; presumably a relative


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