1880s Autograph Album of "Fossie"; Student at China Village High School at China, Maine

 1880s autograph album that belonged to a "Fossie", a student at China Village High School in China, Maine.

The album was found with two other albums from China, Maine, both belonging to Georgia Ann Hunnewell (1875-1962):

• 1882+ Autograph Album of Georgia Ann Hunnewell of China, Maine; Student at China Village High School
• 1880s Autograph Album of Georgia Ann Hunnewell (1875-1962) of China, Maine; Student at China Village High School

The album measures approximately 6" by 4" and contains the sentiments of 30 of Fossie's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical listing of all of the inscribers appears at the end of this post.

Surnames in the Album

? [3]	Gardner	Spaulding
Bailey	Gould	Spratt
Colley	Hunnewell	Taylor
Colman	Hussey	Wallace
Crowell	Jepson	Wentworth
Davis	Jones	Wixson
Fall	Keen
Fletcher [3]	Merrill
Foster [4]	Pearson

It's tempting to think that Fossie's surname might have been Foster, since Georgia Ann Hunnwell married Thomas Merrill Foster, and four people with the surname Foster inscribed pages in the album.

Clues to Fossie's identity from inscribers who mentioned a family relationship:

• Aunt Lizzie, inscribed at Waterville, Maine, on April 14, 1883
• Minnie D. Crowell of China, Maine; inscribed on October 12, 1885 at China Village High School during the Fall Term.  Not sure of middle initial.  "Your  loving cousin"
• E. W. Foster of China, Maine; inscribed on April 15, 1888.  "Your Uncle", presumably Edmund Ward Foster (1860-1928), who, interestingly enough, was the older brother of Thomas Merrill Foster who would marry the above mentioned Georgia Ann Hunnwell in 1895.

If you have a theory as to Fossie's identity or information on any of the other people mentioned, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Inscribers in the Album

• "Fossie", album owner; presumably someone from the Foster family of China, Maine
• Aunt Lizzie, inscribed at Waterville, Maine, on April 14, 1883
• Lizzie; inscribed at China, Maine, on April 22, 1885
• L. A. Bailey of Dresden, Maine; inscribed at China Village, Maine, on 9-1-85
• Willette Colley of China, Maine; inscribed at February 2, 1887 [or 1881]
• Ida Colman of Vassalboro, Maine; inscribed at China Village, Maine, in 1885
• Minnie D. Crowell of China, Maine; inscribed on October 12, 1885 at China Village High School during the Fall Term.  Not sure of middle initial.  "Your  loving cousin"
• W. L. Davis of Albion, Maine; inscribed on April 17, 1885
• M. Della Fall; inscribed at China Village High School on October 15, 1885
• Eme S. Fletcher of China, Maine; not sure of given name. Perhaps Emma S. Fletcher
• M. C. Fletcher; inscribed at China, Maine, on April 27, 1885
• Maude I. Fletcher of China, Maine; inscribed on February 2, 1887
• Harriet E. Foster of China, Maine; inscribed on May 16, 1888
• John M. Foster of Waterville, Maine; inscribed on November 4, 1884
• E. W. Foster of China, Maine; inscribed on April 15, 1888.  "Your Uncle"
• T. M. Foster of China, Maine; inscribed on April 19, 1885.  Not sure of first initial
• Minnie L. Gardner of Palermo, Maine; inscribed April 20, 1885
• Alice Gould of North Vassalboro, Maine; inscribed on October 5, 1886
• F. M. Hunnewell of China, Maine; inscribed on May 7, 1888; "three years old"
• Charles B. Hussey of China, Maine; inscribed on April 13, 1888 at China Village High School
• George E. Jepson of China, Maine; inscribed on February 2, 1887
• Asa M. Jones of Unity, Maine; inscribed at China, Maine, on April 24, 1885, during the Spring Term at C.A.H.S.
• C. B. Keen
• J. H. Merrill or J. K. Merrill of China, Maine; inscribed on April 17, 1885
• N. R. Pearson of Morrill, Maine; inscribed at China, Maine, in November 188x, possibly 1885
• Clyde O. Spaulding of East China, Maine; inscribed on April 17, 1885
• C. C. Spratt of East Palermo, Maine; inscribed in April 1885
• Nettie M. Taylor, on a page with Florence M. Wixson and Julia E. Wentworth, inscribed at China, Maine, on February 2, 1887; "Your Schoolmates"
• F. S. Wallace; inscribed on 4-17-85 at China Village High School in China, Maine.  Hand done bird design
• Julia E. Wentworth, on a page with Florence M. Wixson and Nettie M. Taylor, inscribed at China, Maine, on February 2, 1887; "Your Schoolmates"
• Florence M. Wixson, on a page with Nettie M. Taylor and Julia E. Wentworth, inscribed at China, Maine, on February 2, 1887; "Your Schoolmates"