1880s Autograph Album of Ida Moore, Student at Decorah Institute at Decorah, Iowa

 

1880s autograph album of Ida Moore (1868-1920), a student at Decorah Institute at Decorah, Iowa.  Inscribers hailed mostly from Iowa, with three from Minnesota, and one each from Nebraska and Wisconsin. 

Ida wrote her name and address on the inside back cover, along with the note: To read when I am old and grey.

The album measures approximately 6"by 4" and contains the sentiments of over 80 of Ida's relatives, friends, schoolmates and teachers.  An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.

Surnames in the Album

	? [7]	J	Jerald	R	Richards
B	Bachelder		Jewell [3]		Rierson
	Billings		Johnson	S	Sallee [4]
	Boyd	K	Kearns		Schmidt
	Bridge [3]		Kirk		Scott [3]
C	Child [2]	L	Larson		Severson [2]
	Coleman		Linzenmeyer		Shulze
	Coughlin		Lowe	T	Thompson
D	D?	M	McCarthy		Tillotson
E	Eide		Merrill [2]		Tuttle [2]
	Elwick		Moore [3]	W	Weymouth
	Erickson		Mott		Whiteman [2]
G	Gardner	N	Narum		Wilson
	Gullickson		Nelson [2]
H	Haas [3]		Ness
	Hansohn		Nodshilder
	Headington [5]	O	Odson [3]
	Hegg		Olson
	Hesla [2]	P	Pedersen
	Hitchcock		Puntney

Ida Moore was born 19 January 1868 in Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of Charles Oscar Moore and Gustava (Erickson) Moore. Two of Ida's brothers inscribed pages in her album.

Brother Henry inscribed a page.

Brother Louis Moore inscribed a page but he was young, and his handwriting is not easy to decipher.

One of the inscribers, F. M. Jewell, who penned his page on March 20, 1886 at Decorah, Iowa, noted: "True friends are jewells but like jewels are scarce".

Fittingly, Ida and Franklin M. Jewell married at Decorah, Iowa, on 9 September 1891. They would have, I believe, three children, one of whom, Emily Jewell, "Emma", inscribed a page in the album.

Ida died in 1920 and Frank in 1941. They're buried with Ida's parents in the Phelps Cemetery in Decorah, Iowa.

Teachers who inscribed pages:

• Moses Billings
• Annis Mott
• F. B. Tillotson

If you have corrections and/or additions to the above or information or research to share on any of the people listed below, please leave a comment.

Alphabetical List of Inscribers

• Mary ?, possibly Mary Daley, Dalvey or Dalen, of Calmar, Iowa. Middle initial could be J or I. She was Ida's seatmate
• Emma
• Name unclear
• Hammond ? Emma, possibly Emma W. (S); Ida's seatmate, presumably at Decorah Institute
• Peter Nar?, possibly Peter Narum; inscribed at Decorah Institute on February 6, 1886 Robert
• Mary Bachelder of Castalia, Iowa; inscribed at Decorah Institute on February 11, 1886. Ida's friend and schoolmate 
• Moses Billings, Ida's teacher; inscribed on December 1, 1884. Presumably Moses Billings (1862-1921)
• D. Boyd; inscribed at Decorah, Iowa, on September 6, 1886
• Allie Bridge; inscribed on January 20, 1884 at Decorah, Iowa
• Allie Bridge; inscribed on January 2, 1885
• Priscilla Bridge; inscribed on December 28, 1883
• Estella Child of Decorah, Iowa; inscribed on December 19, 1885
• Charlie Child of Decorah, Iowa; inscribed on December 19, 1885
• Atta L. Coleman; inscribed at Decorah, Iowa, on July 17, 1884
• Kate G. Coughlin; inscribed at Decorah, Iowa, on October 5, 1885; Ida's schoolmate
• Mary ?, possibly Mary Daley, Dalvey or Dalen, of Calmar, Iowa. Middle initial could be J or I. She was Ida's seatmate
• Lina Eide of Bratsberg, Minnesota; inscribed at Decorah Institute on January 26, 1886
• Thomas Elwick; inscribed on March 4, 1886 at Decorah, Iowa
• Caroline Erickson of Springwater, Iowa; inscribed on February 20, 1885
• Mabel I. Gardner of Decorah, Iowa; inscribed on May 17, 1885
• Christine Gullickson; inscribed on February 10, 1886 at Decorah Institute; Ida's schoolmate
• Julius Haas of Decorah, Iowa; inscribed in 1884 at age 9
• Emma Haas of Decorah, Iowa; inscribed in 1884 at age 7
• Maggie Haas; inscribed at 33rd Avenue, Decorah, Iowa, on May 19, 1885
• Emma M. Hansohn; inscribed on January 26, 1886. Not sure of surname
• Louise Headington; inscribed in 1884 Nellie Headington, inscribed in 1884
• Hallie Headington Herb Headington of Decorah, Iowa
• Winnie Headington; inscribed on May 19, 1885. Ida's schoolmate Helena Hegg
• Ollie Hesla; not sure of surname; inscribed in 1885, at D.I., presumably Decorah, Iowa
• Lena Hesla of Waterville, Iowa; inscribed at Decorah Institute on October 30, 1885. Not sure of surname
• Hallie V. Hitchcock; inscribed at Decorah, Iowa
• Emmy M. Jerald of Lime Springs, Iowa; inscribed on December 19, 1885 at Decorah, Iowa
• ? V. E. Jewell; inscribed in October 1887. Presumably Benjamin E. Jewell (1850-1938), Ida's future brother-in-law
• Miss Emma Jewell of Decorah, Iowa; Ida's daughter
• F. M. Jewell; inscribed at Decorah, Iowa, on March 20, 1886. Presumably Frank M. Jewell. He played on his surname: "True friends are jewells but like jewels are scarce". True indeed, because Ida and Frank married on 9 September 1891! 
• Alfred O. Johnson of Decorah, Iowa; inscribed on January 2, 1887
• Ella M. Kearns of Ossian, Iowa; inscribed at Decorah Institute on 10/8/85
• Ida's schoolmate Nellie Kirk of Lansing, Iowa; inscribed on January 25, 1886
• Christena Larson; inscribed at Decorah, Iowa, on March 3, 1884
• Anna Linzenmeyer
• William Lowe of Hadley, Minnesota; inscribed on January 27, 1884
• Hattie McCarthy of Jackson Junction, Iowa; inscribed at Decorah Institute, on March 15, 1886
• Will Merrill; inscribed on January 9, 1884
• Nettie Merrill of Decorah, Iowa; inscribed on January 9, 1884
• Henry Moore; Ida's brother Louis Moore of Decorah, Iowa, in a year I can't make out; age ?, possibly 8. He was John Louis Moore (1877-1947), Ida's brother
• Ida Moore, Decorah, Iowa, album owner. "To read when I am old and grey". Written on the inside back cover
• Annis Mott; inscribed in 1886 and directed to Ida, "Dear teacher". Possibly the Annis Mott who married Martin Ellingson in 1894
• Peter Nar?, possibly Peter Narum; inscribed at Decorah Institute on February 6, 1886
• Anna Nelson; inscribed at Decorah Institute on April 7, 1885
• John N. Nelson; inscribed at Decorah, Iowa
• A. J. Ness; inscribed on March 18, no year written; Ida's uncle
• H. Nodshilder Joseph Odson; inscribed on January 10, 1885 at Springwater, Iowa
• Samuel Odson; inscribed in 1885 at Springwater, Iowa
• Rachel Odson; inscribed at Springwater, Iowa, on January 10, 1885
• Albert A. Olson of Springwater, Iowa
• Petra Pedersen; inscribed at Decorah, Iowa, on December 31, 1883 [not sure last digit]. Presumably written in Danish
• Dora Puntney; inscribed on June 23, 1886
• Joseph Richards of York, Minnesota; inscribed on February 15, 1886
• Betsey C. Rierson of Mona, Iowa; inscribed on March 12, 1885 at Decorah Institute
• Charles Sallee; inscribed on January 17, 1884 at Decorah, Iowa
• Mrs. Sallee; inscribed at Decorah, Iowa, on August 1, 1884
• Dixie Sallee of Decorah, Iowa
• Carrie Sallee; from or inscribed at Royal, Nebraska, on February 16, 1889
• Johanna Schmidt of B?, Howard County, Iowa; inscribed at Decorah Institute on October 30, 1885
• Mrs. E. W. Scott of Decorah, Iowa; inscribed on November 29 [the year is too faint to read]. Possibly Edith E. (Fawcett) Scott, who married Edward W. Scott on 11 May 1886. Edward may have been the E. W. Scott who inscribed a page elsewhere in the album. 
• E. W. Scott of Decorah, Iowa; inscribed on October 29, 1886. Presumably the Edward W. Scott who married Edith E. Fawcett on 11 May 1886. Edith was presumably the Mrs. E. W. Scott who inscribed a page elsewhere in the album.
• Margaret L. Scott; inscribed on October 16, 1886
• Sever Severson, age 12, of Spring Water, Iowa; inscribed in 1886. Sever "John" Severson (1874-1955)
• Helen Severson; inscribed at Decorah, Iowa, on December 20, 188?
• Belle Shulze
• Carrie Thompson of Springwater, Iowa; inscribed on November 17, 1885
• F. B. Tillotson; inscribed at Decorah, Iowa, on January 8, 1884. Ida's teacher. Presumably Fred Burr Tillotson (1860-1937)
• Edith Tuttle of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin; inscribed on December 10, 1884 ?
• Gacie Tuttle, age ?, 1887. Possibly "Lillie Gracie Tuttle" or "little" Gracie Tuttle; age could be five. Alternatively, the year could be 1897
• Mary Weymouth
• Ada Whiteman; inscribed at Decorah, Iowa, on October 13, 1883. Possibly the Ada S. Whiteman who married John J. Headington on 1 December 1886 at Decorah, Iowa.
• Vinnie Whiteman
• Clara Wilson or Wilsons

1892-1900 Autograph Album of Nellie Angeline Ellison (1883-1977) of Clarinda, Iowa; would Marry Frederick Edward Handorf

1892-1900 autograph album that belonged to Nellie Angeline Ellison (1883-1977) of Clarinda, Iowa. Nellie would marry Frederick Edward Handorf in 1904.

The album measures approximately 6" by 6" and contains the sentiments of 47 of Nellie's relatives, friends, schoolmates and teachers.  An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.

Surnames in the Album

	? (6)	H	Harper (2)	R	Rahn (2)
B	Bashore		Hiatt		Redenbaugh
	Benson (2)	L	Loy	S	Scrivner
	Burtt	M	Miller		Stirk (2)
C	Cavender		Mordan		Stoller (2)
	Crabb		Morgan (5)	W	Waddle
D	Dougherty (2)		Morland		Worrell (5)
E	Ellison (4)	O	Orth	Y	Younkin (2)
G	Grinnell

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

Nellie Angeline Ellison was born at Clarinda, Iowa, on 18 August 1884, her delayed birth record shows - based on:

• family Bible record
• school record
• teacher's certificate
• marriage record

Her parents were Charles E. Ellison and Mary Jane (Miller) Ellison.  On 6 January 1904, Nellie married Frederick Edward Handorf, son of Rudolph F. Handorf and Mary L. (Snyder) Handorf.

Nellie Angeline (Ellison) Handorf and Frederick Edward Handorf are buried in the Memory Cemetery in Page County, Iowa, with other relatives, including children.

At least three of Nellie's relatives inscribed pages, including

• sister Lulu Pearl Edison (1886-1932), who would marry Neff Clinton Barnes
• sister Nina Vashtie Ellison (1892-1994), who married Horace Leslie Kelly
• brother Wilbur Clay Ellison (1880-1952).

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

List of Inscribers

• F. M.
• C. E. H.
• unsigned
• Maude S.
• H. R. Waddle; inscribed at Maryville, Missouri. Not sure of first initial and surname
• Florence; inscribed on January 6, 1893
• Edna L. Bashore; inscribed on January 6, 1892
• Birdie J. Benson; inscribed at New Market, Iowa, on February 24, 1892
• George Benson; inscribed on April 1, 1900 (not sure of date as the penciling is very faint)
• C. Burtt; inscribed on February 21, 1892
• Lou Cavender of Clarinda, Iowa; Nellie's techer; inscribed on June 20, 1894
• M. P. Crabb of Shambaugh, Iowa; inscribed on August 14, 1894
• Carrie Daugherty - presumably Carrie Dougherty
• Minnie Dougherty; inscribed at New Market, Iowa, on February 24, 1892
• Nellie Angeline Ellison (1883-1977) of Clarinda, Iowa; album owner
• Nina V. Ellison; Rena Morgan; Amy D. Ellison; Blanche E. Crabb
• Pearl Ellison; "Sister"; inscribed on April 1, 1900
• Wilbur Ellison, "Your Brother"; inscribed at Clarinda, Iowan, on January 26, 1895. Wilbur Clay Ellison (1880-1952). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36665988/el
• J. E. Grinnell; inscribed at school on February 22, 1897
• C. E. Harper; inscribed on 3/11 1896
• Ora Harper; inscribed at New Market, Iowa, on 6/9/1892
• Lenna Hiatt, Nellie's teacher; inscribed at New Market, Iowa, on 6-5 1892
• Alice Loy; inscribed on January 22, 1895. Nellie's teacher
• Flora Miller; inscribed on September 8, 1894. Not sure of given or surname - very faint
• Emma Mordan; inscribed at Clarinda, Iowa on June 8, 1895. Did she mean Morgan?
• Blanche Morgan; inscribed on January 23, 1893
• Earl Morgan; inscribed on January 16, 1898
• Edna E. Morgan
• Eva Morgan; inscribed on July 29, 1890
• Maude Morgan, Sunday School Teacher; inscribed on August 22, 1893
• Flora B. Morland; Nellie's teacher
• Fanny S. Orth; inscribed 1/4/ 1893
• Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Rahn of Galesburg, Illinois; inscribed on March 19, 1893
• M. A. Rahn of Galesburg, Illinois; top half of page is missing
• Ralph V. Redenbaugh; inscribed on June 29, 1900
• Minnie Scrivner; inscribed at Bedford, Iowa, on October 1, 1892
• Jas T. Stirk; inscribed on April 16, 1899. Presumably James T. Stirk
• Ruby Stirk
• Cora Stoller; inscribed on February 24, 1892
• Edwin Stoller of Clarinda, Iowa; inscribed on February 24, 1892
• H. R. Waddle; inscribed at Maryville, Missouri. Not sure of first initial and surname
• Ed E. Worrell of Iowa; top half of page is missing
• Ernest Worrell; inscribed at Clarinda, Iowa
• Laurence Worrell; inscribed at New Market, Iowa; schoolmate
• Lizzie Worrell; inscribed at New Market, Iowa, on October 24, 1894; added a note on February 24, 1897
• Mira Worrell
• Harvey C. Younkin; inscribed on January 21, 1895
• May Younkin; inscribed on Februay 24, 1892. Perhaps Mabel May Younkin, born 7 May 1881

8 Cabinet Cards of Children & Grandchildren of George Sumner Wood and Lucinda Sophia (Harding) Wood of Vermont and Massachusetts

Nelson Henry Wood or Henry Nelson Wood (1847-1905)

Eight cabinet photographs of children and grandchildren of George Sumner Wood and Lucinda Sophia (Harding) Wood of Bridgewater, Vermont and Massachusetts.

• cabinet photograph of their son Nelson Henry Wood or Henry Nelson Wood (1847-1905), shown above. Nelson moved to Creston, Iowa.
• 3 cabinet photographs of their son Will Wood, who was William Clarence Wood (1850-). Will moved to Massachusetts. In 1883, he married Mary Maria Parkis, daughter of Ira and Emily Parkis and  and, after Mary's death, in 1917 widow Edith M. (Goodspeed) Baker, daughter of Theodore Baker and Hannah (Snow) Goodspeed
• photograph of William Clarence Wood's first wife Mary Maria (Parkis) Wood, whom Will married in 1883.
• cabinet photograph of Betsey Gould (Currier) Wood (1843-1910), wife of George and Lucinda's son Milton George Wood.
• cabinet photograph of Betsey's daughter Lena Belle Wood (1869-1953)
• cabinet photograph of Betsey's son George Madison Wood (1872-1930)

Reverse of photograph of Nelson Henry Wood or Henry Nelson Wood (1847-1905):

Nelson Henry Wood or Henry Nelson Wood (1847-1905)

If you have information of the children and grandchildren of George Sumner Wood and Lucinda Sophia (Harding) Wood, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

 "Uncle Will Wood", who was William Clarence Wood

Reverse of Photograph of William Clarence Wood

Calling Card of R. W. Fasken, County S. S. Missionary, 332 East St, Newton, presumably Iowa

Calling card of R. W. Fasken, S. S. Missionary, of 332 East St., Newton, presumably Newton, Iowa.

He may have been Robert William Fasken (1880 or 1881-1974), a native of Paris, Ontario, who settled in Iowa and married Evangeline Lydia Pierce (1875-1931) in 1904. They're buried in the Big Grove Cemetery in Benton County, Iowa.

If you have more information on Robert William Fasken or if you feel that the calling belonged to another R. W. Fasken, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

In case it applies, below is a map of Newton, Iowa.  I'm not sure 332 East Street in Kellogg, Iowa is correct, but perhaps a reader in Iowa can clarify.

1910 Real Photo Postcard of 5 Month Old Jesse William Greenlief, Postmarked Newton, Iowa

Real photo postcard postmarked August 19, 1910 at Newton, Iowa, showing Jesse William Greenlief at age 5 months; addressed to Miss Mary Hughes at 738 West 20th Street, Des Moines, Iowa.

From brief online research, hopefully correct - corrections and additions requested - while respecting the privacy of living or recently deceased people:

Jesse William Greenlief was born March 9, 1910 at Newton Township, Iowa, the son of Charles E. Greenlief and Jomattie Ellen (Rumbaugh) Greenlief; their fifth child.  The postcard notes "This is Gracie's Brother".  Gracie was Delta Grace Greenlief, born in 1899, presumably Mary Hughes was Grace's friend or caretaker.

On July 21, 1929 at Huntington Park, Los Angeles, California, Jesse married Marjorie Elizabeth Castner, also an Iowa native, born October 16, 1910 at Union Township, daughter of James Miller Castner and Lucile (Morrisey) Castner.  Another record, from California, County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1849-1980, gives the date as July 23, 1929.  At the time they were both living at Long Beach, California.  They would have at least two children, a daughter and son.  U.S. Censuses show that they lived in the Los Angeles, California area and at Seattle, Washington.

Jesse died at Toronto, Ontario in 1974; Marjorie died in 1984.  They're buried in the Carling Cemetery at Carling, Ontario, Canada.  Jesse's Social Security death record gives his address as the U.S. Consulate, but I don't know if that means he worked there or if they handle the deaths of U.S. residents in Canada.

I don't know the identity of Miss Mary Hughes but note that there was a Mary Hughes, born about 1903, who is enumerated in the 1910 Census as living on 20th Street in Des Moines, the daughter of Ernest M. Hughes and Edith (Todd) Hughes.  If this Mary was the recipient of the postcard, she would have been about age 7 at the time, not out of the ordinary.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or an identity for Miss Mary Hughes, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Please be careful when mentioning living or recently deceased people.

Calling Card of Rosa C. Rechkemmer; Possibly of Fairbank, Iowa

Calling card of Rosa C. Rechkemmer; nothing on reverse.

The card presumably dates from the late 19th century.  Researching online, I several possibilities for Rosa Rechkemmer, or variant spellings.

The most intriguing possibility I found is Rose Christine Rechkemmer, who was born in 1859 in Iowa, daughter of John Rechkemmer and Johanna (Hoenig - spelled various ways) Rechkemmer of Fairbank, Iowa.  Rechkemmer is also spelled several ways throughout records, including Rechekemmer, Rechkerner and Bechkemmer.

This Rose married Otho Fayette Leonard in 1896.  They farmed in Iowa and had at least one child, daughter Lura.  Rose died in 1920 and Otho in 1944.  They're buried in the Fairbank Cemetery at Fairbank, Iowa.

Sources
U.S. Federal Censuses
Iowa State Census 1885
Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934
FindaGrave.com

If you have another possibility for the identity of Rosa C. Rechkemmer, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Just in case, this card belonged to Rosa C. (Rechkemmer) Leonard: a map of Fairbank, Iowa and its cemetery

19th Century Photograph Album Presumably Related to the Burneau and Seymour Families of Vermont and Massachusetts

Photograph album, measuring approximately 11" by 8" by 2", that appears to be related to the Burneau, Matthews and Seymour families of Middlebury, Vermont, and Worcester, Massachusetts, and beyond.

Note: this family may be related to the Burnor family of the Norwich, Vermont area, the subject of a photograph album featured in another post.  Both surnames are reportedly variants of Bernard, a surname that goes back to 17th century Acadia.

From identifications provided on the pages in which the photographs are inserted and on the reverse of some photographs, I'm guessing that the album originally belonged to Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, "Lena", and was passed on to one of her grandchildren.  Hopefully, a reader with knowledge of these families or Vermont genealogy will weigh in.

The name Lena appears on the reverse of several photographs, but I believe that in most cases her name was there to indicate that the photograph was to be given to her, not to indicate that she is the person in the photograph; i.e. her name appears on the reverse of a man's photograph.

Cabinet photograph of three women, with the women in the middle identified as "Grand mother in the centre at age 14"; she may have been Helena Mary Burneau, "Lena".  The photograph was taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.

A tintype in the album is captioned: "Grand Mother & Grand Dad before marriage, Age 20 and 23"; presumably Helena Mary Burneau, "Lena", and Edward Peter Seymour.

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

Helena Mary Burneau, "Lena", was about March 1878 in Vermont, the daughter of Peter Burneau and Mary Louise (Matthews) Burneau.  About 1900, Lena married Edward Peter Seymour, son of Nelson Seymour and Catherine (Bowes) Seymour.  According to a Vermont birth record, which appears to be in a modern hand and may reflect a misreading of an original date, "Eddie P. Seymour" was born June 8, 1875 at New Haven, Vermont.   However, on his World War I Draft Registration Card, Edward gave his birth date as June 28, 1875.

Lena and Edward lived in Vermont and then settled, apparently at some point after 1913, at Worcester, Massachusetts, though they may have lived briefly at New York City, where their son Bernard was born in the Bronx on May 27, 1901.  Son Daniel J. Seymour was born in 1906 at Burlington, Vermont, and sons Leo James Seymour, Hubert Louis Seymour and John Francis Seymour were born at Middlebury, Vermont, in 1903, 1907 and 1913 respectively.  Edward Peter Seymour worked as a printer and painter in the publishing industry.

Edward P. Seymour's sister, Julia Frances Seymour, appears in two or perhaps 3 photographs, one of them when she was serving as a governess to the son of the U.S. Consul at Livorno (Leghorn), Italy.  Julia, who was born about 1871,  married George Albert McHugh back in Vermont in 1903, so her stint as a governess probably took place in a range from the 1890s to just after the turn of the century.  During that time, the Consuls to Livorno were: Isaac R. Diller; James V. Long; Charles B. Davis; Edward C. Cramer and possibly as late as the term of Francis B. Keene.

I'd dearly love to know more about Julia's adventure in Italy!

Sources

• Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954 - birth record of "Eddie P. Seymour", but it appears to be in a modern hand; may have accidentally written June 8,  1875, rather than June 28, 1875
• United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 - in his own hand, Edward wrote his birth date as June 28, 1875
• U.S. Federal Censuses
• Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954 - birth of son John Francis Seymour
• Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980

The album contains many cabinet photographs, several Cartes de Visite and one tintype.  If you have information on any of them, please leave a comment or contact me directly by the email address under Inquiries in the right margin.

In order:

• Cabinet photograph of an unidentified young woman; by the H. E. Bosworth studio of 380 Main Street, Springfield, Massachusetts
• Cabinet photograph of an unidentified woman; by the Bigalow Studio of 3 Church Street, Port Henry, New York
• Cabinet photograph of a young boy and a young woman identified on the page containing the photograph as "Aunt Julia Seymour "Taken when she was in Italy as governess to the son of the U.S. Consul.".  Julia was Julia Frances Seymour, born in 1870 in Vermont.  She was the sister of Edward Peter Seymour, who married Helena Mary Burneau, "Lena", who may have been the original owner of the photograph album.  Julia would marry George Alfred McHugh in 1903.  The photograph was taken by a studio at Livorno, Italy.
• Cabinet photograph of a young woman; taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.  The name Lena appears on the reverse, as it does on many of the photographs in the album, even men and children.  Consequently, it appears that some of the photographs were meant to be given to Lena and some, perhaps, were of Lena herself.  Helena Mary Burneau was possibly the original owner of this photograph album, before and after her marriage to Edward Peter Seymour.
• Cabinet photograph of a young man; taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.  Written on the page below the photograph: "Grandmother's brother age 16 40 years ago."  The name Lena appears on the reverse, along with: "1891" and "Geo".  I believe the young man was George W. Burneau, born about 1874 in Vermont, and brother of Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, who was presumably the album owner.
• Cabinet photograph of an unidentified baby, captioned: "A fourth cousin (an Angel in Heaven)".  The photograph was taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.  The name Lena appears on the reverse, presumably Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour.
• Cabinet photograph of three young women; taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.  Captioned on the page containing the photograph: "Grandmother in the centre at age 14".  Written on the reverse of the photograph: "Lena 1892 14 years".  This might be a case where "Lena" might refer to Lena herself, Helena Mary Burneau, future wife of Edward Peter Seymour and presumed owner of the album.
• Cabinet photograph of four young children identified on the page containing the photograph as "Second cousins 35 years ago."  The photograph was taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.  The name Lena is written on the back, presumably referring to the fact that the photograph was directed to Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, presumed album owner.
• Cabinet photograph of four people, either a husband, wife and two children, or a father and three children; identified on the page containing the photograph as "Second and third cousins 35 years ago."  The photograph was taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.
• Cabinet photograph of a baby; by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.
• Cabinet photograph of a young woman identified on the page containing the photograph as "Miss Daniels 35 years ago."  The photograph was taken by the Jackson Studio of Middlebury, Vermont.
• Cabinet photograph of a young woman; no studio imprint.  Bears a resemblance to Julia Frances Seymour, who appears in two other photographs in the album.
• Cabinet photograph of a baby identified on the page containing the photograph as "Daddy Age 9 months".  Presumably one of the sons of Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour and Edward Peter Seymour.
• Cabinet photograph of an unidentified young man; described as "Cousin" on the page  containing the photograph.  The photograph was taken by the Tibert studio of Worcester, Massachusetts.   Lena had nephews named Crane, who lived at or near Worcester, Massachusetts; perhaps the young man was one of them: John Sherman Crane, Allan Raymond Crane or Grant Earl Crane.  Their mother, Lena's sister, was Adella Lizzie (Burneau) Crane Kohler, whose first husband was Theron M. Crane.
• Cabinet photograph of an unidentified young woman; taken by the Hevy studio of 397 Main Street, Worcester, Massachusetts.
• Cabinet photograph of a woman identified on the page containing the photograph as "Great Aunt Della Kohler 30 years ago."  The facing page contains a photograph of Della's second husband, Charles Kohler, mayor of Goshen, Indiana.  Adella Lizzie Burneau, older sister of Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour.  Della had first been married to Theron M. Crane and had several children with him, but they apparently divorced.
• Cabinet photograph of a man identified on the page containing the photograph as "Great Uncle Charles Kohler when he was mayor of Goshen, Ind.".  The photograph was taken by the William Parfitt studio of Goshen, Indiana.  The facing page contains a photograph of Charles' second wife, Adella Lizzie (Burneau) Crane Kohler.  More about Charles Kohler here.
• Cabinet photograph of an older man identified on the page containing the photograph as "Great Grand father".  The photograph was taken by the Chickering studio of 21 West Street, Boston, Massachusetts.  Was he perhaps Mr. Burneau, Mr. Matthews, Mr. Seymour or Mr. Bowes?
• Cabinet photograph of a young woman identified on the page containing the photograph as "Grandmother's Sister Rose 40 years ago.".  The photograph was taken by the Notman Photo Company of 3 Park Street, Boston, Massachusetts.  The name Lena appears on the reverse of the photograph.  Rosalie Burneau was the older sister of Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, presumed owner of the album.   Rose apparently never married.  She died of stomach cancer in 1922 at Goshen, Indiana; her sister Adella Lizzie (Burneau) Crane Kohler was the informant on Rose's death record.
• Cabinet photograph of a young girl identified on the page containing the photograph as "Cousin Edith Nisun 35 years ago."; taken by the Thibault studio of Burlington, Vermont.  Edith Elizabeth Nisun was the daughter of Frank A. Nisun and Minnie E. Delphia, whose mother was a sister to Mary Louise (Matthews) Burneau, mother of presumed album owner Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, "Lena".  Edith would marry William Patrick Casey.
• Cabinet photograph of two boys, identified on the page containing the photograph as "Cousins 45 years ago".  The photograph was taken by the W. I. Rood studio of Spencer, Iowa.  
• Cabinet photograph of two boys and a dog - the boys might be the same boys as noted in the previous photograph; identified as "Cousins" on the page containing the photograph, which was taken by the Medlar studio of Spencer, Iowa.
• Cabinet photograph of a young woman identified on the page containing the photograph as "3rd Cousin May Berringer.  The photograph was taken by the William A. Webster studio of Waltham, Massachusetts.
• Cabinet photograph of a young man identified on the page containing the photograph as "Frank Barrows, 3rd Cousin 40 years ago.".  The photograph was taken by the J. W. Brown studio of 187 Main Street, Norwich, Connecticut and Milford, Massachusetts [most likely the latter site].  Franklin Lewis Barrows was born in 1871 in Vermont, the son of Martin Nailor Barrows and Jennie Lenora (Matthews) Barrows, who was a sister to Mary Louise (Matthews) Burneau, mother of presumed album owner Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, "Lena".
• Cabinet photograph of an older man identified on the page containing the photograph as "Great Uncle Seymour".  The photograph was taken by the A. W. Perkins studio of Claremont, New Hampshire.  Presumably an uncle or brother of Julia Frances Seymour and Edward Peter Seymour, whose wife, Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, was the presumed album owner.  If he was their father, that would mean that my presumption of ownership of the album by Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour and then to one of her children would be in error.
• Written under an empty space where a cabinet photograph should have been: "Grandmother's Chum Catherine Daly. 40 years ago".  
• Written under an empty space where a cabinet photograph should have been: "Miss Latan 35 years ago"  Not sure of surname.
• Carte de Visite of a young woman in a very fancy hat, identified on the page containing the CDV: "Miss Halnan 35 years ago".  The CDV was made at the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.
• Written under two empty spaces where there should have been Cartes de Visite or tintypes: "Grandmother Age 6" and "Grandmother Age 3"
• Tintype of a young adult couple, identified on the page containing the tintype "Grand Mother & Grand Dad before marriage, Age 20 and 23".  Assuming I have identified the album owner correctly as Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour and one of her children, the couple in the tintype are presumably Helena Mary Burneau and Edward Peter Seymour.  They were three years apart, so that test is passed.
• CDV of a young woman identified on the page containing the CDV as "Great Aunt Julia Seymour, 43 years ago".  She was presumably the same Julia Seymour as in the photograph from Italy, where she was photographed while serving as a governess to the son of the U.S. Consul.  She was the sister of Edward Peter Seymour, who married presumed album owner Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour.
• CDV of an unidentified woman; on a page captioned "Friends 40 years ago."
• CDV of two unidentified young women; on a page captioned "Friends 40 years ago."
• CDV of two unidentified men; on a page captioned "Friends 40 years ago".
• CDV of an unidentified child; on a page captioned "Friends 40 years ago"

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