1891 Autograph Album of Ralph B. Leslie of El Dorado Springs, Missouri

Autograph album given to Ralph B. Leslie of El Dorado Springs, Missouri, by his father Willis Boyd Leslie in 1891.

Ralph's father, Willis Boyd Leslie, then signed the next page in the album in 1891.

Many pages are decorated with scraps, but the only other signed page was that inscribed by Ralph's cousin Clara of Nevada, Missouri.

The album is approximately 5" x 3-1/4" and shows evidence of rodent damage at the spine.

From online research, hopefully correct:  [corrections and additions welcome!]

Ralph B. Leslie was born 23 June 1883 in Missouri, the son of Willis Boyd Leslie and Martha A. (Norman) Leslie, "Mattie", who were born in Iowa and Indiana, respectively.

Sadly, Ralph died 8 October 1900.  His parents lost another lost other children before and after Ralph.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!

El Dorado Springs, Missouri


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1890s/1900s Autograph Album of Addie C. Harris of Springfield, Missouri

1890s/1900s autograph album of Addie C. Harris of Springfield, Missouri.

The album, in fragile condition, is approximately 7" x 4-1/2" and contains the sentiments of 26 people, some of whom wrote on two pages, in addition to a loose Victorian scrap with the name Emeral Gates on it.  An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.

It's possible that some pages at the beginning of the album are missing, as there's no title page, nor is there a page that Addie inscribed herself, though it's tempting to think that she might have sketched the intricate design above.  

From online research, hopefully correct: [corrections and additions welcome!]

I've had a hard time finding information on Addie, except for 1903 and 1904 Springfield, Missouri directories showing her as a dressmaker at 823 w Mount Vernon.  Sharing that address were dressmaker Cornelia Harris, dyer Frank E. Harris and shoemaker John W. Harris.

One of the signers, Cornelia Harris, indicated that she was Addie's sister.  Cornelia died in 1907.

Frank E. Harris was Addie's brother, Frank Edwin Harris (1879-1962).  John W. Harris was her father, a native of Georgia, who married Mary R. Gaston about 1882.

The 1900 Census of North Campbell, Missouri, lists John W. Harris, his wife Mary, and children Frank, Cornelia, Nellie, Joseph, Fred and John.  Addie wasn't listed with them.  She may have been the oldest and then out of the house.  

John William Harris' 1930 obituary lists two daughters who survived him, Mrs. L. L. Rhodes and Mrs. John Carried.  Nellie married Elmer Columbus Rhodes, so perhaps it was Addie who was married to John Carried - though the name could be a typo.

Hopefully a reader will leave a comment solving the mystery.

If you have more information on Addie C. Harris of Springfield, Missouri, or any of the signers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!

Richard Wells signed two pages in the album, at Springfield, Missouri, on March 16, 1899.  One of them, shown below, featured a Victorian scrap partially pasted that, when lifted, revealed the name Addie C. Harris written on the page beneath. It's possible that Addie wrote this herself.

Another page of interest was that of Pansy Knight who fit her inscription of October 19, 1898 around and on a Victorian scrap of a pansy.

Alphabetical list of signers: [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]

• Lillie May ?, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on February 23, 1892.  Possibly Carmar or Cavnar or ?
• Willie, signed at Springfield, Missouri, in 1900.  I believe he is the same Willie who signed a nearby page at Springfield, Missouri on 25 March 1900
• Anna, possibly Anna Zimmermann, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on March 17, 1899
• F. R.
• Littie Ball, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on October 21, 1898
• E. W. Bellows
• Mary Bemisdorfer, signed on October 5, 1895
• Minnie Brown, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on April 9, 1900.  Box 374.  "Remember the Maine"
• Emeral Gates; name written on a loose Victorian scrap
• Annie Gideon
• Lizzie Hall, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on November 29, 1898.  Inscribed to "Miss Addie Harris"
• Addie C. Harris of Springfield, Missouri; album owner
• Cornelia Harris, signed at Springfield, Missouri; Addie's sister
• Charles Hutchison, signed at Gulf School in October 1898
• Annie Jarratt, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on October 19, 1898
• Opal Jones, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on May 12, 1897
• Pansy Knight, signed on October 19, 1898; appropriately, she pasted a large Victorian scrap of a pansy on her page and wrote around and on it.
• Leona Link, signed at Springfield, Missouri on February 23, 1892
• Bert Mann, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on March 16, 1899; he signed two pages in the album on the same date.
• Beulah M. Mitchell, signed at Springfield, Missouri; Addie's schoolmate
• W. H. Pearce or Pearson or ?, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on March 25, 1900
• Nettie Ricketts, signed at Springfield, Missouri
• Nora Ricketts, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on December 25 [no year written]
• Fletie Shoemaker, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on April 7-4-1900.  Also mentions Willard, Missouri
• Minnie Sutter, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on October 20, 1898
• John E. Walker, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on January 3, 1892
• Rich Wells, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on March 16, 1899.  Inscribed to "Miss Addie Harris".  Later on in the album, he signed a page at Springfield, Missouri, on March 16, 1899. This page has a Victorian Scrap on it that, when lifted, shows the name Addie Harris written on the page itself.
• J. Wood, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on November 29, 1898
• Anna, possibly Anna Zimmerman, signed at Springfield, Missouri, on March 17, 1899

Springfield, Missouri

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1880s Autograph Album of Lina (Burlew) Meyers of New York and Ohio

1880s autograph album of Pauline "Lina" (Burlew) Meyers of Ohio.

Several signers in the album indicated a cousin relationship with Lina, which sent me on a lot of wild goose chases.  As it turns out,  some of them were spouses of people who were cousins to Lina's husband George Franklin Meyers, rather than blood cousins to Lina herself.

The album is approximately 7" x 4-1/4" and contains 37 pages signed by Lina's [future] husband George Franklin Meyers, relatives of his who signed after their marriage, Lina's friends and Lina's daughter who signed in 1902.  The album is interspersed with plates of butterfly and floral scenes.

An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.

From online research, hopefully correct: [corrections and additions welcome!]

Pauline "Lina" Burlew was born 19 November 1865 in New York, perhaps at Ulysses, New York, the daughter of Van Renssalaer Burlew and Cynthia (Milliman) Burlew.

On 18 June 1885, Lina married George Franklin Meyers, son of Peter and Susan (Mowery) Meyers.  George was born 5 March 1864 at Stoutsville, Ohio.  It was George's maternal Mowery line that connected him to the several cousins who signed pages in Lina's album.

George worked as a railroad agent.  Perhaps early in his railroad career, he happened to meet a young lady in New York. Or they met because Lina's family moved progressively west from New York, after the enumeration of the 1880 Census.  Van Rensselaer Burlew died in Missouri in 1897.

Lina and George lived at Greenfield, Ohio, and Columbus, Ohio, and raised three daughters, one of whom, the eldest Edna Alice Meyers, signed a page in Lina's album in 1902.

If you have corrections to the information above, or information on any of the signers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!

Alphabetical list of the signers: [Note: given names within specific surnames may not be in alphabetical order.]

• Maggie Bray, signed at Lynnville, Tennessee, on 22 May 1887
• Tara Bray of Lynnville, Tennessee
• Mollie Bray, signed at Lynnville, Tennessee on 22 May 1887
• Olive Willson Brown, signed on 9 March 1898
• Pauline "Lina" Burlew; album owner, born in Pickaway County, Ohio.  She married George Franklin Myers
• James T. Burton of Norwich, New York, "Dutch"; not sure of surname
• Viella Crites, signed at Elida, Ohio, on 22 June 1885.  She was Viella (Anderson) Crites, wife of William W. Crites, who signed the facing page.  Her husband William was a cousin to Lina's husband George Franklin Meyers through their shared Mowery line.
• W. W. Crites, signed at Elida, Ohio, on 21 June 1885; William W. Crites, husband of Viella (Anderson) Crites who signed the facing page.  "Dear Cousin".  He was actually the cousin of Lina's husband George Franklin Meyers through their shared Mowery line.
• J. D. Crites, signed at Elida, Ohio, on 27 June 1885.  John D. Crites, brother of signer William W. Crites and husband of signer Lida Crites, who signed the facing page. "Your cousin", though he was actually the cousin of Lina's husband, George Franklin Meyers through their shared Mowery line.
• Lida Crites, signed at Elida, Ohio, on 22 June 1885.  Wife of John D. Crites, who signed the facing page. "Your cousin", but the cousin relationship is actually that of her Lida's husband to Lina's husband, George Franklin Meyers, through their shared Mowery line.
• Harriet B. Crooks, signed on 2 December 1884
• Ella Crooks, signed on 11 December 1884
• T. P. Earl, signed at Tiffin, Ohio, on 4 June 1884
• Katie E. Eschman, signed at Dresden, Ohio
• Rosa Hoffman, signed at Circleville, Ohio, on 30 October 1885
• Sadie E. Jones, signed at Jackson Ohio, on 26 November 1887
• Addie May Lane of Dresden, Ohio, signed at Ellis College on 2 November 1886
• Mrs. A. H. Madry of Lynnville, Tennessee, signed 7 July 1887; Mrs. Alphonso H. Madry, the former Elizabeth Jamison Inman.
• A. H. Madry, M.D., signed at Lynnville, Tennessee, on 7 July 1887; Dr. Alphonso H. Madry.  His wife, Elizabeth J. (Inman) Madry signed a preceding page.
• George F. Meyers, signed at Heidelberg College, on 25 February 1884.  George Franklin Meyers would later marry the album owner Pauline "Lina" Burlew.
• Edna A. Meyers, signed in 1902; "Lina's eldest", Edna Alice Meyers, Lina's daughter with husband George Franklin Meyers
• W. M. Miller of Tiffin, Ohio, signed on 20 August 1884
• Lou J. Miller, signed on 3 September 1884
• Louise Needy, signed at New Central House on 16 November 1885.  Mentions New Lexington, Ohio,  Not sure of spelling of surname
• Lucy Neff
• Ida O'Brien, signed at Tiffin, Ohio, on 14 June 1885
• Olive C. Pool of Stoutsville, Ohio, signed on 5 September 1885
• J. C. Rickenbaugh, signed at Tiffin, Ohio, on 22 May 1885.  "I like the passion and surge of life"
• Laura A. Stout, signed at Circleville, Ohio, on "8/4/85"; Lina's "cousin".  I believe Laura was actually the cousin of Lina's husband George Franklin Meyers, through their shared Mowery line
• E. D. Stout; Lina's cousin Edson D. Stout,  "Your cousin"; I believe the cousin relationship was actually to Lina's husband, George Franklin Meyers, though their shared Mowery line.
• F. M. Stout, signed at Circleville, Ohio, on "8/5/'85"; Lina's "cousin".  Frank M. Stout was actually a cousin to Lina's husband George Franklin Meyers through their shared Mowery line.
• Milton M. Strong of Tiffin, Ohio, signed on 8 May 1885
• S. E. Valentine, signed at Stoutsville, Ohio, on "10/4"/1885"
• Hattie Valentine, signed at Stoutsville, Ohio, on 29 October 1885
• Emma Valentine, signed at Stoutsville, Ohio, on "10/4"1885"
• Lillian R. Vegiard of Providence, Rhode Island.  Also the name Lillie Burton
• B. D. Zahm of Tiffin, Ohio, signed on 22 September 1884; not sure of surname

Pickaway County, Ohio

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c1900 Photograph of young man Walter Scott Bouton, Missouri and Maryland

c1900 photograph, possibly a graduation photograph, of a young man identified on the reverse as Walter Scott Bouton.  There's no photographer's marking.  

At first I thought the young man was Walter Scott of Boston, but later came to believe the word was Bouton, not Boston.  If you disagree, especially if you know of a Walter Scott from the Boston area or the graduate of a Boston college, who is the spitting image of the fellow in the photograph, please leave a comment or contact me directly  Thanks!

From online research, hopefully correct, and assuming I have the correct young man:

Walter Scott Bouton was born 4 September 1876 in Missouri, son of William and Mary R. (Conklin) Bouton.  He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and subsequently found his way to Baltimore, Maryland, where he worked as Chief Engineer of Bridges for the B&O Railroad.

On 28 January 1904 at Baltimore, Walter married Florence Redburn White, who was born in Canada about 1875.

The couple had at least two daughters, born before 1910.

If you have further information on Walter Scott Bouton and Florence Redburn (White) Bouton, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

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c1900 Photograph of Florence Hunt, later to become Mrs. J. M. Acuff

c1900 photograph of a woman identified on reverse as Florence Hunt, who later became Mrs. J. M. Acuff.

The photograph was recently purchased in Maine, but that may not be a clue as to where Florence lived.  Many photographs end up in Maine with relatives or with newcomer retirees who have a collection to disperse.

Researching online, I found an intriguing prospect: a Florence A. Hunt, born in Ohio in 1880, who married Joseph Minter Acuff at Springfield, Missouri on 25 December 1901.

I can't quite make out the photographer's name.  It's possibly Morgan; perhaps a reader will know if there was a studio in Ohio or Missouri by that or a similar name during the likely time frame.

This Florence A. Hunt was the daughter of Lester Trowbridge Hunt, a Connecticut native who had moved to Ohio and became the editor of a newspaper there, and his second wife Maggie.  

Lester's parents were Elisha and Almira (Bill) Hunt of Chaplin, Connecticut.  Elisha died in 1833.  By the time of the 1850 Census of Chaplin, Connecticut, Almira had not remarried; Lester and his older brother Henry were living with her.

By the time of the 1860 Census, Lester had married his first wife, Ellen Fannie Burnham, and they had made their way to Kenton, Ohio.

Ellen Fannie Burnham was the daughter of Luther and Martha (Lincoln) Burnham of the noted Burnham family of the Windham, Connecticut area.  Her brother, Stowell Lincoln Burnham, was killed at Gettysburg, after suffering several gunshot wounds throughout the day.

I don't yet have information on the maiden name or parents of Lester's second wife Maggie, mother of Florence.

If I have the right Florence (Hunt) Acuff, perhaps the photograph originally made its way to Hunt relatives in Connecticut and from there eventually to Maine.

Florence's husband, Joseph Minter Acuff, was also in the newspaper business, which is perhaps how they met.  

According to the 1900 Census, Joseph was born in Missouri in August 1875, give or take a year.  His parents were Joseph Christopher Acuff and wife Levica (Green) Acuff.

His paternal grandparents were Christopher Columbus Acuff, Jr., and wife Mildred L. (Rogers) Acuff.  His maternal grandparents were William and Marcena (Smith) Green.

If you have corrections or additions to the above information or if you have another possibility for the identity of the Florence (Hunt) Acuff in the photograph, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  

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1846 Letter abt Charles Cushman's Smallpox, from Daniel Tarbox Jewett, future Missouri Senator, then at Bangor, Maine

1846 letter from D. T. Jewett of Bangor, Maine, advising friend William C. Crosby, Esq. at Atkinston, Maine, about the possible smallpox diagnosis of a mutual friend, with whom Mr. Crosby had lately shaken hands.

I believe these men were Daniel Tarbox Jewett, who later moved to Missouri, where he served as a US Senator from 1870-71, and William Chase Crosby, lawyer and businessman, born at Atkinson, Maine, in 1806.  

Their wives were sisters, which, I'm sure, heightened Mr. Tarbox's concern about the possible smallpox exposure of the Crosby family.

From online research, hopefully correct:

Daniel Tarbox Jewett was born 14 September 1807 at Pittston, Maine, son of Daniel and Betsey (Tarbox) Jewett, born in New Hampshire and Maine, respectively.

His paternal grandparents were John and Katherine (Jewett) Jewett.  His maternal grandparents were Joseph and Betsy (Woodman) Tarbox.

Daniel attended Colby College and graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School.  He practiced law at Bangor, Maine, and became involved with city government, serving as city solicitor from 1834 to 1837.  

On 1 December 1848 at Roxbory, Massachusetts, Daniel Tarbox Jewett married Sarah J. Wilson, daughter of John and Hannah (Leach) Wilson. 

From  1850 to 1853, he and his brother operated a steamboat in Panama.  He then tried his luck at gold mining for two years, before returning to Bangor to his law practice.

In 1857, Daniel and his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he practiced law and served in state government.  He served out the remainder of the term resigned by Senator Charles D. Drake, but declined to seek a term of his own.

Daniel Tarbox Jewett died in Missouri in 1906.

William Chase Crosby was born at Dover, New Hampshire, in 1806, though some sources state that he was born in Atkinson, Maine.  He was educated at the Gardiner Lyceum.  He moved to Bangor, Maine, in 1828 and operated a business there until 1835, when he moved back to Atkinson to farm.  

After being admitted to the Piscataquis County Bar, he moved back to Bangor to practice law and became chairman of the East Maine Kansas Aid Society, formed for the purpose of organizing and financing groups of Free settlers in Kansas.

He married Mary Wilson on 26 November 1832 and had, I believe, four children with her.  She was the daughter of John and Hannah (Leach) Wilson and a sister to Sarah above.  Mary died in 1865 of heart disease.  

William later married Mrs. Susan W. (Wheeler) Dunmore, widow of George W. Dunmore, and daughter of Daniel and Mary (Hinckley) Wheeler.

I wonder if the Charles Cushman mentioned was Charles Chaplin Cushman, born in Vermont in 1804. A graduate of the US Military Academy, he practiced law and was Penobscot County Attorney for a time at Bangor, Maine in the 1830s and 1840s.  

His children with wife Hannah Whittier (Sleeper) Cushman, were born at Bangor in the 1840s.  If he is the Charles Cushman cited in the letter, he survived his bout with varoloid, at least in the short run, and died at Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1849.

Transcript:

Bangor, February 13th, 1846

Mr. Crosby,
I have just learned about one o'clock today that Charles Cushman has the varoloid, or modified small pox - he is broken out with it.  The Doctors have put him "out of the way", Clark says.  Knowing that you had seen him, probably shaken hands with him, I thought I would put you on your guard.  Clark says his hands are not broken out and there is no damage from shaking hands with him but I have not full faith [in] it - and I think, if in your case, I should be revaccinated and have your children vaccinated without delay.

Yours in haste,
D. T. Hewett

P.S. I would suggest keeping it to yourself as it will only alarm your family and do no good.


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Atkinson, Maine


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St. Louis, Missouri


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