1883-1926 Autograph Album of Mary Louise Fox of Sandusky, Ohio, Before and After Marriage to Frank Jacob Hess

Autograph album that was kept by owner Mary Louise Fox of the Sandusky, Ohio, area, from 1883 to 1927, from before and after her marriage to Frank Jacob Hess.  The later inscriptions were from Mary's grandchildren.

The album measures approximately 7" by 4-1/4" and contains nearly 100 inscriptions; some people inscribed more than one page.  Inscribers include Mary's relatives, some of whom may have been her in-laws, and friends.  Several inscribers mentioned W. R. N. S., presumably Western Reserve Normal School, where Mary herself may have been a student.  The school closed in 1889.

An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offfered, appears at the end of this post.

Surnames in the Album

	? [16]	H	Halpin [2]	R	Reinheimer
B	Bartlett [2]		Harris [2]	S	Siggins
	Burdick		Harvey [2]		Smith [2]
C	Calvert		Heinzer		Stankard
	Chapman		Hemming		Stephens
	Colvin [3]		Hess [4]		Sweet
	Covell		Hinds	T	Taylor [2]
	Cox		Hosford		Turner [2]
D	Daugherty	L	Lamb [2]	V	Veader [2]
	DeWitt		Lavey ?	W	Washburn
	Doll		Lawrence [2]		Wilson [2]
	Doyle [2]	M	Mackin [2]		Wood
E	Eshenroder [3]	N	Noland	Y	Young
F	Foote	O	Osgood
	Fox [7]	P	Prentice [4]

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

Mary Louise Fox was born August 15, 1865 in Perkins Township, Ohio, the daughter of Allen Fox and Eliza Catherine (Bartlett) Fox.  On June 18, 1891 at Sandusky, Ohio, Mary married Frank Jacob Fox.  The Frank Hess who inscribed a page in Mary's album on December 10, 1884 at Milan, Ohio, was presumably Frank Jacob Hess.

Mary and Frank raised their family of two daughters in the Sandusky, Ohio, area.  Their daughter Ethel May Hess, "Effie", inscribed a page in her mother's album, as did Effie's children Harold and Pauline.

Mary and Frank both died in 1951.  I believe they're both buried in the Perkins Cemetery at Sandusky, Ohio.

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

Sources
Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013
U.S. Censuses of Erie County, Ohio
FindaGrave.com

Here are a couple pages where readers might be able to identify the inscribers:

Inscribers in the Album

• A. E. W.; inscribed at Avery, Ohio, on December 4, 1898
• Either one person or several names: William Algvin, Levi, Leeman; inscribed in Ontario in July 1884
• ?; inscribed on August 22, 1883.  Mentions Rolland and Father and Finton and Mother
• Minnie; inscribed at Sandusky, Ohio, on August 20, 1883 
• Clarence; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on November 24, 1883
• H. H. of Perkins, Ohio; inscribed on November 11, 1883.  Perhaps related to inscriber Fredrick Heinzer
• "An Old Maid"; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on September 1, 1883
• Em. W. and J. N. R., the Widdower, inscribed on November 7, 1891
• J. W. F.
• Millie; Mary's cousin
• May; inscribed on May 28, 1892; Mary's niece
• Lou; inscribed at Castalia, Ohio, on September 23, 1883
• C. B. W.; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on December 29, 1883
• S. Y.; inscribed at Sandusky, Ohio, on October 25, 1883
• Willie or Willis
• Essie C. S.:Sh [not sure of initials]; inscribed at Perkins, Ohio, on January 25, 1887
• Fern Bartlett; inscribed on August 26, 1899 at Wakeman, Ohio.  Mary's cousin
• Robert Bartlett; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on October 17, 1893
• Mabel P. Burdick; inscribed on August 17, 1897.  Mary's cousin
• J. W. Calvert; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on April 14, 1895
• A. M. Chapman; inscribed on September 5, 1883
• George Colvin; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on January 19, 1884, or 1889
• Hattie Colvin; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on January 18, 1884
• Myron S. Colvin; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on January 11, 1885
• Nellie Covell; inscribed at Perkins, Ohio, on May 25, 1884
• Mrs. Cox; inscribed on November 4, 1883
• Nellie Daugherty; inscribed at Avery, Ohio, on June 23, 1897
• C. E. DeWitt; inscribed at Perkins, Ohio, on May 6, 1884
• William O. Doll of Burgoo, Ohio; inscribed on August 20, 1883
• Mrs. Candace Doyle
• Moses A. Doyle, Mail Carrier on Route 3 at Sandusky, Ohio
• Ella E.; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on August 20, 1883 at Western Reserve Normal School.  Presumably Ella E. Eshenroder, future wife of inscriber Myron Talcott Foote, who inscribed the left facing page.
• G. F. Eshenroder; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on December 3, 1883.  Mary's cousin, presumably George Franklin Eshenroder.  Inscribed another page on December 2, 1893
• Marie Eshenroder; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on December 4, 1883
• M. T. Foote; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on November 22, 1883.  at Western Reserve Normal School.  Presumably Milo Talcott Foote, who would marry inscriber Ella E. Eschenroder, who inscribed the right facing page.
• Flora Fox; inscribed at Avery, Ohio, on December 24, 1897.  Mary's niece, daughter of Mary's brother, Joseph A. Fox and Mary Ann (Marble) Fox.  
• Flora May Fox; inscribed on December 30, 1897 at Perkins, Ohio.  Mary's niece, daughter of Mary's brother Joseph A. Fox and wife Mary Ann (Marble) Fox.  
• George B. Fox; inscribed at Sandusky, Ohio, on September 9, 1886.  Mary's brother George Baker Fox
• George; inscribed at Sandusky, Ohio; Mary's brother, presumably George Baker Fox
• Lucy Fox; inscribed at Sandusky, Ohio, on January 21, 1885.  Mary's sister Lucy Frances Fox.  "Remember the 4 July 1884 W. R. N.S.", Western Reserve Normal School
• Mary Louise Fox of Sandusky, Ohio; album owner, from before and after her marriage to Frank Jacob Hess
• Mrs. George B. Fox; inscribed at Sandusky, Ohio, on August 14, 1889.  Mary's sister-in-law Julia May (Palmer) Fox, wife of Mary's brother George Baker Fox
• Daniel Halpin; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on December 30. 1883
• Thomas Halpin; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on January 1, 1884
• Fannie Harris; inscribed on November 30, 1886
• Rush R. Harris; inscribed at Bloomingville, Ohio, on March 15, 1884
• Louise Harvey; inscribed at Sandusky, Ohio, on October 28, 1883
• William S. Harvey; inscribed on November 4, 1883.  Later note: "Died June 16, 1891.  Inscribed another page on the same date.
• Fredrick Heinzer of Perkins, Ohio; inscribed on November 11, 1883
• Fannie S. Hemming
• Daniel Hess; inscribed on January 28, 1885 at Milan, Ohio.  Brother of Mary's husband Frank Jacob Hess.
• Ethel Hess, "now Ethel Prentice"; inscribed a Wakeman, Ohio, on March 22, 1902.  Mary's daughter Ethel May (Hess) Prentice, wife of Carl Manassa Prentice
• Frances A. Hess; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on December 8, 1884
• Frank Hess; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on December 10, 1884.  Presumably Frank Jacob Hess, who married album owner Mary Louise Fox in 1891
• Roxa Hinds; inscribed on February 17, 1895.  Mary's cousin
• Julia Hosford; inscribed on December 25, 1884 at Isle St. George, Ohio
• Mary Lamb
• "Em. W. and J. N. R., the Widdower", inscribed on November 7, 1891
• G. A. Lavey [not sure of surname]; inscribed at Avery, Ohio, on November 29, 1897
• Mrs. D. Lawrence
• Rosa Lawrence of Milan, Ohio.  Later note: "Died 1885"
• Polly C. Mackin; Mary's sister Polly Calista (Fox) Mackin, wife of Thaddeus Mackin
• Walter F. Mackin; inscribed at Bloomingville, Ohio, on September 15, 1888.  Mary's nephew
• B. M. Noland; inscribed to Frank and Mary Hess on July 27, 1908; inscribed multiple pages all on July 27, 1908 and on one gave his Civil War information:  "Co. F, 80 Regt, Ohio Veteran Volunteer Inft. 1861-1865"
• S. V. Osgood; inscribed on November 4, 1883; inscribed another page on the same date.
• Harold W. Prentice; inscribed at Clyde, Ohio, in 1926 at age 9.  Mary's grandson
• Harold Walter Prentice, 8 years old and Mary's grandson; inscribed at Clyde, Ohio, on May 9, 1925
• Pauline L. Prentice, 11 year old; inscribed on April 1, 1926 at Wakeman, Ohio.  Mary's granddaughter
• Pauline L. Prentice; "Your Darling Granddaughter the Pianist"; inscribed on May 9, 1925 at Clyde, Ohio
• Mrs. P. A. Reinheimer of Sandusky, Ohio
• Lillie Siggins of Perkins, Ohio; inscribed on November 11, 1883
• Burton W. Smith of Milan, Ohio
• Mrs. Lanta Smith; inscribed at Isle St. George, Ohio, on October 24, 1883
• Mollie A. Stankard; inscribed on November 29, 1883 at Buffalo, New York
• Mary L. Stephens; inscribed in August 1886
• Maggie Sweet; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on December 10, 1884
• Dora Taylor of Berlin, Connecticut
• Merritt E. Taylor of Kensington, Connecticut; inscribed on September 17, 1883
• Julia Turner; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, in September 1883.  Later note:  "Died August 28, 1886"
• Mrs. L. P. Turner; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, in 1883 [or 1885]
• Dollie Veader; inscribed on September 9, 1883
• Norah Veader; inscribed on June 7, 1884
• E. C. Washburn; inscribed at Perkins, Ohio, on May 3, 1884
• Jennie Wilson
• Nellie Wilson; inscribed at Milan, Ohio, on July 22, 1884
• Kittie Wood of Blissfield; Mary's "C.E. Cousin"  Could C. E. stand for Canada East?
• Johanna C. Young; inscribed at Isle of St. George, Ohio, on October 25, 1883.  Written partly in another language, perhaps German

Three c1880/90s Calling Cards, Presumably Sherwood, Ohio area: Georgia A. Longenecker; Riley Roush; Dee P. Davis, or Des P. Davis

Three callings cards found tucked in the Bible of Jeremiah Bloom and Susanna (Snyder) Bloom; passed down to their son James Hagan Bloom of Sherwood, Ohio.

Above, the calling card of Georgia A. Longenecker.  I found a list of people acquiring marriage licenses as printed in the Richland Shield and Banner, including one acquired by Georgia A. Longenecker and Bert S. Marvin on April 7, 1894.   Interestingly, there's an Ohio marriage record for Bert and Georgia that shows them having married on April 4, 1894.

Riley Roush might have been John Riley Roush (1850-1932) or his son Riley William Roush (1870-1887), both buried in the Sherwood Cemetery at Sherwood, Ohio.

I'm not sure about the identity of Dee P. Davis or Des P. Davis, as Dee or Des might have been a nickname.  

If you have information to share on any of these people, especially if you have a theory as to the identity of Dee P. Davis, or Des P. Davis, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

1908 Letter from Curtis Weston Miller While on Frustrating Trip from Sherwood, Ohio, to Samish, Washington

Newspaper clipping featuring a March 10, 1908 letter Curtis W. Miller wrote to his brother about the frustrations plaguing Curtis during his trip from Sherwood, Ohio, to Samish, Washington.

The date appears where the clipping has an unfortunate crimp.  Transcription at the end of this post.

The clipping was found tucked in the Bible of Jeremiah Bloom & Susanna (Snyder) Bloom of Pennsylvania and Ohio; passed on to their son James Hagan Bloom.  James' second wife, Louisa E. (Miller) Bloom, was the aunt of Curtis Weston Miller, presumably the letter writer above.

Curtis Weston Miller was born November 16, 1877 at Delaware Township, Ohio, the son of John J. Miller and Catherine Rebecca (Miller) Miller.  About 1903, Curtis married Esther Syvilla Simmons; they had several children.  Curtis, who had a shoe store at Sherwood, Ohio, died in 1944.  Syvilla died in 1946; they're buried in the Sherwood Cemetery at Sherwood, Ohio.

Transcription

Curtis Miller started for Seattle, Washington last week to visit his uncle.
"March 10, 1908
Dear Brother:
I guess I will get all the "stop over" privileges on my ticket from Sherwood to Seattle I care for.
I arrived at Chicago at 9 p m Tuesday and was compelled to wait until 2 o'clock the next morning.  But here at St. Paul it is worse yet.  I arrived here at 4 p m Wednesday the 9th and will stop here until 1 p m Thursday.
It will take me three days and three nights yet to reach Edison.  I may take steamer from Seattle to Samish.
St. Paul is a great place and a cold place too, as it is six degrees below zero at this writing.  Will write more next time.
Curtis W. Miller

1895 Letter to Newspaper Attesting to the Character of the Maligned Rev. J. H. Wingate of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Sherwood, Ohio

"An Untruth Nailed" - title of a March 1895 article about untruths being circulated about the character of Rev. J. H. Wingate of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Sherwood, Ohio, along with a letter signed by two of those spreading the rumors that the reports were untrue and thus vindicating Rev. Wingate.  

An image of the clipping and a transcription appear at the end of this post.

People mentioned:

• Rev. J. H. Wingate, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Sherwood, Ohio
• Mrs. Fields
• Mrs. Haver
• J. W. Wallace
• Mrs. J. Wagner

I wonder what happened to cause J. W. Wallace and Mrs. J. Wagner to write the letter and to make it public.  Learning that what they'd been told was false?  Remorse?  Legal action? 

Apparently the troubles didn't end with the letter as it appears that the next year Rev. Wingate had E. J. Potter arrested for criminal libel.  Read more here.

Sad to say that similar destructive stories bedevil society to this day.  

This clipping was found tucked in the Bible of Jeremiah Bloom and Susanna (Snyder) Bloom of Pennsylvania and Ohio; passed on to their son James Hagan Bloom.  Jeremiah Bloom died in 1892, but James kept the business going for many more years; it was presumably he or his wife Louisa E. (Miller) Bloom, who tucked the article in the Bible.

A transcription follows the image.

AN UNTRUTH NAILED
Is the Story Circulating Concerning Rev. Wingate
In Sherwood and vicinity there have been circulated of late stories reflecting on the character of Rev. Wingate, pastor of the M. E. church in this place.  These have probably arose from trouble which occurred about the time of the protracted meetings.  After the trouble with Mrs. Fields and Mrs. Haver, anonymous letters were circulated, some being dropped in the church and others being sent through the post office.

Later on Rev. Wingate had some trouble with J. W. Wallace.  It seems that Mr. Wallace had circulated some stories which he now takes occasion to publicly apologize for.  These stories have gained publicity and are being circulated in this vicinity through the agency of other persons.

We gladly publish the following denial, with the signatures of the parties who have been instrumental in spreading them:

SHERWOOD, O., 3 -12, 1895
This is to certify that the report circulated by us reflecting upon the character of Rev. J. H. Wingate, pastor of the M. E. church of Sherwood, Ohio, is false and untrue; and we have no personal knowledge, nor any means of knowing of anything of the kind ever occurring, and we do hereby make this statement for the purpose of vindicating the said J. H. Wingate.
J. W. WALLACE
MRS. J. WAGNER

c 1883 Newspaper Account of the Travels of Rev. Daniel W. Downey to Various Ohio Towns: Sherwood, Mark Center, Hicksville, Antwerp, Holgate

Circa 1883 newspaper clipping about the visits that Rev. Daniel W. Downey (1824-1915) made on behalf of the Ohio Sunday School Union to various towns in northwestern Ohio: Sherwood; Mark Center; Hicksville; Antwerp; and Holgate.

Transcription at the end of this post.

Based on the fact that Rev. Downey gave a date of May 22, a Tuesday, and that about 26 years had elapsed since a trip he made in 1857, I'm guessing that this article is discussing a circuit made about 1883.

The clipping was found tucked in the Bible of Jeremiah Bloom and Susanna (Snyder) Bloom of Pennsylvania and Ohio, which was then passed on to their son James Hagan Bloom, who joined his father in the undertaking and furniture business at Sherwood, Ohio.  The "Jerry" mentioned in the clipping presumably applies to Jeremiah Bloom.

Rev. Downey mentions people's names and interesting facts about the places he visited.  People mentioned:

• Jerry Bloom of Sherwood, Ohio;  the Jeremiah Bloom in whose Bible this clipping was tucked
• Brother Frank Morris of Mark Center, Ohio
• Rev. J. W. Lilly of Hicksville, Ohio
• Mr. Hildreth, a merchant and superintendent of the Sabbath school at Hicksville, Ohio
• Rev. S. Cook of Antwerp, Ohio, formerly of Nevada, Ohio
• Rev. S. M. Boyce, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Antwerp, Ohio
• Mr. Heacock of the Holgate Hotel

If you have information on any of the people mentioned above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Transcription

From an Old Correspondence
Ed. Democrat: - Perhaps it would not be intruding upon the numerous readers if I were to give them a synopsis of my last week's travels and work in the interests of the Ohio Sunday School Union.  My first address was delivered in Sherwood Tuesday evening, May 22d.  Notwithstanding the unprecedented snow storm we had a fair audience and the very best attention.  Sherwood is destined to be quite a business town if nothing serious befalls it.  Here I had the privilege of meeting my old and true friend, Jerry Bloom, formerly of Shelby, Ohio.  He is the principal undertaker and is also doing a fair cabinet business.  We were pleased to learn of his financial prosperity.

On Wednesday we went on walker's line as far as Mark Center and had the pleasure of dining with Bro. Frank Morris and his estimable lady.  From there to Hicksville and at 3 p.m. I met the executive committee on programme for our next district convention which will be held in Antwerp the 16th, 17th and 18th of next October.

Hicksville is one of the most thriving and enterprising towns in northwestern Ohio.  Just twenty-six years ago I passed through this village on my way to Eel River Circuit, twelve miles north of Fort Wayne, Indiana.  What a wonderful improvement has been effected in the financial and numerical strength of this village since the year 1857.

 At 8 p. m. I preached in the U. B. Chapel.  Rev. J. W. Lilly, the chairman of the executive committee, is the pastor.  He has usually a fine audience and a number one Sabbath school.  Mr. Hildreth, one of the leading merchants in the village, is the superintendent and he knows just how to utilize all his co-operating forces.  Whenever a stranger calls in, either male or female, they are invited to participate in the exercises.

On Thursday morning J. W. Lilly carried me in his buggy to Antwerp, a distance of seven miles.  At 8 p.m. I delivered a Sabbath school address in the Presbyterian Chapel.  Rev. S. Cook, formerly of Nevada, Ohio, is the pastor.  He is wide awake on all the interests that pertain to the success of the gospel of Christ.  Rev. S. M. Boyce is the pastor of the M. E. Church and we had the pleasure of calling on him and his excellent wife in the afternoon.  Dr. McDannel, the family whom we stopped with, has a large practice and is doing a fine drug business.  Antwerp is somewhat historic in appearance and could be much improved, if the town council would see that those miserable side walks were repaired and the streets cleaned.

On Friday night I gave a Bible talk in the Garman school house and on Saturday I enjoyed the privilege of eating dinner at the Holgate hotel kept by our worthy townsmen, Mr. Heacock, formerly of Defiance, who always sets a splendid table and is ready at any time to wait on his numerous customers.  The traveling public can do no better than to give Mr. Heacock a call when they stop off at Holgate.
D. W. DOWNEY

Campaign Card of G. A. Gecowets of Mark Center, Ohio; Democratic Candidate for County Commissioner of Defiance County

Campaign card of G. A. Gecowets of Mark Center, Ohio, who was the Democratic candidate for County Commissioner of Defiance County, Ohio.  Approximately 5-1/2" by 3"; nothing on reverse.

Found in a Bible that belonged to Jeremiah Bloom and wife Susanna (Snyder) Bloom and apparently passed on to their son James Hagan Bloom of Sherwood, Ohio.  The Bible contains family records, many CDVs and tintypes and a number of other mementos.

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

G. A. Gecowets may have been George Andrew Gecowets, a Justice of the Peace, who was born December 28, 1859 in Defiance County, Ohio, the son of George Andrew Gecowets and Christine (Bowers) Gecowets.

On March 27, 1883 in Williams County, Ohio,

The younger George Andrew married twice and had children with both wives.  His wives:

1. Phoebe M. Hutchinson, on March 27, 1883 in Williams County, Ohio; Phoebe died in 1887.
2. Margaret J. Morris, "Maggie",  at Eaton, Indiana, on September 23, 1890

Maggie died in 1938 and George Andrew Gecowets in 1945.  They're buried in the Six Corners Cemetery at Hicksville, Ohio.  Phoebe M. (Hutchinson) Gecowets is also buried in this cemetery.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or if you feel that G. A. Gecowets was another person, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Obituary of Elizabeth Catherine (Sargent) Rittenour of Richmond Dale, Ohio; died July 29, 1911 at Chillicothe, Ohio

Obituary of Elizabeth Catharine (Sargent) Rittenour, wife of George Claypool Rittenour.  Elizabeth died at the home of her son Henry Francis Rittenour at 171 South Paint Street, Chillicothe, Ohio.

Transcription at the end of this post.

The obituary was found tucked in the Bible that she and husband George maintained, with entries including:

• George's parents, Jacob and Ann (Claypool) Rittenour
• George and Elizabeth Catharine [as her middle name was spelled in the Bible] Rittenour
• George's four siblings and their children
• The three children of George and Elizabeth Rittenour; grandchildren and great grandchild, Everett Francis Rittenour
• Several people related by marriage
• A four-page genealogy of the Rittenour family, mostly a mirror image of what is included in the Bible
• Several mementos, including a piece handmade by Everett Francis Rittenour for his mother Eliza Alice (DuBois) Rittenour, which is featured in another post.

Elizabeth Catherine Rittenour
Elizabeth Catherine Rittenour, wife of George C. Rittenour,  daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thornton W. Sargent, was born in Pike county, November 1, 1832, and died at the residence of her son Frank Rittenour, 171 South Paint street, this city at 7:45 p. m. Saturday, July 29, of Bright's disease.

She is survived by three sons, Thornton S. Rittenour, of Piketon; Frank Rittenour, of Chillicothe, and James M. Rittenour, of Jefferson township.  Her husband and one sister, Miss Harriet Sargent, of this city also survives.  She was united in marriage to George C. Rittenour, September 1, 1857, and spent her married life at the Rittenour home near Richmond Dale.

The remains were taken to the Rittenour home in Jefferson township this morning and the funeral will be held from there at 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.  The interment will be in Jefferson Township cemetery.

Friends desiring to attend the services at the home may take the C., H. & D. train, leaving the city at 10:55 a. m., and returning at 2:25 p. m.   The train will stop at the Rittenour crossing.

If you have information to share on the Rittenour or Sargent families, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Handmade Memento of Everett Francis Rittenour for his mother Eliza Alice (DuBois) Rittenour; Pike County, Ohio

Memento handmade by Everett and presented to his "Mamma", perhaps at Thanksgiving.

Because the memento was found in a Bible that originally had belonged to George Claypool Rittenour and his wife Elizabeth Catharine (Sargent) Rittenour, I believe Everett was their grandson, son of Henry Francis Rittenour and Eliza Alice (DuBois) Rittenour of Pike County, Ohio.

See another post that features the obituary of Everett's paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Catherine (Sargent) Rittenour, who died at Chillicothe, Ohio on July 29, 1911.

It's comprised of brown outer paper and three pieces of white lined paper, with poem phrases.  The first interior page is stained from the adjacent brown piece.

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

Everett Francis Rittenour, according to an entry in the Bible, was born in Pike County, Ohio, on August 17, 1896.  According to his informative Find-a-Grave memorial, Francis married Olivia Cameron Roberts and had several children.  He was a vice president of People's Broadcasting Corporation.  He died in 1957 and is buried in the Mound Cemetery at Piketon, Ohio.

The Bible has information going back as far as the births of his great grandparents Jacob Rittenour and Ann (Claypool) Rittenour, who were born in Virginia, in 1787 in Frederick County and 1790 in Randolph County respectively.

1917 Memorial Card: D. F. Coulter; printed by H F. Wendell of Leipsic, Ohio

Memorial card printed by H. F. Wendell of Leipsic, Ohio, on the occasion of the death of D. F. Coulter on January 10, 1917.

If you are familiar with a D. F. Coulter who died on that date, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Interestingly, there was a Daniel F. Coulter who died of pulmonary tuberculosis a week later on January 17, 1917 at Bristol Township in Morgan County, Ohio.  There's a contemorary Bristol Township in Ohio, but it's in Trumbull County.  Presumably the Bristol Township in Morgan County is now known as something else.

Daniel was born April 18, 1853 in Ohio, the son of Charles Coulter and Content (Morey) Coulter, born in Ireland and Maine respectively, according to Daniel's obituary.  Daniel married Sarah Ann Dean and had at least one child, daughter Elizabeth, who was presumably the Lizzie C. Macklem, who was the informant on Daniel's death certificate.  Daniel is buried in the Bristol Cemetery in McConnelsville, Ohio, in Morgan County.

Perhaps the date of death in the memorial card is in error?

Sources: U.S. Federal Censuses; FamilySearch.org; Ohio Death Index; Find-a-Grave

Memorial Card: J. W. McWhorter, died October 22, 1906

Memorial card printed by H. F. Wendell & Co. of Leipsic, Ohio, on the occasion of the death of J. W. McWhorter on January 22, 1906.

There was a John Wesley McWhorter  who died at Circleville, Ohio, presumably as the result of being struck by a train or falling off one.  One record gives his death as October 20, 1906, and another as October 21, 1906.  Perhaps the death year on the memorial card is in error.

A newspaper article indicates that McWhorter, "a wealthy stockman" was found in a ditch near the Harrison Street crossing of the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley railway.  His diamond stickpin, diamond shirt stud and watch were found with him, facts that presumably led authorities to conclude he had died as the result of an accident.

John Wesley McWhorter was born at Albany, Ohio, on September 16, 1856, the son of James McWhorter and Mary (Farabee) McWhorter.  John married Rebecca Graham on April 13, 1875 and had at least one child, daughter Emma Ethelyn McWhorter, born in 1877.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or if you know of a J. W. McWhorter who died on October 22, 1906, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Sources:  Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001; Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958; U.S. Federal Censuses; FamilySearch.org

1901 Memorial Card: Abigail (Reed) Lowther, who died in Michigan at the age of 78

Memorial card printed in 1901 on the occasion of the death of Abigail (Reed) Lowther at the age of 78 years, 6 months and 14 days.

The card was found with a cabinet photograph of a woman who may or may not be Abigail herself.  There's no identification or studio imprint to provide a clue.  Nothing on reverse.

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

Abigail's death record indicates:

•  Abigail was born August 29, 1822 in Upper Canada, the daughter of Joshua Reed and Elizabeth (Alward) Reed.  At least one record has Abigail's father's name as Josiah.  Additionally, an index for the 1821 Buffalo, New York, marriage of Joshua and Elizabeth has Elizabeth's maiden name as Alworth.
• Abigail was a widow when she died at Leonidas, Michigan, on March 13, 1901, at the age of 78 years, 7 months and 16 days [at variance with the information on the memorial card]
• Abigail was 18 when she married and had 6 children, 5 of whom were still living at the time of her death
• Abigail died of enteritis and the complications of old age
• The informant was J. R. Lowther of Leonidas, Michigan - Abigail's son James Riley Lowther - hopefully the information he supplied was totally correct

Abigail married Lemuel E. Lowther, about 1840 if the information on her death record is correct.  She and Lemuel raised their family at Knox, Ohio, or in Knox County, Ohio; and Leonidas, Michigan.  It seems that at some point in the 1860s, Lemuel and Abigail parted ways.  Lemuel died in 1881 and is buried in the Asbury Cemetery at Dennison, Illinois.  Abigail is buried in the Abscota Cemetery at Burlington, Michigan.

If you have corrections and/or additions, or if your family photographs reveal that the woman in the cabinet photograph above is definitely Abigail (Reed) Lowther, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

1907 Snapshot of Horace & Dolph Turner, Presumably Horace K. and Rudolphus K. Turner of Newton, Massachusetts

Photograph, taken in March 1907, of two children identified as Horace & Dolph Turner - or Horace and Dolph of Turner.  

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

They were presumably Horace Kibbe Turner, Jr., born September 15, 1905 at Newton, Massachusetts, and Rudolphus Kibbe Turner, born April 10, 1902 at Newton, Massachusetts.

They were the sons of Horace Kibbe Turner and Lilla (Lattimer) Turner, who were born in Illinois and Ohio, respectively.  Horace, Sr., graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1895 and produced art subjects for school and colleges.  According to Horace, Jr's, birth record, the family lived in the Newtonville section of Newton.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or if you recognize the boys from your family photographs and feel they are the boys in the photograph or different boys, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Please be careful about adding information about people who may be living.

Sources: Massachusetts Birth Records 1840-1915

1904 Letter from Rev. Thomas Guy Langdale at Epping, New Hampshire, to Cousin Belle

October 31, 1904 letter from Rev. Thomas Guy Langdale, a Congregational minister at Epping, New Hampshire, to his cousin Belle.

The letter consists of one sheet, approximately 9" by 5-3/4", with both sides used.  It's addressed to Cousin Belle and mentions "Mother" [presumably Rev. Langdale's mother Harriet Isabel (Megrue) Langdale, but possibly his mother-in law Mary Jane (Fowles) Pearce]; and "Cousin Helen".

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

Thomas Guy Langdale was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, about October 1866, the son of Robert Hill Langdale and Harriet Isabel (Megrue) Langdale.  Rev. Langdale graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1887 and Chicago Theological Seminary in 1891.  Before Epping, New Hampshire, he ministered at Clark, South Dakota and in the Boston, Massachusetts area.  After his term at Epping, he returned to Massachusetts, at Salem, Haverhill and Lawrence.

On January 15, 1902, Rev. Langdale married Edith Houghton Pearce, daughter of Thomas H. Pearce and Mary Jane (Fowles) Pearce.  Rev. and Mrs. Langdale had at least one child, daughter Edith born in 1902.
Rev. Langdale died before 1930 or early that year, as implied from the 1930 Census, in which Edith described herself as a widow.  I haven't found his death date or his burial site.

Transcription

Parsonage
Congregational Church
Epping, New Hampshire, October 31, 1904

Dear Cousin Belle:

A pleasant but much appreciated surprise came to me with the return of Mother after her good visit with you in the books so kindly put into my hands for use until called for by Cousin Helen.  I am particularly interested in reading books of the times represented by these which you send, partly because I have a natural liking for books that have the wisdom of years to commend them & partly because they give one an opportunity to see at first hand the forms great & abiding truths took in early days & to recognize how much we owe in the present to the thought & life of the past.


Though I have Edwards Works in Four Volumes embracing both "The History of Redemption" & "The Religious Affections" & have read both of them through I am specially glad to have them in separate volumes - as I profess to be a great admirer of Jonathan Edwards.

The other books so far as I know them at all, I know them by reputation & so value the possession of them all.

Please tell Cousin Helen that we are very sorry she cannot arrange at the present time to make us a visit.  When she is so situated that she can do so we hope she will let us know & we shall be glad to suit her convenience.

All at the Epping Parsonage send best wishes to you and yours.

Very sincerely yours,
T. G. Langdale

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

Cabinet Photograph of a Young Girl IDed as Betsey Birdie McNutt; Chillicothe, Ohio Studio

Cabinet photograph of a young girl identified on the reverse as Betsey Birdie McNutt.  The photograph was taken at the studio of J. H. Nugent, located opposite the Court House at Chillicothe, Ohio.

If you recognize Betsey Birdie McNutt from your family photographs and/or research, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

1892 Memorial Card: Mrs. E. V. Shipley, died January 27, 1892

Memorial Card for the funeral of Mrs. E. V. Shipley, who died January 27, 1892.

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

I found an Anne (Spencer) Shipley, who was born November 20, 1837, the daughter of Asa and Phoebe (Piggott) Spencer of Guernsey County, Ohio.  On February 9, 1860, Ann married Emory Vinton Shipley, son of Perry Lloyd Shipley and Adeline Frances (Delauter) Shipley.   Emory was a postmaster; the couple had six children.

By 1880, the couple were living at Barnesville, Ohio; they're buried there at the Southern Cemetery.

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

1860-1905 Autograph Album of Louisa Barr of Erie, Pennsylvania; 1861 Student at Cleveland Female Seminary, Cleveland, Ohio

1860-1905 autograph album that belonged to Louisa Barr of Erie, Pennsylvania.  She attended the Cleveland Female Seminary at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1861 and possibly through 1862 and acquired many sentiments from her schoolmates.

The album measures approximately 8" x 5-1/2" and contains the sentiments of 69 of Louisa's friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appear at the end of this post.

Any presentation or ownership pages that once existed are no longer present; nor is the title page.  Fortunately, one inscriber mentioned the owner's surname, and another mentioned her given name.  L. R. F. Hammatt inscribed a page at Ipswich, Massachusetts on July 9, 1862, and mentioned "Dear Miss Barr".  I believe the inscriber was Lucy R. (Farley) Dodge Hammatt, widow of Abraham Hammatt.

Inscriber Helen J. Chamberlin of Cleveland, Ohio, mentioned "Lou" in her June 24, 1861 sentiment, "One year ago tonight, Lou".

I'd like to know the connection between Louisa and Ipswich, Massachusetts, as four other inscribers from the Ipswich area left sentiments.  One of them, Helen M. Sheldon of Lynn, Massachusetts,  a student at I. F. S., presumably Ipswich Female Academy, inscribed a page on June 12, 1862, shown below.  It's possible that a young lady from Essex County, Massachusetts, attended the Cleveland Female Seminary and invited Louisa home for a visit, where she invited her new Bay State acquaintances to leave their sentiments in her album, or that Helen attended the Cleveland Female Seminary at some point.  More information on Helen appears on pages 15-18 in a research work entitled Annie Emeline Philips, Class of 1885, Miss Abbott's Young Ladies School: A Memoir of Her School.

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

Louisa W. Barr, possibly Louisa Wright Barr, was born in Pennsylvania about April 1843, the daughter, I think, of Matthew Robinson Barr and Laura (Wright) Barr.  The 1850 Census gives Louisa's surname as Wright, so there's a possibility that Louisa was born before Laura and Matthew were married, but it's also possible that the enumerator meant to indicate that Wright was Louisa's middle name, after her mother's maiden name, and Wright was interpreted as her surname.

Below, a page signed by members of a club, "S.A.C.; F.A.E." at Cleveland Female Seminary, with one of them possibly being Louisa Barr herself.  Sorry about one of the nicknames, which ruins the fun.

About 1866, Louisa married Henry Solomon Seaman, first nicknamed "Sollie" and later "Harry", son of John Farmer Seaman and Cleora Augusta (Stevens) Seaman.  Harry and Louisa are mentioned many times in a biography of Henry's sister, Civil War nurse Lucy Elizabeth (Seaman) Bainbridge, in which Louisa Barr is described as a "sweet and sensible girl", a boarding student, presumably at Cleveland Female Seminary, whom Lucy often brought home.  It was Lucy who encouraged a courtship between the shy Harry and sweet Louisa.

Louisa and Henry were married about 1864, though I haven't found a record of it.  Louisa's father welcomed Henry into the family stove manufacturing business at Erie, Pennsylvania, and the new family prospered.  At some point, Harry sold his interest in the stove business and moved out west where he eventually lost his money.  The family returned to Erie, Pennsylvania, in much reduced circumstances, and later moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where Harry worked for Standard Oil, having met John D. Rockefeller at the Second Baptist Church.

Louisa and Harry had, I believe, four children:

1. Augusta L. Seaman, born March 3, 1865
2. Laura A. Seaman, born about November 1867
3. Charles F. Seaman, born about 1869; he does not appear in the 1880 Census
4. Walter L. Seaman, born about April 1871

Harry died in 1920; Louisa had predeceased him some time after 1910.  If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or information on any of the inscribers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Two pages in the album were inscribed long after the 1860s, one in 1878 and one in 1905.   H. R. Palmer inscribed a page on October 10, 1878: In remembrance of the convention at Erie."  I believe this was a reference to a musical convention, as H. R. Palmer was a musician, and Louisa was described by her sister-in-law Lucy Elizabeth (Seaman) Bainbridge as a pianist.

The page inscribed in 1905 was that of Mary Evans, a student or faculty member at Lake Erie College, who signed her page at Painesville, Ohio, on November 23, 1905.  It's the last inscribed page in the album.

Surnames in the Album

? [6]	C	H	P
A	Canfield	Hammatt	Paige
Allen	Carey	Hopkins	Palmer
Andrews [2]	Chamberlin	Hoyt	Perkins
Arbuckle	Claxton	Huggins	R
B	Cousens	Hulburt [2]	Richardson
B ? [2]	Cowles [2]	Hurlbut	Riddle
Bacon	Crane	Hussey	S
Baird	D	K	Sanford [2]
Barney	Davis	Kelley [2]	Sheldon [3]
Battles	E	Kendall	Shepherd
Benedict	Edwards	L	Silloway
Benney	Erie	Lanphear	Smith
Bingham	Evans	Low	Swart
Bishop		M	T
Blythe		Mathews	Thayer
Brown		Moody	V
Burrell		Munn	Van Boskerck
Burton		O	Vanness
		Orne

Inscribers in the Album    [Given names within a specific surname might not be in alphabetical order.]

• "Codfish", signed at the Sparrow's Nest on October 26, 1862.  Page is entitled "S.A.C." and "F. A. E."
• "Little Dutchman", signed at Blue Room on October 26, 1862.  Page is entitled "S.A.C." and "F. A. E."
• Great Western alias Aunt Betsey, signed at Blue Room on November 16, 1862.  Page is entitled "S.A.C." and "F. A. E."
• "Nig", signed at Sparrows Nest on October 26, 1862.  Page is entitled "S.A.C." and "F. A. E."
• Mr. Sparrow-tail, signed at Sparrows Nest on October 26, 1862.  Page is entitled "S.A.C." and "F. A. E."
• Lucy, signed on November 16, 1862

A

• Theresa R. Allen of Kinsman, Ohio, signed at the Cleveland Female Seminary on June 22, 1861
• Clara E. Andrews of Gambier, Ohio, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 22, 1861
• India Andrew of LaPorte, Indiana, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 25, 1861
• Lou Arbuckle of Erie, Pennsylvania, signed on April 5, 1862.  Shared the page with Roxy C. Cowles; Helen A. Hulburt; Susy A. R. Cowles; and Millie Burton

B

• I. S. B., or J. S. B., signed on November 15, 1861; written on the inside front cover.
• Levi B.; rest of sentiment obscured.  Shared the page with Jennie E. Battles; S. N. Sanford; M. L. H. Sanford; and Hannah B. Smith
• Mollie E. Bacon of Pontiac, Michigan, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 23, 1861
• Silla J. Baird of Ashland, Ohio, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary. Possibly Lilla J. Baird.
• Cora Barney of Sandusky City, Ohio, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary, "Map Cap Hall", No. 29 [or 27 or 21], on June 22 [no year written]
• Jennie E. Battles [not sure of given name].  Shared the page with Levi B.; S. N. Sanford; M. L. H. Sanford; and Hannah B. Smith
• Mollie W. Benedict of Cleveland, Ohio, signed on June 24, 1861
• Louise M. Benney of Valparaiso, Indiana, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 22, 1861
• Carrie Bingham of Cleveland, Ohio, signed on June 25, 1861
• Sarah M. Bishop of Cleveland, Ohio, signed on June 25, 1861
• Ellen H. Blythe of Hanover, Indiana, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 11, 1862.  Shared the page with Kate S. Claxton
• Kate Brown of Erie, Pennsylvania, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 23, 1861
• Julia E. Burrell of Erie, Pennsylvania, signed on July 15, 1863; alias "Biddy". 
• Millie Burton of Cleveland, signed on June 24, 1861.  Shared the page with Roxy C. Cowles; Helen A. Hulburt; Susy A. R. Cowles; and Lou Arbuckle

C

• M. Josephine Canfield of Cleveland, Ohio, signed on June 26, 1861. Possibly Marianne Josephine Canfield.
• Alice Carey of Cleveland, Ohio, signed on June 22, 1861
• Helen J. Chamberlin of Cleveland, Ohio, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 24, 1861. "One year ago tonight, Lou".
• Kate S. Claxton of Rochester, New York, signed on June 25 [no year written].  Shared the page with Ellen H. Blythe
• Hattie S. Cousens of Newton Centre, Massachusetts.  Shared the page with Abbie M. Orne and Anna H. Silloway.
• Roxy C. Cowles of Ipswich, Massachusetts, signed on June 11, 1862.  Shared the page with Helen A. Hulburt; Susie A. R. Cowles; Millie Burton and Lou Arbuckle
• Susy A. R. Cowles of Ipswich, Massachusetts, signed at Ipswich, on June 1, 1862.  Shared the page with Roxy C. Cowles; Helen A. Hulburt; Millie Burton and Lou Arbuckle
• Ellen C. Crane of Fall River, Massachusetts, signed on July 16, 1862

D

• Emma L. Davis of Trenton, Michigan, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 25, 1861

E

• Helen M. Edwards of Trenton, Michigan, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary
• Libbie H. Erie of Ashland, Ohio, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary
• Mary Evans of Lake Erie College, signed at Painesville, Ohio, on November 23, 1905

H

• L. R. F. Hammatt or L. A. F. Hammatt, signed at Ipswich, on July 9, 1862; presumably Lucy R. (Farley) Dodge Hammatt, widow of Abraham Hammatt
• Julia S. Hopkins, signed at Cleveland, Ohio, on June 25, 1861
• Zidda Hoyt of Cleveland, Ohio, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 25, 1861
• Julia L. Huggins of Granville, Ohio
• Helen A. Hulburt of Philadelphia. Shared the page with Roxy C. Cowles; Susy A. R. Cowles; Millie Burton and Lou Arbuckle
• Dayton W. Hulburt of Philadelphia, signed on January 7, 1862
• Clara L. Hurlbut or Hurlburt, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 25, 1861
• Anna M. Hussey of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1861. Not sure of surname.

K

• Libbie Kelley of Port Huron, Michigan, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 23, 1861
• Sallie M. Kelley of Erie, Pennsylvania, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 23, 1861
• Mattie L. Kendall of Valley City, Michigan, signed on June 25, 1861

L

• Alice Lanphear
• Mate Low of Erie, Pennsylvania, signed on July 2, 1861

M

• Fannie H. Mathews of Pontiac, Michigan, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 23, 1861
• Jennie R. Moody of Ashland, Ohio, signed on June 22, 1861
• Ellen M. Munn of Medina, Ohio, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 22, 1861. Not sure of surname

O

• Abbie M. Orne of Marblehead, Massachusetts.  Shared the page with Anna H. Silloway and Hattie S. Cousens

P

• Celina Paige, or Alina Paige, of Madison, Ohio, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 22, 1861
• H. R. Palmer, signed on October 10, 1878. "In remembrance of the convention at Erie"
• Maria A. Perkins of Akron, Ohio, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on 22 June [no state written]

R

• Cornelia A. Richardson of Omaha City, Nebraska, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 25, 1861
• Florence Riddle of Cleveland, Ohio, signed on June 24, 1861

S

• S. N. Sanford at Cleveland Female Seminary.  Shared the page with Jennie E. Battles; Levi B.; M. L. H. Sanford; and Hannah B. Smith
• M. L. H. Sanford at Cleveland Female Seminary.  Shared the page with Jennie E. Battles; Levi B.; S. N. Sanford; and Hannah B. Smith
• Nannie Sheldon of North Beverly, Massachusetts, signed on April 29, 1862
• Martha Sheldon of Lynn, Massachusetts, signed on April 29, 1862
• Helen M. Sheldon of Lynn, Massachusetts, signed at I. F. S. on June 12, 1862. Perhaps Ipswich Female Seminary.
• Eliza Shepherd, signed at Cleveland, Ohio, on June 23, 1861
• Anna H. Silloway of Boston, Massachusetts.  Shared the page with Abbie M. Orne and Hattie S. Cousens
• Hannah B. Smith of New Canaan, Connecticut.  Shared the page with Jennie E. Battles; Levi B.; S. N. Sanford; and M. L. H. Sanford.
• Mrs. E. F. Swart of Meadville, Pennsylvania

T

• Belle M. Thayer of North Adams, Massachusetts, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 25, 1861

V

• Mollie S. Van Boskerck, or Mollie S. Van Buskerck, of Joliet, Illinois, signed at Cleveland Female Seminary on June 22, 1860
• George L. Vanness of Erie, Pennsylvania, signed in 1862