1857+ Autograph Album Given to Miss Elizabeth Patten by Rev. George Gordon, President of Iberia College, Iberia, Ohio

1857+ "Jenny Lind" autograph album that was given to Iberia College student Miss Elizabeth Patton by the College's first president Rev. George Gordon (1806-1867).  

Rev. Gordon was, presumably, the G. G. who penned a two-page sentiment on the leaf following a sentiment left by his wife.  See Rev. Gordon's inscription farther below.

Most of the inscriptions are from the 1857 to 1862, with two from 1875. Inscribers hailed from Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and the part of Virginia that would become West Virginia.

The album, which measures approximately 7-3/4" by 6", was printed by J. C. Riker and contains the sentiments of over 20 of Lizzie's fellow students and teachers. Also in the album are several full page engravings and two sheets comprising the lyrics of On the Banks of the Dundee.

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

 

Below, the two page inscription by G. G. at Iberia, Ohio, on May 1, 1858. He was presumably Rev. George Gordon (1806-1867), noted abolitionist and first president of Iberia College. Read more about Rev. Gordon here.

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

Not knowing which State might have been Elizabeth's native home made searching for her difficult, but there might be a clue in one of the two inscriptions from 1875 [sadly, the other one is unsigned]: J. E. Kellogg of Thory [or Wory or perhaps Thorny] Run School House, Ohio; inscribed on March 16, 1875.

There was a John Elton Kellogg (1859-1948), whose mother was Mary (Patton) Kellogg (1837 [on the stone, but other records show 1834 or 1835] -1913), who had a sister Elizabeth Patton (1837-1866).  This Elizabeth had died before the two 1875 inscriptions, but the book may have been passed on, which was then common.

Or album owner Elizabeth Patton was someone else. Hopefully a reader will weigh in with a likely candidate.

One of the pages in the album has the inscriptions of 7 people, two of whom also inscribed individual pages. Inscriptions by: 

• Jennie Blake of Copley, Ohio
• T. H. Graves of Columbus, Ohio
• Lida O. Grisell of Woodbury, Ohio - Lydia O. Grisell
• E. E. Hicks at Iberia College
• Beulah Hadley of Mooresville, Indiana
• Anna R. Moore of Lowellville, Ohio
• William Thompson of Zanesville, Ohio

Lida O. Grisell, whose name appears in the image above, inscribed another page at Iberia College on February 28, 1857. She was Lydia O. Grisell, who would marry Eugene W. Romick and become a noted Society of Friends evangelist. She died in Pasadena, California, in 1879, according to an item in the Morrow County Republican of Morrow County, Ohio.

Excerpt from the March 17, 1883 issue of the St. Paul Globe:  

Ohio furnishes the first instance in this country, and probably in the world, where a lady has officiated as a clergyman at a marriage ceremony. At Columbus Mr. Charles Pim and Miss Emma Bryabt were united in marriage by Mrs. Lydia G. Romick, the evangelist. It was a very pleasant wedding.

In another article, I read that officials and members from other denominations were aghast.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information provided above or in the list below, or if you have a theory as to the identity of Miss Elizabeth Patton, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

 List of Inscribers

• W. T. of Granville, Ohio; inscribed on July 22, 1862. Presumably a student at Iberia College in Iberia, Ohio
• W. Lizzie Retherland - not sure of surname - of West Alexander, Tennessee; inscribed in March 1857
• Possibly Mollie from DeKalb, Ohio or perhaps someone with the surname Mollie
• P. A. Helfrich, or T. A. Helfrich; not sure of surname; inscribed in Butler County, Ohio in 1860
• Unsigned; inscribed on July 29, 1875
• Jennie Blake of Copley, Ohio; shared the page with William Thompson; E. E. Hicks; Lida O. Grisell; Anna R. Moore; T. H. Graves; and Beulah Hadley
• Jane M. Clarke of Mt. Jackson, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, inscribed on March 23, 1857
• W. D. Clarke of Mt. Jackson, Pennsylvania; inscribed on March 23, 1857
• M. J. Ellison; inscribed on April 8, 1857 at Pleasant Ridge in Adams County, Ohio. Inscription is very faint.
• A. E. Gordon; inscribed at Iberia, Ohio, on February 24, 1857. Ann Evans (Finney) Gordon (1808-1896), wife of Rev. George Gordon. 
• Rev. George Gordon (1806-1867), noted abolitionist and first president of Iberia College at Iberia, Ohio; presented the album to Elizabeth Patton in 1857 and inscribed another sentiment, two pages. 
• T. H. Graves of Columbus, Ohio; shared the page with William Thompson; E. E. Hicks; Lida O. Grisell; Anna R. Moore; Beulah Hadley; and Jennie Blake
• Lida O. Grisell of Woodbury, Ohio; inscribed at Iberia College in Morrow County, Ohio. Lydia O. Grisell would marry Eugene W. Romick and become an evangelist. She also inscribed a shared page with William Thompson, E. E. Hicks; Anna R. Moore; T. H. Graves; Beulah Hadley; and Jennie Blake
• Beulah Hadley of Mooresville, Indiana; shared the page with William Thompson; E. E. Hicks; Lida O. Grisell; Anna R. Moore; T. H. Graves; and Jennie Blake
• P. A. Helfrich, or T. A. Helfrich; not sure of surname; inscribed in Butler County, Ohio in 1860
• E. E. Hicks of Iberia College, inscribed on February 14, 1857; shared the page with William Thompson; Lida O. Grisell; Anna R. Moore; T. H. Graves; Beulah Hadley; and Jennie Blake
• J. E. Kellogg of Thory Run School House, Ohio; inscribed on March 16, 1875
• Jennie Lockheart of Paint Creek, Ohio; inscribed on March 4, 1857
• R. F. Martin of Ripley, Ohio; inscribed a 2 page sentiment at Iberia, Ohio, on March 3, 1858.
• Possibly Mollie from DeKalb, Ohio or perhaps someone with the surname Mollie
• Anna R. Moore of Lowellville, Mahoning County, Ohio; inscribed on March 23, 1857. She also inscribed a page shared with William Thompson, E. E. Hicks; Lida O. Grisell; T. H. Graves; Beulah Hadley; and Jennie Blake
• E. A. Parmeter; inscribed at Iberia College on March 30, 1857
• Miss Elizabeth Patton; student at Iberia College at Iberia, Ohio; album owner
• W. Lizzie Retherland - not sure of surname - of West Alexander, Tennessee; inscribed in March 1857
• Sarah Tew of Mercer, Pennsylvania; inscribed on June 27, 1860
• William Thompson of Zanesville, Ohio; shared the page with E. E. Hicks; Lida O. Grisell; Anna R. Moore; T. H. Graves; Beulah Hadley and Jennie Blake
• J. W. Torrance; inscribed on May 1, 1858. Possibly Rev. Joseph W. Torrence (1831-1905) if spelling can be resolved.
• G. J. Whitham of Valley Grove, Virginia; inscribed in February 1857
• J. D. Whitham of Virginia; inscribed on March 13, 1857 at Iberia, Ohio; student at Iberia College with album owner Elizabeth Patton, "Lizzie".

Newspaper Article Honoring William D. Mathews, (1855-1935), Editor of the State Republican at Little Rock, Arkansas

Newspaper clipping with photograph of W. D. Mathews, editor of the State Republican at Little Rock, Arkansas.  Transcript farther below.

The clipping was found tucked in a Bible that belonged to Samuel Bailey and wife Dolly (Newton) Bailey of Vermont, passed on to their daughter Sarah (Bailey) Pattee, wife of Truman Pattee, of Grundy County, Iowa.  I'd interested in knowing the connection between the parties, if any.

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

William Daniel Mathews was born October 2, 1855 at Ellery, Illinois, the son of Samuel R. Mathews and Celia (Packer) Mathews.  On April 16, 1876 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, William married Emeline Thornton, daughter of Bowler Thornton and wife Hannah (possibly Blackmer or Blackburn).   Emeline was born in Ontario, Canada, on August 20, 1853.

William and Emeline would live in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Arkansas and Tennessee.  They had five children.  Emeline died in 1927 and William in 1935.  They're buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery at Memphis, Tennessee.

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

Transcription

W. D. Mathews, editor of the State Republican

The "old man" has on several occasions expressed disapproval of allowing a portrait of himself to appear in the columns of the State Republican, but during his absence at the "annual conference" of the Arkansas Press Association at Hot Springs, a most excellent engraving has been made from his photograph and it is here produced with these comments by an outside friend, who feels licensed under the circumstances to say just what he pleases.

Mr. Mathews was born at Ellery, Stephenson county, Illinois, October 2, 1855; was married to Miss Emeline Thornton at Oshkosh, Wis., April 16th, 1876.  Five children - two sons and three daughters - have been born to them, the eldest now 22 and the youngest 10 years of age.

Since his 19th year Mr. Mathews has been engaged in the newspaper business on his own hook, and in Illinois, Wisconsin and Nebraska he is well and favorably known by the fraternity.  The State Republican, he says, is his pet and it is his greatest ambition to make it a success.  Since coming to Little Rock Mr. Mathews has gained the reputation of publishing the cleanest Republican sheet ever issued from the state capital.  He is a smooth, versatile writer - one whose editorials are logical without being offensive or tiresome, and witty without approaching the line of vulgarity.  These are points that commend the State Republican to favorable consideration, and promise the assurance of a well deserved patronage.

1880s-1934 Autograph Album of Alice Clark of Everton, Missouri, from before and after her marriage to Thomas Courtney

1880s-1934 autograph album that belonged to Alice Clark of Everton, Missouri, from before and after her marriage to Thomas Courtney.

Alice didn't inscribe an ownership page or welcome page, but she might have written the page below, which appears near the end of the album.

The album measures approximately 7" x 4-1/4" and contains the sentiments of 23 of Alice's relatives and friends.  An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the signers, together with any personal information they offered, appear at the end of this post.  Illustrations are interspersed throughout the album.

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

Alice Clark was born October 11, 1870 in Illinois, the daughter of Illinois natives John H. Clark and Martha M. (Cole) Clark.  By 1880, the family was living at Polk, Missouri, in Dade County.  Everton is also in Dade County.

Alice's brother George William Clark inscribed several pages in her album, such as this one on January 3, 1886.

On 22 January 1890, Alice became the second wife of Thomas Courtney, a Pennsylvania native, whose first wife Mary Ann (Green) Courtney had apparently died.  Thomas had two children from his first marriage, Charles M. Courtney and Jessie V. Courtney.  I don't believe Thomas and Alice had any children together.

Jessie V. Courtney married G. T. Neil and had a son Leon C. Neil, who was born June 23, 1897.  There's a cute entry in the album about the first time that Leon produced a whistle, on September 14, 1901 at one thirty o'clock.

At some point the album resurfaced and was signed by Alice's step niece, Belle Courtney on August 13, 1891.  She was presumably Gladys Belle Courtney, daughter of Thomas' brother Charles Ferdinand Courtney.

At some point the album resurfaced again and was signed by Alice's step great grandson, Cecil Courtney Neil on December 29, 1934.  He gave his birth date and mentioned the "October's Bright, bright Blue Weather".

Thomas Courtney died in 1940 and Alice (Clark) Courtney in 1957.  They're buried at the Fasken Cemetery at Carthage, Missouri.

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

Surnames in the Album

B	H
B ?	Hoover [2]
Bryant	N
C	Neil
Carada	Newton
Carlock [3]	R
Clark [2]	R ?
Courtney	Rigsbee
D	S
Davidson	Smith
Dye [2]	W
G	Wheeler
Green [2]	Wilson [2]

Signers in the Album     [Note: Given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]

B

• Genette ?, signed on January 16, 1886. Possibly Bushman or Bushauer or ?
• Sharman Bryant, or Sherman Bryant, of Everton, Missouri, on Dade County, signed on April 6, 1886

C

• Eva Carada or Eva Casada, signed on January 3, 1889 [or 1887]
• Floria Carlock, signed on January 16, 1885
• Willie Carlock, signed on January 16, 1886
• Almer Carlock, signed on January 16, 1886
• Alice Clark of Everton, Missouri - her 1880s autograph album from before and after her marriage to Thomas Courtney.  She may have written on a page herself.
• G. W. Clark, signed on January 3, 1886; Alice's brother George William Clark, who signed other pages as well.
• Belle Courtney, signed on August 13, 1891 and inscribed to Mrs. Thomas Courtney, which was album owner Alice Clark's married name. Alice's niece Gladys Belle Courtney, daughter of Thomas Courtney's brother Charles Ferdinand Courtney and Octavia Marie (Asbell) Courtney

D

• W. R. Davidson, signed on January 16, 1886
• W. R. Dye, signed on January 16, 1886; Alice's teacher. William R. Dye, whose wife Dorothy A. (Cowan) Dye also signed a page.
• Dorothy A. Dye, signed on January 16, 1886. She was Dorothy A. (Cowan) Dye, whose husband William R. Dye also signed a page.

G

• N. E. Green, signed on April 5, 1886
• Cordia B. Green, signed on January 16, 1886

H

• Perry A. Hoover, signed on December 27, 1885
• Orlena B. Hoover, signed on December 27, 1885

N

• "Your grandson Cecil Courtney Neil", signed on December 29, 1934 at Carthage, Missouri, on Route 6. He mentions "October's Bright bright Blue Weather". He also gave his birth date: May 13, 1921. He was the grandson of Alice's stepdaughter Jessie V. (Courtney) Neil and husband G. T. Neil. Jessie had married Edward Somers by 1910.
• Julia E. Newton, signed on September 15, 1888

R

• Inscribed to Alice's married name: Mrs. Thomas Courtney, by C. F. R.
• C. F. Riggsbee of Mulloys, Tennessee in Robertson County

S

• M. B. Smith, signed on December 27, 1885

W

• Lucy M. Wheeler, signed on December 18, 1885
• Veda Wilson, signed on January 16, 1886
• A. L. Wilson, signed on January 16, 1886

Everton, Missouri, and Carthage, Missouri

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Photograph of Two Year old Twins Lucien Robert Algee & Mary Ella Algee at Anniston, Alabama

April 1912 photograph of twins Lucien Robert Algee and Mary Ella Algee of Anniston, Alabama.

I'm not sure how a Mainer came to acquire this photograph, but it's interesting to note that Mary Ella (Algee) Smith was living at Bangor, Maine, along with her widowed father, when her father died in May 1868.

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

Lucien Robert Algee and Mary Ella Algee were born 3 January 1910 at, I think, Birmingham or Carrollton, Alabama, the children of Robert DeKalb Algee and Louella (Curry) Algee.

Lucien married Martha Frances McGeehee in 1939.  From a photograph on a family tree online, I learned that he served in the Navy during World War II.  I believe he eventually moved to Nashville, Tennessee; he died in 1980.

In the 1940 Census of Birmingham, Alabama, Mary Ella Algee was still unmarried, living with her parents and working at an intriguing job as publicity for a concert tour.  I'm sure there's an interesting story of how she came to meet her future husband, Mr. Smith, and eventually move to Bangor, Maine.

If you have corrections to the information above or additional information on the Algee family, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!

Birmingham, Alabama


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