Family Bible of Noah Westfall of West Virginia, with Dates from 1854-1874

Family Bible of Noah Westfall of West Virginia, with dates from his 1854 marriage to wife Matilda Ann Coon (maiden name Evans, according to the West Virginia Marriages 1851-1896) to the 1874 birth of his son John Westfall with subsequent wife Agnes (Litton) Westfall.

From brief online research, I found that Noah Westfall lived in Jackson and Upshur Counties, West Virginia.

The marriages page shows Noah's marriage to Matilda Ann Coon very distinctly, with a date of June 27, 1854.  There's another record written in a much fainter ink that appears to be the birth record of James K. P. Coon, born November 21, 184x [1847 or 1849].

Was Matilda Ann's maiden name Coon [or Koon] or Evans?  If we can believe the West Virginia Marriages 1851-1896 database that shows her maiden name as Evans, perhaps she had previously married a Mr. Coon.  But she was very young when she married Noah Westfall, let alone having had a previous marriage. Could her mother, a Mrs. Evans, have remarried a Mr. Coon?  Could her mother, a Mrs. Coon, have remarried a Mr. Evans?  Hopefully a reader will weigh in.  And should the correct spelling be Koon, rather than Coon?

As for the second record on the page, interestingly, I found a James Knox Polk Koon (1847-1906) who served as a private in the 10th West Virginia Infantry during the Civil War and later worked as a lawyer and merchant in Upshur County, West Virginia.  His parents were, I believe, Jacob and Sarah (Koon) Koon.   If he is the James K. P. Coon referenced on the page above, I wonder how he ties in with "Matilda Ann Coon".  Again, hopefully a reader will weigh in.

The two births pages list Noah's and Matilda's birth dates, as well as those of 8 children, though the two listed on the right page were the children of Noah and his subsequent wife Agnes (Litton) Westfall, whom he married on June 7, 1869.  I don't have a death date for Matilda; there's no Deaths page, though there is a page with the top half removed; perhaps Matilda's death was recorded on the missing portion.

Births

Noah and Matilda Ann Westfall, born April 8, 1821 and November 12, 1840, respectively; their children

1. John H. Westfall, born June 7, 1856
2. Rebecca Ann Westfall, born November 17, 1857
3. Sarah Jane Westfall, born February 12, 1860
4. James W. Westfall, born October 1863 [15 or 13 ?]
5. Columbus Westfall, born June 9, 1865
6. Richard Hilery [?] Walter [or Walker] Westfall, born October 21, 1867

Noah and Agnes Westfall; their children

1. Debora Westfall, born January 2, 1870
2. John Westfall [middle initial H or A or ?], born March 1, 1874

Bible records are not necessarily primary sources, so if you have corrections to the above information, please leave a comment or contact me directly.    Wouldn't you love to know which of Noah's descendants left the scribbling?

Note: the page at left is missing its top portion.  It was presumably a Deaths page, and may have recorded Matilda's death.

Jackson County and Upshur County, West Virginia

1893-1906 Autograph Album of Oda E. Clingerman of Elkins, West Virginia Area

1893-1906 autograph album that belonged to Oda E. Clingerman, "Odie", of the Elkins, West Virginia area.  Her mother, Maggie (Smith) Clingerman gave the album to "Odie G. E. Clingerman" on her first birthday, March 20, 1893.

Maggie inscribed two additional pages in the album, the first one and the last one, both on March 20, 1893, and she may have been the M. E. Clingerman who inscribed another page.

Odie's father, Abraham Clingerman, also inscribed a page in the album and may have inscribed another as A. Clingerman.

The album measures approximately 6-1/4" x 4" and contains the sentiments of nearly 30 of Odie'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.

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

Oda E. Clingerman was born March 20, 1892 in Hampshire County, West Virginia, the daughter of Abraham and Maggie (Smith) Clingerman.  Maggie's father and mother, or stepmother, inscribed pages in their granddaughter Odie's album, as W. P. Smith and Mrs. W. P. Smith.

Sadly, it appears that Abraham and Maggie's marriage did not last.  By 1900, Odie was living with her mother and a servant at Leadsville, West Virginia.  In October 1900, Abraham married Bertha Ellen Iliff and had at least four more children with her, though two died in childhood.

In 1909, Oda married Edward Lee Finn.  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 - a few people may have signed multiple pages.

?  [4]
Brinkman  [2]
C ?
Clingerman  [5]
Dossey
Gabert
Goode
H ?  [2]
Hedges
Kline
Leighty
McCloud
Riley  [2]
S ?
Sharp
Smith  [2]
Swick
Taylor
Wolfe

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

• "Your Friend"
• A Friend
• V or H or ?
• Leora; she called Oda "Bill's little Pet"

B

• Miss Gloda Brinkman - though I think she was the Golda Brinkman who signed another page.
• Mr. T. I. Brinkman or T. J. Brinkman
• Golda Brinkman

C

• L. C., signed on January 16, 1907
• Oda E. Clingerman, "Odie", of Elkins, West Virginia; album owner.  She inscribed a page near the end of her album on December 15, 1906.
• Maggie (Smith) Clingerman, Odie's mother, who presented her with the album on her first birthday, March 20, 1893.  She inscribed two other pages in the album and may have been the M. E. Clingerman who signed another.
• A. Clingerman, signed on November 30, 1898. Presumably Odie's father Abraham Clingerman.
• Odie's father Abraham Clingerman
• M. E. Clingerman; perhaps another page signed by Odie's mother.

D

• Florence Dossey, signed on March 20, 1893

G

• Eugene Gabert, signed at Elkins, West Virginia, on April 27, 1896
• Frances Goode

H

• L. H. ?, signed at Elkins, West Virginia, on December 1, 1898. Surname looks like ?awfford
• W. G. H., 7235 or 4235 Heritage St., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• ? Hedges, signed at Elkins, West Virginia, on December 4, 1890

K

• A. Kline

L

• T. W. Leighty, signed on December 4, 1898. Perhaps Thomas W. Leighty

M

• William McCloud

R

• Nellie Riley
• Grace Riley

S

• M. A. Sothen or M. S. Suthern or ?
• Lena Sharp, signed on December 3, 1898
• Mrs. W. P. Smith; presumably Odie's maternal grandmother or step grandmother.
• W. P. Smith, signed at South Elkins, West Virginia, on December 31, 1899; Odie's maternal grandfather.
• Arrinda Swick; wrote two dates: July 17, 1896; and December 31 [no year written]

T

• Blanch Taylor, signed at Elkins, West Virginia, on November 21, 1904

W

• Vallie Wolfe, signed at Elkins, West Virginia

Elkins, West Virginia

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1870s Autograph Album of Clement Adams Walker, Jr., of Boston, Massachusetts

1870s autograph album of Clement Adams Walker, Jr., of Boston, Massachusetts, received at Christmas 1875 and kept possibly while Clement was attending Boston Latin School.  He may have been a member of the class of 1879.

The album measures approximately 7" x 4-1/4" and contains the sentiments of 31 of Clement's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical list of the signers, with any residence or school information, appears at the end of this list.

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

Clement Adams Walker, Jr., was born 22 September 1862 at Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Dr. Clement Adams Walker, Sr., and Georgiana (Nichols) Walker, who were born at Fryeburg, Maine, and Black Rock, Connecticut, respectively.

Dr. Clement Adams Walker, Sr., signed the first page in the album after the title page, on Christmas Day in 1875.  It was presumably he who gifted the album to his son.  Dr. Walker served for thirty years as head of the Boston Lunatic Hospital in South Boston, Massachusetts.  Read more about Dr. Walker and how conditions vastly improved during his administration, here.

Dr. Clement Adams Walker's brother, Henry Durgin Walker, signed a page in the album on March 24, 1876.

Based on the several signers who indicated they were students at B.L.S., I believe that Clement Adams Walker, Jr., also attended B.L.S., which was presumably Boston Latin School.  One student, Clement W. Andrews, who signed his page on December 24, 1876, gave his graduating year as 1879.

Another B.L.S. student was John Newell of 611 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts, who signed his page on October 30, 1876.

Another page was signed by a student whose name was, I think, H. B. Hix of Rockland, Maine, signed on February 18, 1876.

Clement Adams Walker, Jr. married Elizabeth Lynch at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 8 December 1897.  I'm not sure if they had any children.  They lived at Philadelphia, where Clement worked as a clerk.  By 1930, Elizabeth had died, and Clement was living with his mother-in-law Tamar Hall at Philadelphia.

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.

Several interesting people signed pages in young Clement's album.

Alzire A. Chevaillier, signed a page on January 8, 1876.  She was a, suffragist, professional muckraker and, according to some, agitator.  She was hired by the San Francisco Chronicle to infiltrate the utopian "Fountaingrove" settlement at Santa Rosa, in 1891.  After a few months undercover, she cast aspersions on the character of Thomas Lake  Harris and got him tossed out of Fountaingrove, which he had started in 1875.  Alzire's parents were Jean Charles Chevaillier of France and his wife Sarah Conant (Clark) Chevaillier, who was born in Boston.

A. Goodrich Fay of 156 Second Avenue, New York, signed a page on March 26, 1876.  He was Alonzo Goodrich Fay, an attorney who was the husband of Harriet Amanda (Ransom) Fay.  156 Second Avenue was known as the Ransom House, which over time became the Cafe Boulevard, a famous Hungarian restaurant.

A. G. Ham signed a page at the Lincoln School on November 30, 1876.  He was Alonzo Garcelon Ham, master of the Lincoln School.  Two Alonzo G.'s in a row, but apparently unrelated.

Joseph H. Clinch signed a page on January 2, 1876.  He may have been Rev. Joseph Hart Clinch, D.D.

Surnames in the album

?
Andrews     [2]
Carter
Carver
Chevaillier
Clinch
Cummings
Dean
Easton
Fay
Freeborn
Ham
Hix
Hodgkins
Kennedy
Little
Merrill
Minchin
Munsie
Newell
Nichols
Ober
Pearson
Randall
Robbins
Smith
Stanford
Talbot
Walker     [3]

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

?

• James Dike or James Pike

A

• Joseph L. Andrews, signed in 1875; "B.L.S.", presumably Boston Latin School
• Clement W. Andrews, Class of 1879, signed on December 24, 1876

C

• J. T. Carter of Wheeling, West Virginia, signed on December 25, 1875. B.L.H., presumably Boston Latin High School. I wonder if he was the son of Dr. John T. Carter, who was associated with Boston Hospital in 1875.
• Alex B. Carver
• Alzire A. Chevaillier, signed on January 8, 1876; Christian Scientist, suffragist, professional muckraker and, according to some, agitator. Hired by the San Francisco Chronicle to infiltrate the utipian "Fountaingrove" at Santa Rosa, in 1891, she cast aspersions on the character of Thomas Lake Harris and got him tossed out of the commune he had started in 1875. Her parents were Jean Charles Chevaillier of France and his wife Sarah Conant (Clark) Chevaillier, who was born in Boston.
• Joseph H. Clinch, signed on January 2, 1876. Presumably Rev. Joseph Hart Clinch, D.D.
• Bradley N. Cummings, signed on March 11, 1876

D

• Clitheroe Dean of 935 Broadway, South Boston, Massachusetts

E

• Miss Lizzie Easton, signed on March 27, 1876

F

• A. Goodrich Fay, 156 Second Avenue, New York City, signed on March 26, 1876. He was Alonzo Goodrich Fay, a lawyer, husband of Harriet Amanda (Ransom) Fay - they resided at 156 Second Avenue, the "Ransom House", which later became the famed Hungarian Cafe. See a photograph of the Ransom House: http://gvshp.org/blog/2011/05/13/second-avenue-mansions-of-yesteryear/
• Frank W. Freeborn of Boston Latin School, signed in November 1877

H

• A. G. Ham, signed at Lincoln School on November 30, 1876. He was Alonzo G. Ham, the Master of the Lincoln School
• H. B. Hix of Rockland, Maine, signed on February 18, 1876 at B.L.H., presumably Boston Latin High School.
• Charles F. Hodgkins of Chelsea, Massachusetts, signed on February 6, 1877

K

• Seth Kennedy of No. 1 Salem, Boston, Massachusetts, signed on March 1, 1877

L

• Samuel Little, signed on November 28, 1876

M

• Willie B. Merrill of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, signed on February 21, 1877. "W.B."; "Fables"
• W. A. Minchin of Grove Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, signed on November 9, 1877 at B.L.S., presumably Boston Latin School
• Jessie S. Munsie of Green Hill, Nova Scotia, signed on March 10, 1877

N

• John Newell of 611 Tremont Street, signed on October 30, 1876; B.L.S., presumably Boston Latin School
• E. H. Nichols of Reading, Massachusetts, signed on February 21, 1877, at B.L.S., presumably Boston Latin School.

O

• Frank B. Ober of Townshend, Vermont

P

• Harry J. Pearson of Boston, Massachusetts, signed on February 21, 1877 at B.L.S., presumably Boston Latin School

R

• Frank E. Randall, signed at Public Latin School in January 1876
• Ella F. Robbins of Charlestown, Massachusetts, signed on January 20, 1876

S

• Ada I. Smith of 946 Fourth Street, South Boston, Massachusetts, signed on April 3, 1877
• E. M. Stanford, signed on November 4, 1876

T

• Herbert C. Talbot of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, signed on February 21, 1877. "Public Reading"; "Old Keetel"

W

• Clement A. Walker, Jr., Christmas 1875. He was Clement Adams Walker, Jr., son of Dr. Clement Adams Walker and Georgiana (Nichols) Walker of Boston, Massachusetts.
• Clement A. Walker, signed at Christmas in 1875. He was the album owner's father, Dr. Clement Adams Walker, who presumably gifted the album to his son.
• Henry D. Walker, signed on March 24, 1876. He was Henry Durgin Walker, a brother to the album owner's father, Dr. Clement Adams Walker.

Boston, Massachusetts

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1880s Autograph Album of Minnie M. Beard, a student at Otterbein University in Ohio

1880s autograph album that belonged to Minnie M. Beard, a student at Otterbein University at Westerville, Ohio.

As if this album wasn't interesting enough, it's even more interesting because Minnie penned notes about the signers.  One such page was that signed by William C. Wickham, who was the president of the Class of 1883 at Otterbein University.  Sadly, Minnie noted that he was one of the over 2200 victims of the Johnstown Flood of May 31, 1889 in Pennsylvania.

The album is approximately 4-1/4" x 3" and contains the sentiments of nearly 80 of Minnie's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.

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

Minnie's 1942 obituary in the St. Petersburg Times of St. Petersburg, Florida, indicates that she was a graduate of Otterbein University Conservatory of Music and that she died at the home of her brother, Alvin Glossbrenner Beard.  I had searched for Minnie Kincaid because a 1901 Otterbein University publication mentioned her as an 1885 graduate of the Conservatory of Music there and that her surname was then Kincaid.

Minnie was presumably the daughter of Jacob Beard Julia Ann (Wolfe) Beard, but I hope to hear from a reader with more information.

On 29 April 1896 at Hendricks, Indiana, Minnie M. Beard married bookkeeper Wendell T. Kincaid, son of Thomas and Sarah Kincaid of Dayton, Ohio.  Minnie and Wendell lived at Indianapolis, Indiana; Charleston, West Virginia and, finally, St. Petersburg, Florida.  They raised at least four children.

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

Minnie pasted some newspaper clippings on the back end paper and inside back cover.  [Click to enlarge.]

Two people in the album indicated a cousin relationship with Minnie.  One was Maimee C. Shunk [not sure of given name or surname], who signed a page on June 21, 1882.

The other cousin was possibly Nell E. Crissman or Well E. Crissman, or perhaps Crissman was not a surname but rather a town in Pennsylvania.  If you can clear up this confusion, please leave a comment.

Surnames in the album

?            [14]
Beard    [2]
Cathcart
Coomer
Cornell
Crissman
Daymude
Dickerson
Dwyer
Everhart
Fall
Funk
Gardner    [3]
Gilbert
Graves
Harbert
Hatfield
Herlocker
Hill
Jinkins
Judy
Keister
Kinsey
Kumler
Lorenz    [2]
Lotspeich    [2]
Markley    [2]
McClure
Mills    [2]
Moore
Mundhenk
Orndorff
Phinney    [2]
Pickford
Queen
Reamer
Reed
Reese
Rogers    [2]
Scott    [2]
Shunk    [2]
Sinclair
Slusser
Slyh
Smith
Stauffer
Stimmel
Thomas
Thompson
Weller    [2]
Wickham
Wilkinson
Wolff
Wyatt
Zaring

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

?S. J. S., signed at Otterbein University on November 14, 1884 "Remember the eve you wrote that letter to Miss ? Philips of Ashley, Ohio"

• J. A. J. of Grover, Ohio, or Groves, Ohio. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Cora
• Fred, signed on February 26, 1882. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Rob, signed on November 4 [no year written]
• Lida
• Signed on January 21, 1883 by Spiro Spero [?]. Page is written in code. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Lel F. [part of the first name is erased], signed at Westerville, Ohio, on June 6, 1883. Minnie's later note: "Dead"
• Hettie, signed at Ashley, Ohio. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Anna M. P.  Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Minnie's cousin, but I can't quite decipher the name and place. It looks like "Nell E. Crissman, Pa", but I don't know if Crissman is a surname or a placename, and "Nell" could be "Well".
• Rachel, signed on December 28, 1882
• R. W. P. of Westerville, Ohio, signed on February 25, 1883; "Neighbor Boy"
• H. L. F.; C. M. Erck

B

• Minnie M. Beard, signed at Otterbein University on February 27, 1880; album owner
• Alice K. Beard, signed at Westerville, Ohio, on May 10, 1880 - she may have been Minnie's sister Alice C. Beard, if K stood for Kate, as in Catherine.

C

• Clarence C. Cathcart of Dayton, Ohio, signed at Otterbein University on March 25, 1880
• Harry Coomer, signed at Ashley, Ohio, on August 6, 1882; presumably Harry A. Coomer
• A. Blanche Cornell of Westerville, Ohio, signed on April 3, 1880
• Minnie's cousin, but I can't quite decipher the name and place. It looks like "Nell E. Crissman, Pa", but I don't know if Crissman is a surname or a placename, and "Nell" could be "Well".

D

• J. A. Daymude, signed at Otterbein University. Minnie's later note in ink: "Married", and in pencil: "Dead". Presumably James A. Daymude
• Lulie Dickerson, signed on September 12, 1887 [or 1881]
• Maude M. Dwyer, signed on December 18, 1882 at Otterbein University. Minnie's later note: "Died June 29, 1886"

E

• Emma Everhart, signed at Basil, Ohio

F

• Lu M. Fall of New Paris, Ohio, signed at Otterbein University on March 22, 1880
• W. R. Funk of West Newton, Pennsylvania. Minnie's later note: "Married"

G

• Frank Gardner, signed at Otterbein University on May 20, 1880
• Mary Gardner, Class of 1881 at Otterbein University. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Jennie Gardner, signed at Otterbein University on May 19, 1880
• Billie Gilbert of Dayton, Ohio; mentions Senior Party of June 8, 1885 [or 1883]
• A. S. Graves of Columbus, Ohio, signed at Westerville, Ohio, on August 13, 1882

H

• May Harbert, signed at Ashley, Ohio, on June 22, 1882. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• W. F. Hatfield of Westerville, Ohio, signed on "10-4-81" at Otterbein University, Class of 1882. Minnie's later note: "Died July 1, 1882
• W. B. Herlocker of Freeport, Illinois, signed on June 15, 1882
• E. H. Hill, signed at Otterbein University, on April 5, 1881. Minnie's later note: "Dead"
• B. T. Jinkins; presumably Byram Thomas Jinkins, who attended Otterbein University. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• C. S. Judy, signed on April 30, 1880. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• L. H. Keister, signed at Germantown, Ohio, on May 2, 1880; "your classmate"
• Nettie C. Kinsey of Galion, Ohio, signed at Otterbein University, on Mary 5, 1880
• Frank A. Z. Kumler, signed at Westerville, Ohio, on March 1, 1880. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Justina A. Lorenz, signed at Otterbein University on April 13, 1880. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Daniel E. Lorenz, signed at Otterbein University; Minnie's classmate
• Mrs. Mamie Lotspeich, signed on August 20, 1882
• C. L. Lotspeich, signed on August 20, 1882
• Ida M. Markley of Cherry Grove, Ohio. Minnie's later note: "Married March 20, 1883. Died July 24, 1883"
• O. L. Markley of Sweet Wine, Ohio, signed at Otterbein University on April 10, 1880. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Lizzie McClure, signed at Preston, Ohio, on "3-11-82; not sure of surname as it ran off the page
• J. S. Mills, Minnie's pastor; presumably Rev. Job Smith Mills, whose wife Mary (Keister) Mills signed the overleaf. He was an administrator at Otterbein University and later Western College and Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania.  http://www.fooa.org/EastEndWalkingTour/East%20End%20Tour/East%20Main/400%20Block/444%20East%20Main/444%20East%20Main.htm
• M. K. Mills of Westerville, Ohio; presumably Mary (Keister) Mills, whose husband, Rev. Job Smith Mills, signed the overleaf. http://www.fooa.org/EastEndWalkingTour/East%20End%20Tour/East%20Main/400%20Block/444%20East%20Main/444%20East%20Main.htm
• B. E. Moore of Sparta, Ohio, signed at Otterbein University, on March 6, 1883
• Minnie Mundhenk of Pyrmont, Ohio, signed at Otterbein University on June 11, 1882
• Asa Orndorff
• J. B. Phinney, Class of 1882 at Otterbein University, signed on February 27, 1882
• Ida Phinney, signed on May 10, 1882
• Alfred Pickford, signed at Ashley, Ohio, on March 13, 1882; A.H.S.
• C. N. Queen, signed at Otterbein University, on March 18, 1880. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• W. D. Reamer of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, signed at Otterbein University, Class of 1882. Not sure of Greensburg; might be Greunsburg
• Alice C. Reed of Cherry Grove, Ohio, signed at Otterbein University
• W. C. Reese, signed at Westerville, Ohio. Minnie's later note in ink: "Married" and a further note in pencil: "Dead"
• A. M. Rogers of Columbus, Ohio, signed on March 3, 1880; Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Ida J. Rogers of Columbus, Ohio, signed on March 4 [no year written]
• Annie M. Scott of Preston, Ohio, signed at Otterbein University on March 18, 1880
• Bertha A. Scott, signed at Otterbein University on April 24, 1880. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Maimee C. Shunk, signed on June 21, 1882; Minnie's cousin
• Imogene J. Shunk, signed at Cardington, Ohio, on October 26, 1881. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• J. P. Sinclair, Class of 1885, presumably at Otterbein University. Minnie's later note, written in two places: "Married"
• Harry Slusser of Louisville, Ohio, signed at Otterbein University on December 17, 1880. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Lottie C. Slyh, signed on March 7, 1880
• Rev. J. F. Smith of Circleville, Ohio, signed on March 7, 1881. "Class of 1879". Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Henry Stauffer of Sterling, Kansas, signed at Otterbein University, on April 26, 1880. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• Jay C. Stimmel, signed at Westerville, Ohio, on October 20, 1884; schoolmate at Otterbein University
• E. N. Thomas, signed at Otterbein University on January 18, 1883
• Jessie F. Thompson, signed at Otterbein University on April 26, 1880
• J. Weller, signed at Westerville, Ohio, on February 25, 1881; Minnie's pastor. He gave his middle initial, but I can't decipher it. Possibly Joseph A. Weller: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ksdickin/1893bios/1893wellerjosepha.html
• Mrs. M. E. Weller of Westerville, Ohio, signed on March 16, 1881. Minnie's later note: "Died September 20, 1881". From Find-a-Grave. She was Mary Elizabeth (Pletcher) Weller, born 7 November 1844 in Ohio, daughter of Andrew and Rachael (Thomas) Pletcher and wife of Joseph Augustus Weller.
• William C. Wickham, President of the Class of 1883 at Otterbein University, signed on May 1, 1883. Minnie's later note: "Drowned in Johnstown Flood" [May 31, 1889]
• ? Wilkinson; ornate initials; possibly P. F. Wilkinson.  Minnie's later note: "Married"
• James M. Wolff of Navarre, Ohio, signed on "9/12/1881. Minnie's later note: "Died October 20, 1881"
• Charles E. Wyatt, signed at Ashley, Ohio. Minnie's later note: "Married"
• H. O. Zaring of Frankfort, Indiana, signed on December 21, 1883 at Otterbein University; not sure of initials, but the signer could have been Henry Oliver Zaring

Westerville, Ohio

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1880s Autograph Album of Helen Hazlett Payson, who was a patient at the Hospital for Incurables at the Bronx, New York

1880s autograph album that originally belonged to Helen Hazlett Payson at Fordham in the Bronx, New York, but was later taken over by Julia Virginia Painter, who signed many pages and doodled on others, including pages earlier used by signers.

The album was presented to Helen H. Payson, or "Nellie", by Harry Gale at Fordham, New York, at Christmas 1886.

Harry signed another page on Christmas Day in 1886, near the end of the album.

The album is approximately 8-1/4" x 7-1/4" and contains the sentiments of about 50 people, some of whom wrote on more than one page; additionally there are many pages of writing that are unsigned.  An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.

Several of the signers mentioned the initials H. F. I, which I had originally thought was an educational institute or institution but came to realize, sadly, was the Home for Incurables, which eventually became St. Barnabas Hospital, founded in the West Farms area of the Bronx in 1866.

Mary E. Ford of Fordham, New York, signed a page on March 24, 1887 and included H. F. I.

Emily Walls signed at H. F. I. Hotel on December 7, 1896.

Cullen B. Howe signed at H. F. I. Club at Fordham, New York, on January 31, 1887.

Max Rastner or Max Kastner signed a page at H. F. I. on September 3, 1887.

Two doctors signed pages in Nellie's album.  J. V. Smith, M.D., signed a page on March 30, 1894.

Guy H. Furrell, M.D., signed a page in December 1897.

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

Helen Hazlett Payson, "Nellie" was born about August 1867, daughter of Rev. Edward Phillips Payson and Grace (Hazlett) Payson, who were born in Connecticut and New York, respectively.   She had at least four younger siblings.

Nellie's father came from a family of ministers.  Below, his obituary in the 1915 Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University.

I found Nellie living at the Home for Incurables at the time of enumeration of the 1900 Census.  Thanks to the reader's comment below, we know she died on 24 October 1904 at the Bronx.   Rev. Payson died in 1913 at Tacoma, Washington, and Grace (Hazlett) Payson died at East Orange, New Jersey, in 1917.

If you have additional information on Helen Hazlett Payson or her family, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

I'm also intrigued by how the album came to be in the possession of young Julia Virginia Painter, daughter of John W. Painter and Nellie Catherine (Fadeley) Painter of West Virginia.   Julia was born 17 November 1898 at Hall Town, West Virginia.  She would marry Robert Lyton in 1927.

Julia Virginia Painter signed many pages in the album, sometimes over a page already used, but one page was especially interesting, where she listed the members of the John William Painter Family, the George W. Painter family and the Clint Ware family.

Bessie Painter signed a page.

Maggie Mae Painter signed a page.

 The inside back cover mentions Miss Della Stuart and Mr. John W. Walters.

If you have information on the Painter and Ware families, please leave a comment or contact me directly. Thanks!

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

• W. A., signed on October 24, 1887
• Llewelyn, signed in February 1896
• B. B. T. to Julia Painter, signed on September 13, 1908
• Bertha to Julia Painter, signed Sunday, September 13, 1908
• Mollie, signed at H. F. I., at Fordham, New York, on March 7, 1894
• B. B. T. to J. V. P.
• A. F. P., signed on July 13, 1887
• C. W. P., signed at Fordham, New York, in July 1887
• J. D. M., signed on August 9, 1913
• Max Kastner or Max Rastner, signed at New York, on September 3, 1887
• J. H. T., signed at Fordham, New York, on October 24, 1887
• Carnelia B. Abbott, signed October 20, 1888
• John A. Berry, signed on December 24, 1886
• A. J. Derbyshire, signed at West Farms, New York, on December 14, 1887
• William H. Devlin, signed at Fordham, New York, on July 5, 1887
• T. Remington Devoe, signed at Fordham, New York, on December 8, 1892
• John J. Dunn, signed on December 1, 1887
• E. J. Elliott of Fordham, New York, signed on December 22, 1887
• Erich Fasold, signed on September 2, 1887
• Mary E. Ford of Fordham, New York, signed at H. F. I. on March 24, 1887
• Spencer Franklin, signed at Tremont [presumably New York], on January 30, 1887
• Guy H. Furrell, M.D., signed in February 1897
• H. D. Gale; presented the album to Nellie H. Payson at Christmas in 1886
• Harry Gale, signed at Christmas in 1886.  He is presumably the H. Gale who presented the album to Miss Helen H. Payson at Christmas 1886.
• Nellie S. Gilmore, signed at Fordham, New York, on April 29, 1887
• William N. Gould, signed at Fordham, New York, on March 30, 1887
• Thomas R. Harris, signed on October 19, 1888
• Mary A. Hassert, signed on November 28, 1896 - she painted a river scene
• Annie Hawkins, signed on June 5, 1887; Julia Painter wrote on the page in 1910.
• Belle Hess and Moe Hess, signed at Belmont, New York, on March 2, 1889
• Alice H. Hilton, signed at Fordham, New York, on March 15, 1887
• Cullen B. Howe, of H. F. I. Club, Fordham, New York, signed on January 31, 1887.  Not sure of surname of initials of Club.
• Julia Mills, signed at Fordham, New York, on February 4, 1887
• Julia Painter, signed on August 13, 1913
• Bessie Painter
• Maggie Mae Painter to Julia Painter
• Nellie H. Payson, album owner; the album was given to her at Christmas in 1886 by H. D. Gale
• Vergilio E. Pignetti, signed on January 17, 1897
• Alice F. Pinckney of Fordham, New York, signed on July 13, 1887
• Clara Pinckney, signed at Fordham, New York, in July 1887;  middle initial might be M or W or ?
• Lillie E. Riblet of Fordham, New York, signed on May 29, 1887
• Julius G. Rosby, signed at Fordham, New York, on July 9, 1887
• Miss E. Sandiforth of Watertown, New York
• N. Schmit, signed on April 13, 1887
• Anna M. Shepperd of Fordham, New York, siged on November 10, 1887.  Someone, presumably one of Nellie's children, wrote a note at the top, dated March 2, 1910
• Marion Shepperd of Fordham, New York City, New York, signed on November 10, 1887
• J. V. Smith, M.D., signed on March 30, 1894
• Frankie E. Smith, signed at Mount Vernon, New York, on October 3, 1888
• Miss Della Stuart; mentions John W. Walters
• Emily Walls, signed at H. F. I. Hotel, on December 7, 1896
• John W. Walters; mentions Miss Della Stuart
• Jane E. White of Fordham, New York City, on April 30, 1887
• Frederick B. Wright, signed on May 13, 1897

Fordham, New York

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