Autograph album with inscriptions from 1881 to 1890 that belonged to John C. Welles of Ortonville, Michigan.
The album contains inscriptions from relatives, friends, schoolmates and teachers. In addition to Ortonville, inscribers hailed from other Michigan places: Clarkston, Goodrich, Groveland, Lapeer, Mackinaw City, Oakwood; Saginaw; Standish and Tecumseh.
John C. Welles' stamped name appears in two places, on the first end paper and on the title page, shown below, which also has the handwriting: "Johnie Welles, Christmas 1881"
The album measures approximately 6-3/4" by 4-1/4" and contains the sentiments of about 96 of John's relatives, friends, schoolmates at Ortonville High School, and teachers. An alphabetical list of inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.
Surnames in the Album
| ? [12] | E | Eaton ? | P | Plumb [2] |
| A | Addis [3] | F | Flagler | R | Randell |
| Algoe | | Francis | | Rathbun |
| Allen | G | Gibbs | | Richmond |
| Allis | | Gordon | | Ross |
| Arnold [2] | H | Hummer | | Rourk ? |
| Auten | I | Iler | S | Sevener [2] |
| B | Ball [3] | J | Jackson | | Smith [2] |
| Bedtelyon | | Jones | T | Tait ? |
| Bell | K | Keller [2] | | Truax |
| Bergin | | Kent or Kents | V | Vantine [2] |
| Boden | L | Lane | W | Walsh |
| Brokenshaw | | Laurence [2] | | Watkins |
| Bronson | | Leece [4] | | Watson |
| Brown | | Lepard | | Welles [4] |
| C | Carmer | | Lockwood [3] | | Wells |
| Carr [2, possibly 3] | M | Markham | | Wolfe |
| Carr ? | | Masur | | Wood |
| Cobb | | McIntire | | |
| Cuthberson | | Miller | | |
| D | Darling | N | Nelles or Neller ? | | |
| DePuy | | Norris | | |
| Devan [2] | O | O'Rourk ? | | |
| Drummond | | | | |
From brief online research, hopefully correct - corrections and additions requested:
John C. Welles was born, according to his gravestone, on November 10, 1870. According to the record of his marriage to his first wife Emma C. LePard, John was born at Ortonville, Michigan, the son of John H. Welles and Fidelia (Eaton) Welles.
Inscribers who expressed a kinship with John:
- Alice; inscribed at Independence, Michigan, on December 9, 1883 [not sure of last digit]. John's cousin
- Ada Eaton, not sure of surname; inscribed on August 29, 1883 [not sure of last digit]. John's cousin
- Sister; inscribed at Christmas in 1881; presumably Mary Fidelia Welles, who inscribed a page later in the album as Mrs. E. D. Lockwood, presumably the wife of Edsil D. Lockwood.
- Mrs. E. D. Lockwood; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on May 1, 1884. Perhaps Mary Fidelia (Welles) Lockwood, wife of inscriber Edsil D. Lockwood and sister of album owner John C. Welles.
- E. D. Lockwood; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on March 1, 1884. Perhaps Edsil D. Lockwood, husband of John's sister Mary F. (Welles) Lockwood
- Lillie Walsh; inscribed on February 2, 1885. John's cousin
- Art H. Welles; inscribed at Standish, Michigan, on December 30, 1890. John's cousin. Possibly Arthur H. Welles, son of William Nelson Welles, who was a brother to John's father John H. Welles.
- George W. Welles; inscribed at Standish, presumably Standish, Michigan, on November 20, 1884. John's cousin, who signed his name as George and stamped the page as Geo. W. Welles.
Below, pages inscribed by John's sister Mary Fidelia Welles, before and after her 1883 marriage to Edsil D. Lockwood.
John C. Welles married twice:
- Emma C. LePard, daughter of Joseph LePard; married on July 24, 1895 at Ortonville, Michigan. Emma died in 1906.
- Abbie Lapp, daughter of Francis Lapp and Emma (Buhl) Lapp; married on June 29, 1909 at Flint, Michigan.
If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.
Two teachers inscribed pages in John's album. Mr. M. E. Addis, or Mr. W. E. Addis, John's Sabbath School teacher; possibly William Addis as I couldn't find a male M. E. Addis
W. H. S. Wood; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 5, 1881. John's teacher. Presumably William H. S. Wood, who later became a Michigan lawyer.
Inscribers in the Album
- Allie
- Unsigned at Detroit, Michigan; inscribed on March 10, 1880
- Alice; inscribed at Independence, Michigan, on December 9, 1883 [not sure of last digit]. John's cousin
- Clara; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, in January 23, 1882
- Loren; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 6, 1882. The words "Seat mates" straddle this and the right facing page inscribed by George Brokenshaw
- Bertha; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 23, 1882
- Frankie; inscribed on November 19, 1882; implies he's a boy and John's schoolmate
- Katie; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 3, 1881; written upside down on the page.
- Bert or Birt; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on February 16, 1887. John's schoolmate
- Ettie; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on November 26, 1882
- M. A. E.?; possibly M. A. Eaton; inscribed at Clarkston, possibly Michigan, on January 18, 1884
- Charlie of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on November 24, 1882
A
- Grace Addis; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 20, 1883. Could she have been the Flora Grace Addis who married inscriber William H. S. Wood in April 1883?
- Lizzie Addis of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on January 20, 1883 [or 1885]
- Mr. M. E. Addis, or Mr. W. E. Addis. John's Sabbath School teacher. Possibly William Addis as I couldn't find a male M. E. Addis
- J. R. Algoe or I. R. Algoe; inscribed at Ortonville High School at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 31, 1886
- Nye Allen of Lapeer City, Lapeer, Michigan; inscribed at Standish, Michigan, on 3-12-1890
- Fred W. Allis; inscribed on February 12, 1887
- Fannie Arnold; inscribed at Groveland, Michigan, on 2-3-1887
- Jennie Arnold; inscribed at Groveland, Michigan, on November 26, 1886. In addition to the usual sentiment, she added along the side: "Don't you remember who pushed somebody into the fence"
- E. N. Auten; inscribed on February 14, 1887
B
- Clinton Ball of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed at school on January 24, 1883
- James C. Ball of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed at school on January 24, 1883. The words "Seat Mates" straddle this page and the right facing page inscribed by Fred O Rourk
- W. J. Ball of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on January 24, 1883
- George Bedtelyon of Goodrich, Michigan; inscribed on October 22, 1883. The words "Seat Mates" straddle this and the left facing page inscribed by Frank Lepard of Ortonville, Michigan.
- Emma L. Bell; from or inscribed at Mackinaw City, Michigan, in August 1883
- Jessie Bergin; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 28, 1882
- Ed Boden; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on March 11, 1887
- George Brokenshaw; inscribed on January 3, 1882. The words "Seat mates" straddles this and the left facing page inscribed by Loren
- Lottie Bronson; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on February 13, 1883
- Judge T. Brown of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on January 29, 1883. John's schoolmate
C
- George Carmer of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on January 24, 1888
- Earl Carr of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on December 21, 1883. John's schoolmate
- Homer Carr or Homer ?; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 24, 1883
- Mary Cobb; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 23, 1881
- Jennie Cuthberson; inscribed at Standish, Michigan, on November 24, 1890
D
- Clara E. Darling; inscribed on February 12, 1883
- Rose DePuy of Tecumseh, Michigan; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on February 13, 1882
- Anna Devan; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 3, 1881
- Clara Devan; inscribed on May 27, 1883
- Mrs. Dr. Drummond; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 2, 1882. Perhaps Rachel (Hale) Drummond, wife of Dr. Francis Drummond
E
- Ada Eaton, not sure of surname; inscribed on August 29, 1883 [not sure of last digit]. John's cousin
F
- Myrtie Flagler; inscribed in Oakland County, Michigan, on October 23, 1883
- Gracie Francis of Oakwood, Michigan
G
- Inez Adelia Fisher Gibbs; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on February 15, 1882
- Burt Gordon
H
- Lola Hummer of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on February 2, 1888
I
- H. H. Iler; inscribed on May 15, 1882. Perhaps Hardee H. Iler
J
- Jethro Jackson of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on January 25, 188x [last digit faint]
- Willie Jones; inscribed on January 24, 1882
K
- Frank S. Keller; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 25, 1883
- George W. Keller of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed at school on January 24, 1883
- George Kent or George Kents of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on September 21, 1882
L
- Cora Lane; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on October 23, 1883
- Frank Laurence of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on February 1, no year written
- Harvey Laurence of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on January 24, 1882
- Burt Leece of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on January 24, 1883
- Jennie Leece; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on February 9, 1883. The words "Seat mates" straddle this and the right facing page inscribed by ? M. Tait [not sure of surname]
- John Leece of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on November 21, 1882. John's schoolmate
- Will Leece of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on January 25, 1883. John's schoolmate
- Frank Lepard of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on February 28, 1884. The words "Seat Mates" straddle this and the facing page inscribed by George Bedtelyon of Goodrich, Michigan
- Blanche Lockwood; inscribed at Holly, Michigan, on April 2, 1884
- E. D. Lockwood; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on March 1, 1884. Perhaps Edsil D. Lockwood, husband of John's sister Mary Fidelia (Welles) Lockwood
- Mrs. E. D. Lockwood; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on May 1, 1884. Perhaps Mary Fidelia (Welles) Lockwood, wife of Edsil D. Lockwood and sister of album owner John C. Welles.
M
- Johny Markham of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on October 23, 1883. John Markham
- Paul Masur; inscribed on February 1, 1886. John's friend and schoolmate. The inscription was written half in English and half in German.
- Kittie McIntire
- A. H. Miller; inscribed at Standish, Michigan, on December 3, 1890. "When far in the northern part of Michigan remember me as a true friend"
N
- John Nelles, or John Neller; or possibly John Welles, and, as such, possibly written by album owner John Welles himself. First letter of surname looks more like an "N", though.
- Willie Norris; inscribed on February 1, 1886
O
- Fred O Rourk of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on January 24, 1883. The words "Seat Mates" straddle this page and the left facing page inscribed by James C. Ball.
P
- W. R. Plumb; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on February 18, 1887
- Mrs. William Plumb; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on February 19, 1887
R
- Evan Randell of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on January 25, 1883
- Emma A. Rathbun; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on November 21, 1882
- Bradford Richmond; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, in January 1883 [or 1888]
- Maggie Ross of Saginaw, Michigan; inscribed at Standish, Michigan, on December 27, 1890
- Fred O Rourk of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on January 24, 1883. The words "Seat Mates" straddle this page and the left facing page inscribed by James C. Ball.
S
- Mrs. C. Sevener; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on November 24, 1882. Perhaps Dorothy (Ebler) Sevener, wife of Conrad Sevener
- Phebe Sevener; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, in November 1882
- Amy Smith; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 22, 1882
- Charlie Smith; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 6, 1882
T
- ? M. Tait;, not sure of surname; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on February 9, 1883. The words "Seat mates" straddle this and the left facing page inscribed by Jennie Leece.
- Lee Truax; inscribed on January 24, 1883 [or 1888]. John's schoolmate
V
- Almeron Vantine of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on January 24, 1882
- Charles E. Vantine of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on October 23, 1883. John's schoolmate
W
- Lillie Walsh; inscribed on February 2, 1885. John's cousin
- Maybel Watkins; inscribed at Clarkston, Michigan, on November 27, 1883
- Edna B. Watson; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on February 9, 1883
- Art H. Welles; inscribed at Standish, Michigan, on December 30, 1890. John's cousin. Possibly Arthur H. Welles, son of William Nelson Welles, who was a brother to John's father John Holdridge Welles.
- George W. Welles; inscribed at Standish, presumably Standish, Michigan, on November 20, 1884. John's cousin, who signed his name as George and stamped the page as Geo. W. Welles.
- John C. Welles of Ortonville, Michigan, album owner. His stamped name appears on the first end paper and on the title page, which also contains handwriting: "Johnie Welles, Christmas 1881"
- Sister; inscribed at Christmas in 1881; presumably Mary Fidelia Welles, who inscribed a page later in the album as Mrs. E. D. Lockwood, presumably the wife of Edsil D. Lockwood.
- Genie Wells; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 28, 1883
- Frank Wolfe of Ortonville, Michigan; inscribed on November 22, 1882 "At School"
- W. H. S. Wood; inscribed at Ortonville, Michigan, on January 5, 1881. John's teacher William H. S. Wood who became a lawyer and who married Flora Grace Addis. Could she have been inscriber Grace Addis?
