Booklet: The October Club of Bucksport, Maine, 1895-1917

Booklet: The October Club of Bucksport, Maine, 1895-1917.

Approximately 7" by just shy of 5", 6 interior sheets.  If you have information to share on any of the women mentioned in the booklet, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

The booklet details:

• names of current officers
• names of past presidents and dates of their terms, starting in 1895
• names of members of standing committees
• programs, presumably for the year 1917
• programs of study classes
• four pages listing the names of members, including 11 honorary members

Click on an image to enlarge it.

1906 Letter Detailing Aftermath of San Francisco Earthquake; presumably written by William Edgar Purdy (1854-1927)

Letter dated 30 July 1906 written by, presumably, William Edgar Purdy (1854-1927), a New York native living in San Francisco. The letter details the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake of a few months earlier.

The letter recipient, Aunt Mary, may have been William's paternal aunt, Mary Bethia Purdy (1821-1907).

The name Ransom is mentioned several times - presumably William's good friend or possibly relative, Ransom Pratt (1857-1932), who would marry William's widow, Helen Price (Throop) Purdy (1856-1945) in 1928.

Although William was living in San Francisco at the time of the earthquake, he later moved to Berkeley, California. When he died, he was vice-president and cashier of Bausch and Lomb Optical Company of California. He and Helen had three children.

Transcription - please weigh in with any needed corrections

San Francisco

30 July 1906

Dear Aunt Mary:-

For neglected writing because I've been so very busy for the past two months. You wrote asking some questions as to the Earthquake. I presume Ransom told you all about them, but I will tell of a few things he probably did not know about. First, you remember the great big Colliseum on top of Strawberry Hill. Well that was entirely destroyed and a part of the great Concrete mass rolled down the Hill in the Lake. All around the lake in the road were cracks all around the Lake. If the thing had kept up ten seconds longer the whole hill would have been down and the water let out of the Lake. The Music Stand built by Claus Spreckels [Claus Spreckels (1828-1908] was very badly damaged and is closed since the Shakeup. A great many of the things were ruined and it will be months before it is open again. There are seventeen to eighteen thousand people still living in tents yet in the parks. Jefferson Park is full of tents and so are several others. It's a dirty windy raw summer and it must be mighty uncomfortable.

The McAllister cars don't run yet but expect to start up this week sometime. We all had to walk to Divisadero Street and are getting very tired of it. Not half of the car lines are running yet and won't be for months. No Hayes or Haight cars nor Larkin Street nor Sacramento St. Nor California St nor Jackson or Washington Sts. Nor Powell St nor Howard St and several others. The streets are very badly damaged and will have to be largely rebuilt. Some streets have sunk six fee or more and are crooked.

I understand the animals at the Chutes made an awful racket during the Earthquake, None got away.  The dust down town is something frightful. The streets won't be clear of bricks for months yet tho hundreds and thousands of teams are hauling. Wages awful high and demanding more. We think the street car men will all strike soon. Some of them are striking even now. I don't see where the thing is going to stop. The Unions here are very strong and are taking advantage of the situation. They will ruin the City if they don't get twice what they are worth.

We had a light shock Sunday morning. In fact we get little shakes every few days. We are getting used to them and don't mind if they don't do any damage. Still they are not pleasant as we don't know how things are down below. We have to boil the water we drink as it is not good yet. I have had the basement strengthened so it will stand the next shakeup if it comes. Of course we won't expect any more big ones.

You ought to see the one story buildings down town. Fillmore St is so crowded you can scarcely get along. Then comes Van Ness. That is going to be the big retail street the whole length from where it strikes Market clear over to Fort Mason.

Fine stores, too, with their flags and streamers flying. Then from there the fire burned. But it is building up clear to the ferry. Hundreds and thousands of buildings. I never saw anything like it and never expect to again. It is simply like magic the way the buildings spring up. If the Unions don't kill it,  the City will surely rebuild in a few years. 

I hope you are feeling better again. Ransom was much pleased with his visit to you. All join in much love.

Faithfull, W. E. Purdy

P.S.

When McCallister cars start, they will only run to the Power House near us for a time. No more cable in the City. All overhead trolleys. It will get us down town quicker. But it's a change [or shame] all the same.

W. E. P.

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

1877-1899 Autograph Album kept by Someone from Jay, Maine

1877-1899 autograph album kept by someone in Jay, Maine, possibly a male and possibly born in the 1850s/1860s era. 

Several inscribers specified North Jay, Maine, and that may be the part of town where the owner resided.  One inscriber, whose page is shown below, quoted a line about taking a wife; hence, the owner may possibly have been male.

May E. Goding

The album, which measures approximately 7" by 4-1/4", contains the sentiments of 24 people, none of whom mentioned a family relationship or dedicated the page to a name, which would have provided a clue as to the owner's identity.  An alphabetical list of the inscribers appears at the end of this post.

Surnames in the Album

B	Bishop	M	Morse [2]
C	Carpenter	N	Noyes
D	Dow	P	Paine
	Dunnell		Pike
G	Goding	R	Reed
H	Holmes		Richardson [2]
	Humphrey [2]	T	Thompson [2]
K	Kyes [4]	V	Vining
L	Lothrop

C. R. Thompson of Jay, Maine, worked his name and town into a bird and scroll design.  I believe he was Clifford R. Thompson (1858-1927).  His FindaGrave memorial gives his middle initial as D, but R is clearly shown in the photograph of his stone. Charles future wife Alice M. Kyes (1859-1898) also inscribed a page in the album.

C. R. Thompson

If you have a theory as to the identity of the album's owner or information on any of the people listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Inscribers in the Album

• Stella E. Bishop.  Perhaps Estella Eudora Bishop (1857-1894), who would marry George Edward Kyes.  
• Mina E. Carpenter of East Jay, Maine; inscribed on June 26, 1880. Presumably Mina E. Carpenter (1865-1945), who would marry Eugene B. Spearing.  
• Everett E. Dow of Livermore Falls, Maine; inscribed on February 21, 1878
• Nellie Dunnell of North Jay, Maine; inscribed on January 2, 1880.  Perhaps Nancy Ellen Dunnell (abt 1852-1927), who would marry Edmund E. Walker.  
• May E. Goding; inscribed on February 9, 1879.  Perhaps May Ella Goding (1856-1928), who would marry William Henry Drake.  
• Delia Holmes of Jay, Maine; inscribed on January 19, 1881. Presumably Delia F. Holmes (1862-1948). 
• Hattie L. Humphrey of North Jay, Maine; inscribed on December 14, 1879. Harriet Louise Humphrey (1857-1924), "Hattie", sister of inscriber Lucie E. Humphrey and future wife of George H. Merrill.  
• Lucie E. Humphrey of North Jay, Maine; inscribed on December 14, 1879.  Lucie E. Humphrey (1862-1932), sister of inscriber Hattie Louise Humphrey and future wife of Eugene Wallace Macomber.  
• Alice M. Kyes of North Jay, Maine; inscribed on February 14, 1879. Alice M. Kyes (1859-1898), sister of inscriber Cora H. Kyes and future wife of inscriber  Clifford R. Thompson, also inscribed pages in the album.  
• Cora H. Kyes of North Jay, Maine; inscribed on February 18, 1883. Sister of inscriber Alice M. Kyes.  Presumably the Cora H. Kyes (1868-1936) who married Albert Hunt in Massachusetts in 1893.  
• Ellen F. Kyes of North Jay, Maine; inscribed on December 20, 1879. Ellen F. Kyes (1859-1908), sister of inscriber Horace A. Kyes and future wife of John H. Look
• Horace A. Kyes of North Jay, Maine; inscribed on December 19, 1879.  Horace A. Kyes (1863-1935), brother of inscriber Ellen F. Kyes.  
• Frank B. Lothrop of Leeds Centre, Maine; inscribed on January 15, 1881. Perhaps Frank Burton Lothrop (1862-1930)
• H. Mabel Morse of Jay, Maine; inscribed on January 20, 1881
• Mary E. Morse of N. Jay, Maine [or West Jay, Maine]; inscribed on August 8, 1879
• W. H. Noyes of Jay, Maine; inscribed on February 11, 1880.  Possibly Weller Hayward Noyes (1860-1947).  
• Sadie A. Paine of Bean's Corner, Maine; inscribed at Jay Bridge on February 7, 1879.  Presumably Sarah A. Paine (1856-1902), "Sadie", who would marry Edward A. Hall in Maine in June of 1879 and Henry Oscar Hilton in Minnesota in 1894.  
• Lizzie A. Pike of Livermore Falls, Maine; inscribed on November 17, 1889.  Perhaps the Lizzie A. Pike (1865-1937), who married Curtis C. Lyford
• May J. Reed of Wilton, Maine; inscribed on February 7, 1879. Possibly the Mary J. Reed (1859-1949) who married Eugene Davis.  
• Nettie D. Richardson of Jay, Maine; inscribed in January 1880.  Perhaps Nettie D. Richardson (1866-1961), who would marry Frank L. Crockett.  
• W. S. Richardson of Jay, Maine; inscribed on January 18 1877.  Perhaps Wyman Stevens Richardson (1860-1924), who married Inez C. Packard in Massachusetts
• C. R. Thompson of Jay, Maine; elegant bird and scroll design.  Possibly Clifford R. Thompson (1858-1927) [middle initial in photograph of stone on FindaGrave memorial clearly shows middle initial as R.] Charles future wife Alice M. Kyes also inscribed a page in the album.
• Eula H. Thompson of Jay, Maine; inscribed on December 27, 1899. Presumably Eulalia Harriet Thompson (1884-), who married and divorced Arthur Fred Masterman
• A. C. Vining of Jay, Maine; inscribed on December 27, 1899. Perhaps Alton Clayton Vining (1880-1944).  

1853 Letter written by George Burton Dyer of Eastport, Maine; would rise from Private to Colonel in Civil War

This post also appears on the Border Historical Society blog, based in and around Eastport, Maine.

Letter written on September 23, 1853 in Eastport, Maine, by George Burton Dyer (1835-1913) to his cousin.  

Dyer would enlist in Company B of the 9th Regiment of the Maine Volunteer Infantry in September of 1862 and rise through the ranks to eventual promotion as  Colonel in March of 1865.

The letter begins with a long apology about the tardiness of his reply and goes on to mentions his doings, those of his mother, his brother "Frank", his sister "Abbie" and C., who is presumably brother Charles.

They were:

• Mother - Hannah (Snow) Dyer (1793-1881)
• Brother - Jonah Franklin Dyer (1826-1879), "Frank", a physician who would serve as a surgeon during the Civil War
• Sister - Adelaide Dyer (1840-1923), "Addie"
• C - presumably Brother Charles Henry Dyer (1821-1906) - an Eastport, Maine, merchant

George also mentions the French family, presumably in Eastport, Maine, and a friend, Renwick, possibly Renwick Johnston. Renwick may have been a first name or middle name or nickname.

George opines about becoming a physician, like his brother "Frank", or a minister, two vocations that offer the possibility of doing good work.  Whether he pursued either of these for a time or not, I don't know, but he operated a furniture store in Boston, Massachusetts, after the Civil War until his retirement at some point between the 1900 and 1910 Censuses. 

In 1868 at Boston, Massachusetts, he married Sophia Carey Gould (1836-1876). In 1870, they were living in the household of George's brother Jonah Franklin Dyer. Sophia died in 1876, apparently in childbirth, and is buried in the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

George's sister Addie was living with him and others at the time of the 1900 and 1910 Censuses. George died in 1913 and is buried in Eastport, Maine.  

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

Transcription below - please weigh in with corrections!

Eastport Maine

September 23 - 1853

Friday evening

Dear Cousin

I hardly know how to commence a letter to you for I have no good reason for my neglect. When I returned from "Squam" 'twas in the evening and I started for E- next morning. I promised Mr. [or Mrs.] French to come there when I came to the city and they would not allow me to leave them. I really must stop there, nothing else would do - so stop I did. But after returning house and then not writing you is too bad. My conscience will not allow me to keep silent any longer.

Talk not of total depravity - was ever a human being so utterly depraved as I, to neglect my friends thus. Last evening I told Renwick - my friend Mr. Johnston that I praised so highly - I intended to "turn over a new leaf" - that they told me I acted too boyishly. Can I make a better beginning than by trying to reinstate myself in your friendship in your "good graces" 0 as people so often say - if indeed I was ever so fortunate as to hold a place there - for if I ever did I am afraid I have lost all my hold upon your regard by my neglecting you thus. Remember the motto "Forget and forgive".

You must not expect to hear much that is new. No events of great importance have transpired since my return. Mother and Addie have not returned yet but the season is nearly over and they will be back soon I think. I do not hear very often from Addie. There is no regular mode of conveyance - and therefore our correspondence cannot be very regular.

I hear quite often from Frank. He is very busy indeed - has not time to do anything for himself. There are a great many sick persons there now. He said he intended to visit you - but when he came to the city he seldom stopped more than a few hours - and then he had considerable business to attend to. You must not think hard of him for his seeming neglect. He has a better excuse than I. Really cousin Eliza, I am almost ashamed to write - forgive me this time, and be assured you will not have to think ill of me again - on the _ of neglect, at least.

We have been very busy indeed in the store. C- has a larger business than ever, since he failed. I do not have much spare time. What I have I usually spend with Renwick, and after all we are together a great deal. How I love him. But is it strange - he was the instrument in Gods hands of leading me to cry in the spirit of adoption "abba, Father".  If you know him I am sure you would like him. And I think he loves me - though I cannot test his love as a young lady did that of her governess - in a letter I received a few days since - "because she kisses me ever so many times during the day".

What a glorious sunset. Howe beautiful the clouds look - their hues every moment deepening - and from a bright golden colour they fade into darkness. What a beautiful - what a lovely - stately world God has created for us - and we can look around and with our hearts full of joy exclaim "Our Father made them all" - and Oh how much we have to thank Him for. Even the afflictions he sends us are meant but to draw us nearer him. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth ever Son whom he receiveth". Some one has said that to draw near to the arm that inflicts the blow, will lessen the pain - then let us while he inflicts the blow find comfort in the arm raised against us - 'tis not in anger, 'tis in love - and if we receive them rightly they will ___ out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" - they will subdue our hearts - soften our feelings  and call forth the best and noblest feelings of our hearts - How little we are called upon to suffer compared with what HE suffered "That we through him might be rich" - And we know we are not separated from the loved ones forever. No - when the curtain of death gently closes around the last scenes of our existence - When on our voyage to the eternal world - when earth grows dim and its scenes fade away in the distance - heaven will open to our view - and the loved ones who had but "gone before" will welcome us to that "rest prepared for the people of God" - Let us be thankful for what we have hoping in the future - For we have One "who will never leave us nor forsake us" -

Sat morn.

I received a letter from Frank this morning. He says - I have worked very hard this month night and day and am all used up. There has not been so much sickness here for years before. I am trying to get a chance to get to Boston for a few hours on business, but I cannot. There has been a funeral nearly every day for a week - sometimes two.

Poor Frank he works hard. I hope soon he may reap the benefit of it. I think some of going there soon. I cannot tell exactly. He wants me too. Do you not think it would be a good plan for me to study with him until ready to go to college - and then practise for a Physician. Would it not look strange. George B. Dyer, M.D.  But seriously speaking t'would be a good chance - few can have a chance like it. I am quite young and will have time to study. I have thought much of it lately. 

Next to a minister - a physician has the most means of doing good - With the sick and dying always - he if a christian can exact a good influence and be the means of doing much good.

Now my dear cousin - Will you write me soon and let me know you do not think ill of me - Be assured I will be prompt in answering you and your letters will give me much satisfaction - My love to your brothers and Eliza - and don't forget to write to

Your Cousin George

Getting from Eastport to Boston during George's lifetime probably entailed sailing and, later, steamship and/or rail, as opposed to the recommended route today.

Robbinston, Maine - 1872 School Register for District #5 - Summer Term

1872 Summer Term School Register for School District #5 in Robbinston, Maine, with Rose E. Knapp, Teacher, and Davis C. Diffin, School Agent

Students, Shown in Alphabetical Order:

Hannah Apt, age 7

John Apt, age 16

Josiah Apt, age 10

Herbert Brooks, age 10

John Crompton, age 13

Albert Diffin, age 14

Emily Diffin, age 5

Eva A. Diffin, age 7

George Diffin, age 10; middle initial ?

James C. Diffin, age 14

Jennie Diffin, age 7

Lyona F. Diffin, age 10

Mathers Diffin, age 14

Robert J. Diffin, age 16

Wesley A. Diffin, age 5

Annie Fader, age 13

Charles W. Ferson, age 10

Dora Ferson, age 5

Levi R. Ferson, age 12

Lottie Ferson, age 8

Maggie K. Gates, age 22

Elthere Goldin, age 16

Isaac Goldin, age 14

Charles Green, age 8

Hiram Hunt, age 12

Stephen Hunt, age 9

Elmer McDonald, age 8

Lottie McDonald, age 5

Robert McDonald, age 7

Mark McLaughlin, age 10

Amy E. Sherman, age 5

Annie E. Stanhope, age 16

Andrew J. Stanhope, age 7

Loring Stanhope, age 7

Florence Stanhope, age 6

Uriah Stanhope, age 14

Willie S. Vose, age 11

Myra Vose, age 13

Hiram Waterman, age 13

The sheet goes on to show:

• how many times they were tardy
• how many times they were dismissed
• how many days these attended

and, most of all,

• their average rank in deportment and study

I believe Rose E. Knapp was not a local but was Rose Emma Knapp (1847-1920) from East Livermore, Maine, who, presumably, took a position at Robbinston in 1872. In 1875, this Rose married Nahum Burton Pinkham, an Anson, Maine, native, who became a lawyer in Fargo, North Dakota. They're buried in Riverside Cemetery at Fargo, North Dakota.

Davis C. Diffin (1822-1908), was a native of New Brunswick who moved to Robbinston, Maine. He was the father of at least two of the students in the Summer Term of 1872.

 If you have information to share on any of the students, their teacher Rose E. Knapp or School Agent Davis C. Diffin, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

1907 Program for a Maine State Grange Reception at Lewiston, Maine

1907 program for a Maine State Grange reception at the City Hall in Lewiston, Maine, on Monday, December 16.

Approximately 6" by 4"; Printed by the press of Frederic G. Payne. 

Centerfold:

Left: the music, performed by the St. Cecile Juvenile Band and featuring a saxophone solo by Emile Dube

Right: 

I. B. Isaacson, Chairman, Reception Committee

Mayor Frank A. Morey, Welcome

Obadiah Gardner, State Master 

Gifford's Orchestra, with Prof. Fred Merrill, Prompter

Organizing Committees:

Names below: (some mentioned multiple times)

General Committee

C. F. Maines, Chairman of General Committee; Merchants Association

E. A. Davis, Secretary and Treasurer; Lewiston Board of Trade

Committee on Rooms and Trains

S. A. Cummings, Chairman, Lewiston Board of Trade

E. L. Philoon, Auburn Board of Trade

D. W. Webber, Merchants Association

Soliciting Committee

C. F. Maines, Merchants Association

H. A. Free, Lewiston Board of Trade

E. A. Davis, Lewiston Board of Trade

F. L. Bartlett, Auburn Board of Trade

Ansel Briggs, Auburn Board of Trade

Committee on Entertainment and Reception

I. B. Isaacson, Chairman of Committee; Merchants Association

D. J. Callahan, Lewiston Board of Trade

F. L. Bartlett, Auburn Board of Trade

C. E. Cronin, Merchants Association

A. H. Phillips, Merchants Association

Col. A. B. Nealey, Lewiston Board of Trade

A. L. Kavanaugh, Lewiston Board of Trade

A. G. Fritz, Auburn Board of Trade

R. D. Leavitt, Auburn Board of Trade

C. F. Maines, Merchants Association

J. D. Clifford, Lewiston Board of Trade

M. J. Googin, Lewiston Board of Trade

George W. Furbush, Lewiston Board of Trade

Committee on Decorations

E. H. Perry, Chairman, Merchants Association

Andrew Chapman, Merchants Association

George A. Whitney, Lewiston Board of Trade

E. C. Jack, Merchants Association

A. H. Phillips, Merchants Association

Committee to invite Local Granges to Assist in meeting Visitors at the Trains

R. D. Leavitt

Committee on Badges

I. B. Isaacson, Chairman, Merchants Association

A. W. P. Cobb, Auburn Board of Trade

E. A. Davis, Lewiston Board of Trade

If you can provide full names and additional information on any of the above people, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

1817/1818 Maine Customs Offices extracted from 1819 US Treasury Booklet

The Maine Customs Offices derived from A STATEMENT of contracts and purchases made by collectors for the Revenue Service, during the year 1817, extracted from their accounts for that year.

In the years just before Maine Statehood, achieved on March 15, 1820.

Lemuel Trescott (1751-1826), Passamaquoddy *

Contractor, Otis Childs

Jeremiah O'Brien (abt 1744-1818), Macias [Machias]

Contractor, D. Elliot

Meletiah Jordan (1753-1818), Frenchman's Bay

Contractor, Thayer & Peters

Joshua Wingate (1773-1843), Bath

Contractor, Haskell & Nash

1 sick seaman at $1.25 per week; physician's charges: $76.63

Isaac Ilsley (1764-1853), Portland

Contractor, M. S. Gordon

24 sick seamen, with care provided in private houses from $2 to $3 per week; physicians charges for care and medicine, $89.05

Joseph Storer (1757-1833)**,  Kennebunk

Contractor, John Frost

* Passamaquoddy would presumably have meant Lubec, Maine, as Eastport was still under the control of the British, who had captured it in 1814 and would not vacate until June 1818 after several years of further negotiations following the conclusion of the War of 1812. 

** FindaGrave Memorial shows birthplace as Weld, Franklin County, Maine; should be Wells, York County, Maine

If you have information on the contractors listed, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Appearing in this booklet printed by the US Government in 1819, entitled "99" Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting Statement of Payments Made According to Law, at the Treasury During the Year 1818"

The booklet lists payments to many people, mostly professionals, and mentions payments on behalf of sick seamen, but, sadly, does not name them.

Maine as it appears in an 1820 map, more than two decades before the border was finally settled.

Maine today: