1889-1910 Autograph Album of Nellie, a Student at Hebron Academy at Hebron, Maine

1889-1910 autograph album that belonged to a Nellie, presumably a student at Hebron Academy at Hebron, Maine, in the mid-1890s, as were a number of the inscribers.  Hebron Academy is still in operation today.

In pursuing the album's owner identity, I'm grateful for the help of the Hebron Academy archivist, who concurs that the likely owner was Ella E. Marr, "Nellie", who gave her residence as Cornish, Maine, and her guardian as A. H. Marr, when she signed in to the Class of 1893.  The inscriptions from folks in Cornish bear this out.

Nellie was the daughter of Aaron Hagan Marr and Anna H. (Trafton) Marr.

 The album measures approximately 7-3/4" by 5" and contains the sentiments of 24 of Nellie's friends, schoolmates and at least one teacher.  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.

The first inscription in the album was that of Edmund Trafton of West Buxton, Maine, who was a cousin to Ella E. Marr, "Nellie".  Nellie's mother and Edmund's father were siblings, I believe.

Rev. Henry Francis Snow, who had served in the 27th Maine in the Civil War, and his wife M. Augusta (Cox) Snow inscribed pages at Cornish, Maine, in January 1889.

Two of the inscribers were M. Leda Abbott and Emma S. Abbott of Byron, Maine, who indicated they were in the Hebron Academy Classes of 1893 and 1895 respectfully.  Emma indicated that Nellie was a schoolmate.  

Another page was inscribed on January 21, 1889 by Lillian Hortense Small of Limington, Maine, who noted that she was Nellie's teacher, before Nellie's enrollment at Hebron Academy. Lillian was born August 10, 1859, the daughter of George Melville Small and Mary Adams (Small) Small of Limington.

Surnames in the Album

	?	H	Hall	R	Rounds
A	Abbott [2]		Hasty		Russell
B	Brackett		Hayford	S	Severy
	Burgess		Heald [2]		Small
C	Cushman		Howard		Snow [2]
E	Eldredge [2]	M	Marr ?		Stevens
	Emmons	P	Perry	T	Trafton
			Putnam

Inscribers in the Album - given names within a surname might not be in alphabetical order

• Nellie; album owner.  Presumably Ella E. Marr, "Nellie", daughter of Aaron Hagan Marr and Anna H. (Trafton) Marr of Cornish, Maine
• Emma S. Abbott of Byron, Maine, inscribed at Hebron Academy on March 4 [no year written]
• M. Leda Abbott of Byron, Maine, inscribed at Hebron Academy on March 4 [no year written], Class of 1893
• Lydia A. Brackett, inscribed at Cornish, Maine, on January 13, 1889
• Mollie A. Burgess of Livermore Falls, Maine, inscribed at Hebron Academy on February 1, 1893
• Daisy W. Cushman of Hebron, Maine, inscribed at Hebron Academy on October 14, 1892
• Myra S. Eldredge of Dorchester, Massachusetts, "Sally Whistlepitcher", inscribed on August 27, 1910
• Minnie E. Eldredge of Dorchester Center, Massachusetts, inscribed on August 27, 1910
• Flossie E. Emmons of Lyman, Maine, inscribed on August 7, 1903
• Francis E. Hall, or Frances E. Hall, of Waterville, Maine, inscribed at Hebron, presumably Hebron Academy, on November 11, 1892
• Ella F. Hasty
• Ethel M. Hayford of Canton, Maine, inscribed   at Hebron Academy on November 7, 1892
• Ethel L. Heald of West Sumner, Maine, inscribed on March 19, 1893, possibly a student at Hebron Academy
• Dottie M. Heald of West Sumner, Maine, inscribed at Hebron Academy on November 7, 1892
• Alice C. Howard of West Minot, Maine, inscribed at Hebron, Maine, possibly at Hebron Academy, on November 19, 1892
• Nellie; album owner.  Presumably Ella E. Marr, "Nellie", daughter of Aaron Hagan Marr and Anna H. (Trafton) Marr of Cornish, Maine
• Sam E. Perry of Limerick, Maine, inscribed on March 2, 1889
• Lena I. Putnam of East Rumford, Maine, inscribed at Hebron, Maine, on January 16, 1893, possibly at Hebron Academy
• L. Emogene Rounds, inscribed at East Brownfield, Maine, on August 13, 1896
• Lizzie May Russell of Canton, Maine, inscribed at Hebron Academy on November 7, 1892
• Bertha M. Severy of Chases Mills, Turner, Maine
• Lillian Hortense Small of East Limington, Maine, inscribed on January 21, 1889; Nellie's teacher
• Rev. Henry F. Snow, inscribed at Cornish, Maine, on January 11, 1889
• M. Augusta Snow, inscribed at Cornish, Maine, on January 9, 1889
• Emma C. Stevens of South Andover, Maine; inscribed at Hebron Academy on October 14, 1892
• Edmund Trafton of West Buxton, Maine; inscribed on November 13, 1904.  Cousin of Ella E. Marr, "Nellie"

1865 letter from Anna Farrar (Abbott) at Andover, Massachusetts to future husband Rev. Benjamin Franklin Perkins at Eastport, Maine

Letter written on June 8, 1865 by Anna Farrar Abbott, "Annie", at Andover, Massachusetts, to Rev. Benjamin Franklin Perkins, who was making his way to Eastport, Maine.  The letter was addressed in care of a relative, David Perkins, at Eastport, Maine.

Letter and transcript at the end of this post.

It's a lovely letter, written just after Rev. Perkins had left Andover and his "sacred room", and only a few months before his marriage to Anna at Andover on November 22, 1865, the date also of his ordination.  According to Rev. Perkins' obituary in volume 44, 1912, of the Granite Monthly: a New Hampshire Magazine,  the new couple then traveled to Missouri, where they were engaged in home missionary work for several years.  They would return to New England for a while, before returning to the Midwest.  A few years later, they would return to New England for good.

Tidbits in the letter:

• Portland, Maine; a leg along the route from Andover, Massachusetts, to Eastport, Maine
• "Mama", presumably Anna Farrar Abbott's mother, Sarah French Abbott
• Ballard, the man who took over the room that Rev. Perkins had recently vacated
• letter from Hampton, New Hampshire - possibly regarding the offer of a church?
• Mr. Butterfield
• Eastport, Maine - presumably where Rev. Perkins was to preach
• Miss Sarah Leavitt of Eastport, Maine; possibly Sarah Emery Leavitt (1833-1885) who attended the New Hampshire Conference Seminary in 1852; daughter of Benjamin Brackett Leavitt and Harriet (Lamprey or Lamphery) Leavitt, both New Hampshire natives.  [See another post that features photographs of the Leavitt family, though not of Sarah, and an 1858-1861 autograph album that belonged to Emily C. White, future wife of Sarah's brother, Samuel Deane Leavitt.]
• Mrs. Gleason of Eastport, Maine
• The Jones family of Eastport, Maine, cousins of Anna's father, Rev. Sereno Timothy Abbott
• David Perkins at Eastport, Maine, with whom Rev. Perkins was presumably to lodge
• Hattie, waiting to take the letter to post it - presumably Anna's sister Harriet Elizabeth Abbott
• Nellie, who sends a kiss
• Public meeting at "Porter [Bhet ?], presumably at Andover, Massachusetts - if you can interpret this phrase from the images below and have more information on it, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  She put other words and phrases in quotes, in a joking way, so this might be an inside joke between the two of them, but hopefully it's something a reader will recognize.

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

Anna Farrar Abbott was born December 1, 1844 at Seabrook, New Hampshire, the daughter of Rev. Sereno Timothy Abbott and Sarah (French) Abbott.  Rev. Abbott, a native of Andover, Massachusetts, had graduated from Andover Theological Seminary in 1836.  He was a minister at Seabrook, New Hampshire, until his death in 1855.  His widow, Sarah (French) Abbott, then moved her family to Andover, Massachusetts.

Rev. Benjamin Franklin Perkins was born at Hampton, New Hampshire, on February 22, 1834, son of Deacon James and Ruth (Johnson) Perkins.  Rev. Perkins graduated from Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, New Hampshire; Dartmouth College at Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1859 and Andover Theological Seminary in 1864.  He stayed on at Andover for another year, in order to receive a resident licentiate, which perhaps he had just achieved in the days before his departure from Andover, as described in this letter.

Rev. Benjamin Franklin Perkins and wife Anna Farrar (Abbott) Perkins would have, I believe, six children.  Their first born, James Farrar Perkins, died young.  The children:

1. James Farrar Perkins (1867-1868)
2. Adelaide French Perkins (1869-1937)
3. Frank Ernest Perkins (1871-1951)
4. Anna Katherine Perkins (1874-1929)
5. Mary Ruth Perkins (1878-1975)
6. Carl Abbott Perkins (1880-1956)

Rev. Benjamin Franklin Perkins died on February 29, 1912 at Hampton, New Hampshire; Anna Farrar (Abbott) Perkins on April 18, 1936 at Cambridge, Massachusetts.  If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Images and Transcript:

Thursday, 5 P.M. June 8, 1865
Dear Mr. Perkins
We have lived almost through one whole day.  Aren't you glad?  And you are just about leaving Portland.  It will be a beautiful moon light evening.  Shall Annie and "Mama" come and sit by you on the Deck and help you enjoy the scene?  I am sure you would enjoy it more.  I have wanted forty times today to go in and hinder you a little while in your room.  I put it all in order and Ballard moved in there this forenoon.  I gave him a "curtain lecture" ( I am famous for those, you know) before leaving him in possession of that dear room.  I told him it was a sacred room to me and must never be desecrated by disorderly conduct of any kind.
He promised very fairly - but I shall not want to visit him very frequently I think.  The room is "Ichabod" now.  
Annie is brave as a little hero.  The separation is hard now, but the only comfort I can give her, is that it will be very much harder to bear these little separations years hence and increasingly hard the longer you live.  Isn't that comfort?  Sort of Job-like, I mean.  
The letter from Hampton came this morning - about a half an hour after you left.  I saw Mr. Butterfield and engaged him to go to Hampton, and wrote your Mother to that effect, and sent it by this P.M.'s mail.  Mr. B. had engaged to go elsewhere, but got another man to go for him, and he will go and administer the Sacrament at Hampton.  So that is all right.
No other letter has come for you.  There is a public meeting of "Porter [Bhet?] tonight.  Will you go in with us?
Now I've written this thinking you might feel a little uneasy about Hampton, till you hear - and thinking too - you wouldn't be unwilling to find a letter a little sooner than you expected.  A stranger in a strange land!
You will like Eastport, though, I know.  It is a beautiful place - and the people are very kind.  If you see a Miss Sarah Leavitt, give my love to her.  Also to Mrs. Gleason and her sister, and an army of Jones'es - all cousins of my Father.  Please give the enclosed note to Mr. Perkins if you please.  I hadn't time to write him, by you.  Now good-bye.  Won't you try to feel a little blue - some of this evening - just by way of sympathy?
If I go right on with this, will you know the difference?  I would like to help you watch the waves and the long line of white spray but shall have to content myself with thinking that you are doubtless enjoying it very much.  
Everyone misses you, so soon
This must go now.  Hattie is waiting.
Love from Annie
Nellie has sent a kiss.

1907 Postcard and Letter from George A. Briggs and wife Cora (Skillings) Briggs of Paris, Maine

January 1907 postcard, above, from Cora (Skillings) Briggs and March 1907 letter from her husband George A. Briggs at South Paris, Maine, both addressed to George's sister Naomi E. Briggs at Dry Mills, Maine.  Transcript and images farther below.

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

Naomi E. Briggs and her younger brother George A. Briggs were among the children of Samuel Briggs and Mehitable R. (Smith) Briggs of Paris, Maine.  Naomi was born August 29, 1832, and George was born May 13, 1852.  I don't believe Naomi ever married, but George Married Cora Skillings on April 22, 1876 at South Paris, Maine.

The postcard, above, with a postal marking of January 17, 1907, was written in a nice handwriting by Cora (Skillings) Briggs, presumably a day earlier, on January 16, 1907, the date of Solon Briggs' death, and contains mention of:

• Solon's death [Solon Briggs, son of Simeon and Martha (Potter) Briggs.  Simeon Briggs was a brother to Samuel Briggs, father of George A. Briggs and Naomi E. Briggs.
• Charlie Bowker
• George's foot injury [George A. Briggs, Naomi's brother]

Dear Naomi.  Solon died this morning.  Funeral will be on Friday.  I told Charlie Bowker I would notify you people - though you won't probably come.  George will not be able to go because he cut his foot very badly - a week ago - and is perfectly helpless, so far - will be laid up a long time.  The foot was cut to the bone, right down through the instep.  The Dr. took 5 stitches in it.  He bled profusely, which was good for him.  He lies on the couch all the time and reads, etc. - but suffers a good deal of pain at time. The Dr. says the foot is doing well.  All send love, Cora.

The letter, above, penned by George A. Briggs on March 28, 1907, contains news of:

• how George's injured foot is progressing
• George's daughter Cassie's [presumably Catherine Gladden Briggs, born in 1879], who has found employment at Boston, Massachusetts
• George's son Carl' who is taking, or teaching, a class in violin [Carl Skillings Briggs, born in 1886]
• George's wife Cora's housework and music teaching job
• Louisa's stay in Portland to lend support to Emma, who had lost her husband the week before.  Louisa was presumably George's sister-in-law, wife of his brother Samuel Fessenden Briggs
• Aggie, who was not yet married yet [presumably Agnes Louise Briggs, daughter of George's older brother Samuel Fessenden Briggs and wife Louisa J. (Kane) Briggs.  Agnes, if I have this straight, was a widow in 1907, as her husband William Henry Penfold died in 1900.  She would marry William Prentiss Morton on February 12, 1908.]

So. Paris, March 28th [1907]

Dear folks, we recd. your letter all right, was sorry to hear you had been sick but now you are better it is all right.  Everybody almost has been sick this winter but Spring has come now and the robins are hear [here] and we will have some more fun now.  We are all well  here.  My foot has got well and don't trouble me any.  I get my accident money all right in a very few days I drive down to Oxford twice a week.  Cassie has gone to Boston work she likes well.  Carl has a large class on the Violin, School begins April 1st.  I shall not go this term.  Cora is doing her own house work and is teaching music.  They all work harder than I do but I am going to do more just as soon as the ground is bear [bare].  I am glad you are better.  Louisa is in Portland with Emma.  She has lost her husband.  He died last week.  Aggie is not married yet.  I told her what you said.  She said all right.  I will let her know.  Good bye, love to every body.
George A. Briggs.

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

1862 letter from W. H. Hewes, a Student at the Abbott School, "Little Blue", at Farmington, Maine

July 2, 1862 letter from W. H. Hewes, a student at the Abbott School, "Little Blue", at Farmington, Maine.  The letter is addressed to "Dear Sir", and could be addressed to his father, his stepfather, his grandfather or some other important man in the family.  Sadly, there's no envelope present to identify the recipient definitively.

A transcript for the three-page letter appears at the end of this post.

The Abbott School was founded at Farmington, Maine, about 1844 by Samuel Phillips Abbott, brother of Jacob Abbot, Jr., author of many books, including the Rollo series.  Read more about the Abbott family and the Abbott school here.

The Abbott School attracted students from all over Maine and even beyond, so identifying W. H. Hewes is tricky.  The person from whom I bought the letter indicated he was William H. Hewes, but I don't know if he had personal knowledge or was making a guess.

Possibilities may be

• William Hewes of Thomaston, Maine
• William Hewes of Brewer, Maine
• William Hewes of Winthrop, Maine, son of Henry Michael Hewes and Susan (Wheeler) Hewes, who were married in 1845 at Boston, Massachusetts.  This William was born in Massachusetts, and it appears that his mother brought him and his sisters to her parents' home at Winthrop, Maine by the time of the 1850 Census.  If his father was dead by 1850, W. H. Hewes could have been writing to his grandfather or to a stepfather or ? 
• Another W. H. Hewes from Maine or out of state

Clues and/or tidbits in the letter:

1. Reference is made to writing a letter to his mother, who was alive in July 1862
2. Eugene said that his grandfather has got a horse.  I suppose he will have a good time riding round with him.  This would suggest that Eugene, or at least his grandfather, lived in the Farmington area
3. Willie Henderson
4. Richard
5. I sit with a boy in school from Cambridge.  His name is Arthur Mills.  There was an Arthur Mills from Cambridge, Massachusetts, born about 1851.  Where the letter writer didn't mention a state, could this be a clue that the letter writer was also from Massachusetts?  

Transcript

Little Blue, July 2, 1862
Dear sir,
I received your kind letter last Monday night.
I am getting on very well in my studies.  In Arithmetic, I am over to reduction.  In Geography, I am over to the United States. It is very pleasant here today but we have had a great many showers during the week.
We expect to go up to the mountain next Tuesday.
Mr. Abbott has had the school house painted over on the outside and has had it varnished and frescoed inside.
You say it is about time to write to mother.  I will write to her very soon.
The Boys have first rate times with their fire works. They are to have a great time here on the fourth.  All the companies are going to march around and a salute is to be fired, and then they are to have a picnic.
I suppose they are going to have a celebration on the fourth at home also.\The grounds look very pretty around the pond and the mountain.
We have to declaim to night, and I suppose I must try my luck with the rest of them.
Eugene said that his grandfather has got a horse.  I suppose he will have a good time riding round with him.
Willie Henderson and Richard are well.
I sit with a boy in school from Cambridge.  His name is Arthur Mills.
There are thirty five boys here now.
I am very much obliged for the money you sent me.
Yours respectfully
W. H. Hewes

1870s/1880s Autograph Album of Miss Artemisia Sallie Chiles, "Artie", of Independence, Missouri

1870s/1880s autograph album of Miss Artemisia Sallie Chiles, "Artie", of Independence, Missouri.  She, or someone else, wrote her name on the second end paper.

The album measures approximately 8-1/4" by 7" and contains the sentiments of nearly 60 of Artie's relatives and friends from Missouri, Wisconsin and Ohio.  The album, published in Philadelphia by Porter & Coates, also contains 5 full page engravings, in addition to that on the title page below.

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

Artemisia Sallie Chiles was born January 20, 1857 in Missouri, the daughter of Samuel Irwin Chiles and Mary Elizabeth (Hamilton) Chiles.  Samuel was presumably the "Pa", who inscribed a page on March 15, 1876.

Artie had a younger sister, Itaska B. W. Chiles, "Tassie", who inscribed two pages in the album, one in 1882 and the other in 1886.  Click on an image to enlarge it.

About 1881, Artie married John Benjamin Atkinson, son of Dr. Malnor Treat Atkinson and his second wife Louise (Dyer) Atkinson.  Artie and John had at least two children, daughter Louise Elizabeth Atkinson, born about July 1882; and Itaska B. Atkinson, born about March 1885.  John Benjamin Atkinson died in 1931, and Artie died in 1941.  They're buried with family members at Mount Washington Cemetery at Independence, Missouri.

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

Surnames in the Album

	? [9]	H	Hardin	S	S ? [2]
A	A ?		Harris [2]		Sawyer [2]
B	B ?	K	Kasey		Smarr
	Bryant	M	M ?		Stout [1 or 2]
	Buchanan [2]		Madeira	T	Todd ?
	Buckner [3 or 4]		Madison		Trigg
C	Chiles [3]		McCoy [4]	V	Vaughan
D	Duke [2 or 3]	P	Pendleton	W	W ?
F	Fox [2]	R	Reid		Wheeler
	Franklin		Roberts		Willis
G	Gray				Woodson [2]
	Griffith

Inscribers in the Album - given names within a surname might not be in alphabetical order.

• Pell, inscribed on February 11, 1877
• "The Giver"; might refer to the person who gave the album to Artie Chiles
• "Hood", inscribed at St. C.[or N.C.] on October 20, 1881; If St. C., possibly inscribed at St. Charles, Missouri
• Cousin Maggie, inscribed on November 14, 1875
• ?; possibly another page signed by "The Giver"
• Unsigned sentiment to Miss Artie
• Rena, inscribed on January 10, 1876
• Scrap of paper with an unsigned sentiment
• Unsigned sentiment

A

• J. B. A., inscribed at Kansas City, presumably Missouri, in February 1881

B

• K. L. B., "Katie", inscribed on September 12, 1877
• T. E. Bryant
• Scottie M. Buchanan, inscribed on May 19, 1876; sounds as though Scottie and Artie will soon be parted.  Presumably Mary Scott Buchanan, who married Allen Lee McCoy, who may have been inscriber A. L. McCoy of Independence, Missouri.
• Kate Buchanan, inscribed on August 28, 1879.  Perhaps Catherine Buchanan, sister of inscriber Mary Scott Buchanan, "Scottie"
• M. Buckner, inscribed on November 2, 1876
• Walker Buckner of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who inscribed a page on October 4, 1880 in a child's hand; shared the page with E. B. Vaughan.  He also inscribed an individual page on the same date and a page shared with "Stangleton" [Stanley Singleton Strout, who combined his first and middle names into one nickname]
• Walker, "your little friend", inscribed at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 8, 1880.  Presumably Walker Buckner, who inscribed other pages
• Samuel O. Buckner, inscribed on Sunday, October 10, 1880 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin

C

• Miss Artie Chiles of Independence, Missouri; album owner; she, or someone else, inscribed her name on the ownership page and surrounded it with a floral spray
• Pa, inscribed on March 15, 1876, by, presumably, Artie's father, Samuel Irwin Chiles
• W. G. Chiles of California; not sure of initials; possibly William Garnhart Chiles, son of Col. Joseph Ballinger Chiles, a brother to Artie's father, Samuel Irwin Chiles.  William G. Chiles lived in Napa County, California.  Presumably the same W. G. Chiles who inscribed another page in the album.
• Itaska B. W. Chiles, Artie's sister, who inscribed consecutive pages, the first on June 25, 1882 as Tassie, and the second as Tassie Chiles on May 13, 1886 at Kansas City, Missouri.  Tassie would marry William T. Hearne, Jr. in 1896

D

• Madge Duke, inscribed at Danville, Kentucky; not sure of surname or town
• J. K. Duke of Kansas City, Missouri
• Duke; possibly someone going by their surname, as other folks named Duke inscribed pages in the album

F

• C. M. Fox, inscribed at Independence, Missouri on November 24, 1875; possibly the Charles M. Fox who inscribed another page.
• Charles M. Fox, inscribed at Independence, Missouri, on September 19, 1876
• L. F. Franklin, inscribed on November 10, 1875; possibly Lewis F. Franklin of Independence, Missouri

G

• Ed Gray, inscribed on October 9, 1880 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• J. D. Griffith; name on a calling card tucked in the album

H

• J. Henry P. Hardin, or F. Henry P. Hardin, or Henry P. Hardin, inscribed on June 27, 1880
• ? R. Harris, inscribed on June 11, 1879; not sure of surname
• Eugene Harris, inscribed at Independence, Missouri, on June 19, 1879

K

• C. C. Kasey, inscribed on August 20, 1880

M

• F. R. M., inscribed on May 20, 1877
• Kemp G. Madeira, inscribed on Thanksgiving Eve in 1875
• Fred Madison, inscribed on January 1, 1876
• John A. McCoy of Chillicothe, Ohio, inscribed at Independence, Missouri, on December 1, 1878 [or 1888 - strikeover].  John Alexander McCoy, whose brothers Dr. Charles Danolds McCoy and Lewis Foulke also inscribed pages
• C. D. McCoy; presumably Dr. Charles Danolds McCoy, brother of inscribers John Alexander McCoy of Chillicothe, Ohio and Lewis Foulke McCoy.
• A. L. McCoy of Independence, Missouri; presumably Allen Lee McCoy, who married inscriber Mary Scott Buchanan, "Scottie".  Cousin of inscribers John Alexander McCoy, Dr. Charles Danolds McCoy and Lewis Foulke McCoy.
• Lewis F. McCoy, inscribed on April 25, 1877.  Lewis Foulke McCoy, brother of inscribers John Alexander McCoy and Dr. Charles Danolds McCoy and cousin of inscriber Allen Lee McCoy.

P

• Flemon Pendleton, presumably Fleming Pendleton; shared the page, dated August 10, 1879, with a name that appears to be Samuel Woodson, Jr.; possibly Samuel  Hughes Woodson, Jr. 

R

• John H. Reid, inscribed on February 25, 1877 at Kansas City, presumably Missouri.
• B. Roberts; middle initial possibly A or T or ?

S

• W.B.S.
• S.S.S, inscribed a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on September 24, 1880; not sure of initials.  Presumably Stanley Singleton Stout who inscribed two other pages
• T. C. Sawyer, inscribed at Independence, Missouri, on December 26, 1875; possibly Thomas C. Sawyer
• A. F. Sawyer, inscribed on December 6, 1875
• John T. Smarr
• Stanley Singleton Stout of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, inscribed on September 24, 1880; he also inscribed two other pages, one as "SSS" and one as "Stangleton Strout" on a page he shared with little Walker Buckner of Milwaukee

T

• Samuel O. Todd, inscribed at Independence, Missouri, on October 27, 1876; not sure of surname
• Bill K. Trigg

V

• E. B. Vaughan; shared the page with Walker Buckner of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who inscribed a page on October 4, 1880 - in a child's hand.

W

• G. B. W.
• R. H. Wheeler, inscribed at Independence, Missouri, on August 7, 1880
• Susie Willis, inscribed on December 27, 1875; Artie's cousin
• Robert E. Woodson, inscribed on October 22, 1876
• Woodson; possibly Samuel Hughes Woodson, Jr.; shared the page with Flemon Pendleton; page dated August 10, 1879

1860-1880 Autograph Album of Alice M. Seeley, "Allie", of Brockport and Clarkson, New York

1860-1880 autograph album that belonged to Alice M. Seeley, "Allie", of Brockport and Clarkson, New York.

All but one of the inscriptions were made in the 1860s, with one made at Brockport, New York in 1880, when the album apparently came to light again.  In case that inscriber, whose name I can't decipher, was especially significant, you can see an image of the page near the end of this post.

Many inscriptions, individual and on group pages, were contributed by schoolmates at

• Buffalo Female Academy at Buffalo, New York
• Curtis Seminary for Girls at Rochester, New York, which later became known as Livingston Park Seminary
• Livingston Park Seminary at Rochester, New York; called Livingston Place Seminary by a few inscribers

The album was given to Allie by her mother, who may have been Maria S. (Upson) Seeley Clark, on December 18, 1860.

The album is a large one, measuring approximately 9-3/4" by 8-1/4" and contains the sentiments of nearly sixty of Allie's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  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.

Entitled "Pensez a Moi", the album was published by Leavitt & Allen of New York City.  It contains six engravings, one of which, a smaller one, is featured on the title page, below.

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

Alice M. Seeley, "Allie", was born about December 19, 1848, or December 19, 1849 at, I think, Brockport, New York.  Hopefully a reader can provide her birth record and confirmation of her parents, who I think were Maria S. (Upson) Seeley, or Mariah S. (Upson) Seeley and William B. Seeley, who died in 1849.   A found a few references that gave the surname as Seelye.

Allie herself contributed to one of the several group pages.  Contributing their names to a page entitled "Graduating Class of 1868", possibly referencing Buffalo Female Academy, were:

• Sarah T. Weller of Buffalo, New York, inscribed on May 16, 1868
• Allie M. Seeley, inscribed on June 25, 1868; album owner
• Clara T. Healy of Gowanda, New York, who also inscribed an individual page
• Allie E. Mersereau of Portville, New York; she was Emily Almira Mersereau
• Annabell Cook, inscribed in March 1868; she may have been the Annabell who inscribed an individual page
• Mary F. Smith of La Salle, New York
• Annie Palmer of Buffalo, New York

The 1860 Federal Census of Clarkson, New York, shows Maria(h) and Allie living in the household of Maria's subsequent husband Dr. Horace Clark, and his two daughters with first wife Sophronia (Randall) Clark.

According to an online source, Allie married twice, but I can't substantiate either marriage, though I did find a couple whom I believe to be Allie and her second husband William Pitt Colvin on the 1900 Census of Elmira, New York.  According to that source, Allie's husbands:

1. Willard Kimball Goodrich (about 1846-1879), married about 1872
2. William Pitt Colvin (1848-1923), married about 1883

One page in the album was inscribed at Brockport, New York, on November 23, 1880 by someone whose name I can't make out, but this date would have been after Allie's first husband died and before she remarried.

 

I believe that Alice M. Seeley, "Allie", died in 1911 at Elmira, New York.  If you have corrections, clarifications and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Surnames in the Album

? [9]	C	C. ?	H	Haight
Armstrong		Carpenter		Hammond	P	Palmer
B. ?		Chester [2]		Harrison		Pitkin
Bigelow		Clark [2]		Healy	R	Ross
Boardman		Cook		Howard [2]		Royce
Bouliau		Cox	L	Lester	S	Sabine
Brewer		Crocker	M	Marks		Scranton
Bridgeman	D	Dunbar		Martin		Seeley
Burbank	F	F. ?		Mersereau		Smith
Butler		Farnham		Minot	T	Thompson
		Felt		Morse		Todd
			N	Noyes	V	Vail
					W	Weller

Inscribers in the Album - given names within a specific surname might not be in alphabetical order

• "Cats and bones"
• Signed by ? [looks like Ahem", and dated twice: December 29, 1866 and February 2, 1868
• Floy, inscribed at Rochester, New York, on March 28, 1867
• Annabell; possibly Annabell Cook, a classmate of Alice M. Seeley
• "Ponce", inscribed at Buffalo Female Academy
• "baby S."
• Hattie, inscribed on October 9, 1866
• Mushy (not sure of name), inscribed on February 9, 1868; Alice's schoolmate at Buffalo Female Academy
• H ?, inscribed at Brockport, New York, on November 23, 1880

A

• Kate B. Armstrong, inscribed at Buffalo, New York at the Buffalo Female Academy; Alice's schoolmate

B

• M. A. B., inscribed on June 5, 1868
• Louise E. Bigelow, inscribed at Curtis Seminary, Rochester, New York
• M. Allie Boardman of Rome, New York; on a group page, possibly also members of the "Cottage Girls of 1868" as the facing group page was entitled; with added names Clemence Bouliau; Florence M. Howard; Katharine Lester or Chester; Volusia A. Haight; and Clara T. Healy
• Clemence Bouliau; on a group page, possibly also members of the "Cottage Girls of 1868" as the facing group page was entitled; with added names Florence M. Howard; Katharine Lester or Chester; Volusia A. Haight; M. Allie Boardman; and Clara T. Healy
• Fannie Brewer, inscribed at the Buffalo Female Academy on February 9, 1868; she also contributed to a page entitled "Cottage Girls of 1868 with added names of Eva Butler; Emily Pitkin; and Nellie H. Chester
• Minnie A. Bridgeman, inscribed on April 18, 1865 at Livingston Park Seminary
• A. E. Burbank of Rochester, New York, inscribed in February 1867
• Eva Butler, inscribed at Buffalo Female Seminary at Buffalo, New York, on April 29, 1868; she also contributed to a page entitled "Cottage Girls of 1868 with added names of Emily Pitkin; Nellie H. Chester; and Fannie Brewer

C

• Mattie C., or Hattie C., of Lockport, New York, inscribed on September 4, 1866
• Mattie E. Carpenter
• Nellie Chester, inscribed on April 29, 1868 at Evergreen Cottage; she also contributed to a page entitled "Cottage Girls of 1868 with added names of Eva Butler; Emily Pitkin; and Fannie Brewer
• Katharine Chester, or Katherine Lester, inscribed on April 29, 1868; on a group page, possibly also members of the "Cottage Girls of 1868" as the facing group page was entitled; with added names Clemence Bouliau; Florence M. Howard; Volusia A. Haight; M. Allie Boardman; and Clara T. Healy
• Maria S. (Upson) Seeley Clark, or Mariah" S. (Upson) Seeley Clark, mother of album owner Alice M. Seeley; it was presumably Maria(h) who gifted the album to Allie on her birthday, December 18, 1860.
• M. T. Clark, "Your Buffalo Friend", inscribed in 1868
• Annabell Cook, inscribed on March 1868; she may have been the Annabell who inscribed an individual page; on a group page entitled "Graduating Class of 1868", with added names Sarah T. Weller; Allie M. Seeley (album owner Alice M. Seeley); Clara T. Healy; Emily Almira Mersereau; Mary F. Smith and Annie Palmer
• Jennie E. Cox, inscribed at Curtis Seminary at Rochester, New York
• Charlotte P. Crocker, inscribed at Livingston Place Seminary at Rochester, New York, on November 2, 1865 (not sure of last digit)

D

• Helen Dunbar, inscribed at Curtis Seminary, Rochester, New York, on March 27, 1864

F

• Fannie F. of Lockport, New York, inscribed at Livingston Place Seminary at Rochester, New York, on May 22, 1866
• John T. Farnham, of Gray's Sharpshooters, 108th New York S.V., inscribed at Brockport. New York, in October 1862
• Mary C. Felt of Earlville, New York, inscribed at Curtis Seminary at Rochester, New York, on April 3, 1866

H

• Volusia A. Haight; on a group page, possibly also members of the "Cottage Girls of 1868" as the facing group page was entitled; with added names Clemence Bouliau; Florence M. Howard; Katharine Lester or Chester; M. Allie Boardman; and Clara T. Healy
• Henry C. Hammond, 1st Sergeant, Company C, 22 New York Cavalry
• Minnie J. Harrison
• Clara T. Healy of Gowanda, New York; she also contributed to a group page entitled "Graduating Class of 1868", with added names Sarah T. Weller; Allie M. Seeley (album owner Alice M. Seeley); Emily Almira Mersereau; Annabell Cook; Mary F. Smith and Annie Palmer
• Orell C. Howard, inscribed at Rochester, New York
• Florence M. Howard of Wellsville, New York; on a group page, possibly also members of the "Cottage Girls of 1868" as the facing group page was entitled; with added names Clemence Bouliau; Katharine Lester or Chester; Volusia A. Haight; M. Allie Boardman; and Clara T. Healy

L

• Katharine Lester or Katharine Chester, inscribed on April 29, 1868; on a group page, possibly also members of the "Cottage Girls of 1868" as the facing group page was entitled; with added names Clemence Bouliau; Florence M. Howard; Volusia A. Haight; M. Allie Boardman; and Clara T. Healy

M

• Abbie A. Marks of Lockport, New York, inscribed at Livingston Place Seminary at Rochester, New York, on May 22, 1866
• Josie Martin, inscribed at Livingston Park Seminary, at Rochester, New York, on May 5, 1865
• Allie E. Mersereau of Portville, New York' Emily Almira Mersereau, "Allie"; on a group page entitled "Graduating Class of 1868", with added names Sarah T. Weller; Allie M. Seeley (album owner Alice M. Seeley); Clara T. Healy; Annabell Cook; Mary F. Smith and Annie Palmer
• Anna Minot
• Ella M. Morse, inscribed at Miss Eaton's Seminary at Rochester, New York, on March 27, 1867

N

• Mary E. Noyes, inscribed at No. 9 South Washington St., March 27, 1867

P

• Annie Palmer of Buffalo, New York; on a group page entitled "Graduating Class of 1868", with added names Sarah T. Weller; Allie M. Seeley (album owner Alice M. Seeley); Clara T. Healy; Emily Almira Mersereau; Annabell Cook; and Mary F. Smith
• Emily Pitkin of Lancaster, New York; on a page entitled "Cottage Girls of 1868 with added names of Eva Butler; Nellie H. Chester; and Fannie Brewer

R

• Frankie E. Ross of Penfield, New York, inscribed at Rochester Seminary on March 27, 1867; Alice's schoolmate
• Sophia W. Royce of Albion, New York, inscribed at Miss Eaton's Seminary at Rochester, New York.  Sophia Wells (Royce) Williams became a noted artist and writer.

S

• Cora L. Sabine, inscribed at Rochester, New York, on May 5, 1866
• Bertha Scranton, inscribed at Livingston Park Seminary at Rochester, New York, in September 1863
• Alice M. Seeley, "Allie", album owner.  The album was presented to her on her birthday by her mother, December 18, 1860.  Her mother was Maria S. (Upson) Seeley Clark.  Allie also inscribed a group page entitled "Graduating Class of 1868" with added names Sarah T. Weller; Clara T. Healy; Emily Almira Mersereau; Annabell Cook; Mary F. Smith and Annie Palmer
• Mary F. Smith of LaSalle, New York; on a group page entitled "Graduating Class of 1868", with added names Sarah T. Weller; Allie M. Seeley (album owner Alice M. Seeley); Clara T. Healy; Emily Almira Mersereau; Annabell Cook; and Annie Palmer

T

• Nellie M. Thompson, inscribed at Lockport, New York, on August 23, 1866
• Franklin Todd, inscribed at Greece, New York, on April 2, 1866

V

• L. W. Vail, inscribed at Lockport, New York, on August 13, 1866.  Presumably Lewis W. Vail

W

• Sarah T. Weller of Buffalo, New York, inscribed on May 16, 1868; on a group page entitled "Graduating Class of 1868", with added names Allie M. Seeley (album owner Alice M. Seeley); Clara T. Healy; Emily Almira Mersereau; Annabell Cook; Mary F. Smith and Annie Palmer