Monday, September 17, 2012

1880s/1890 Autograph Album of Mary Edith Shuff of Jacksonville, Illinois


1880s/1890 autograph album of Mary Edith Shuff of Jacksonville, Illinois.  A previous post featured the 1880s/1890s autograph album of her younger sister Estella May Shuff.  Both girls were students at the Ebenezer School at Jacksonville.

The album was presented to Mary Edith Shuff at Christmas 1882 by her aunt and uncle Charles and Hattie (Johnson) Jeffries of Jacksonville.  Hattie was a sister to Mary Edith's mother Mary Caroline (Johnson) Shuff.



The album is approximately 3-1/2" x 2-1/2" and contains 27 pages signed by relatives and friends.



Mary Edith's father Stephen Oliver Shuff signed a page in her album in 1885.

Mary Edith's mother Mary Caroline (Johnson) Shuff of Jacksonville, Illinois, signed a page in 1885.

Mary Edith's uncle Charles Jeffries signed a page in 1883.

Barton Johnson, Mary Edith Shuff's uncle, of Jacksonville, Illinois, signed a page in 1883.  He was a brother to Mary Edith's mother, Mary Caroline (Johnson) Shuff.

Mary Edith Shuff's cousins, Mr. and Mrs. N. E. Richhart of Nickerson, Kansas, signed pages in her album.




Mary Edith Shuff was born about August 1875 in Morgan County, Illinois, daughter of Illinois natives Stephen Oliver Shuff and Mary Caroline (Johnson) Shuff.

Mary Edith married Albert E. Richardson about 12 October 1899.   They had at least one child.  Mary Edith (Shuff) Richardson died in 1950.

Two of Mary Edith's teachers signed pages in her album.

Teacher Nannie R. Hurst signed a page in 1885.

Teacher S. H. McCausland of Literberry, Illinois, signed a page in 1885.

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


Complete list of signers, in alphabetical order by surname [not necessarily by given name with a particular surname]

Illegible
Ella, 1884
Addie of Jacksonville, Illinois, 1885
Lula Blackburn of Jacksonville, Illinois, 1884
Estelle Blackburn, 1890; schoolmate at Ebenezer School
Fannie M. Dollear of or at Jacksonville, Illinois, 1885
Mary Franer of Pleasant Plains, Illinois, 1884
Hattie Harrison of Jacksonville, Illinois, 1890
Maggie Mayes, 1884
Nannie R. Hurst, 1885; Mary Edith Shuff's teacher
Charles and Hattie (Johnson) Jeffries of Jacksonville, Illinois; presented the album to Mary Edith Shuff at Christmas 1882
Uncle Charlie, 1883; I assume this is Charles Jeffries, Mary Edith's uncle by marriage
H. E. Johnson of Jacksonville, Illinois
Barton Johnson of Jacksonville, Illinois, 1883; Mary Edith Shuff's uncle, brother of her mother Mary Caroline (Johnson) Shuff
Arthur Jordan of Jacksonville, Illinois, 1890
? E. Kennedy of Arcadia, Illinois
N. E. Kingsley of Jacksonville, Illinois, 1885
C. M.
S. H. McCausland of Literberry, Illinois; Mary Edith Shuff's teacher
Lizzie Patterson, 1884; Mary Edith Shuff's teacher
Mrs. D. E. Richhart of Nickerson, Kansas; Mary Edith Shuff's cousin
D. E. Richhart of Nickerson, Kansas; cousin of Mary Edith Shuff
Mary Edith Shuff of Jacksonville, Illinois; album owner
Stephen Oliver Shuff, 1885; Mary Edith Shuff's father
Mary Caroline Shuff of Jacksonville, Illinois, 1885; Mary Edith Shuff's mother
Maude Strawn, 1884, age seven
Julia Walter, 1890
Alice Williams, 1890; Mary Edith Shuff's teacher




Jacksonville, Illinois


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6 comments:

  1. Hello,
    I have Model Herbarium and Plant Record by Mary Edith Shuff, Jacksonville, IL dated 1894. There is a book and workbook (including collected plant specimens). The book was written and published by T.D. Richardson, instructor in the Natural Sciences at Washington High School, Jacksonville, Ill.
    Gina Hunter
    glhunt2@ilstu.edu

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    Replies
    1. Gina,
      interestingly enough...I just purchased a "Model Herbarium Plant Record Book", I'm positive is identical to yours. Published by T.D. Richardson,instructor in Natural Sciences..etc. Dated 1895.9has the little Tennyson poem on the 3rd page0
      The difference is..and I've been searching the web today without any solid matches...mine was collected by a "Mattie Williams' LaSalle, Illinois.Has 48 plant IDed specimens. If anyone has information on "Mattie Williams" please contact me at :robcook54@msn.com

      Delete
    2. Wonder if your Mattie Williams was related to Mary Edith Shuff's teacher Alice Williams, who inscribed a page in the album...

      Delete
  2. Could very well be the same person - hopefully someone familiar with the family will chime in. Thanks so much for your comment! It's so nice to see people come to life.

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  3. Would love to purchase both autograph books. My grandmother was sister to Edith and Stella.

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  4. That's neat, Kim! Have responded to your email.

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