Monday, January 13, 2014

1878-1884 Autograph Album of a Frank, possibly Frank Resler Crumbie, kept while he was a Student at Columbia College Law School


Note of November 23, 2015:  A reader makes a convincing case that Frank was Frank Resler Crumbie of Nyack, New York. This Frank studied law at Columbia and passed the bar in 1885. Even more convincingly, he had a sister named Anna Eliza Crumbie, who was presumably the Anna who gifted him the album in 1878.  He also had a brother James Crumbie; there is scrap of paper signed by a James Crumbie in the album.

1878-1884 autograph album kept by a Frank, who was presumably a student at Columbia College Law School, as were many of the signers.



The album was presented to Frank by Anna as a Christmas present in 1878.



The album is approximately 7-1/2" x 5" and contains the sentiments of 24 of Frank's classmates and friends.  An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.

The album contains a ticket to see the lying in state of Ulysses S. Grant at City Hall.  Grant had died on July 23, 1885 at Wilton, New York.



Below, a few representative pages.  If you find errors in the descriptions or can clear up some unclear handwriting, please leave a comment.  Thanks!

Henry J. Davison, Jr., of 3 East 72nd Street, New York City, signed on March 1, 1884.  He was Henry James Davison, Jr., an 1884 graduate of Columbia College Law School.



Lillie Meda Clark, signed on January 15, 1882.  Lillie Meda Clark was born 8 September 1862, daughter of John Quincy Clark and Catharine A. Adams of New York, according to "Records of the descendants of Hugh Clark: of Watertown, Mass. 1640-1866", by John Clark, A.B., published in 1866.



I'm not sure who signed the page, below, at New York on December 16, 1880.  Perhaps the surname is Cameron.



Lincoln W. MacLeod, signed at New York, on March 17, 1884.  Perhaps Lincoln Wiley MacLeod, who took part in the siege of Santiago, in the Spanish American War.  He died at age 50 in 1913, at 195  Amity Street in Flushing, New York.  He was born about 1862 in New York, the son of Samuel and Sarah Boise (Irving) MacLeod.



L. E. Neergaard, signed at Nyack, New York, on August 29, 1880; not sure of first initial.  Perhaps Lewis Elmer Neergaard, born  about 1862 at New York, son of John William Neergaard and Margaret Ann (Thompson) Neergaard.



James U. Sanders of Helena, Montana, signed on December 6, 1883.  He was James Upson Sanders of Helena, Montana, born 12 July 1859 at Akron, Ohio, son of Wilbur Fisk Sanders and Harriet Peck (Fenn) Sanders, who moved to Bannack, Idaho Territory in 1863.  He graduated from Columbia University Law School in 1884 and returned to Montana to practice law with his father.



I'm not sure of the given name of the signer below, whose surname looks to be Lesley.  The page was signed at New York on August 29, 1880.



Several members of the Knapp, Lansing and Varker families signed pages; refer to the list below.

List of signers in the album:  [Note: Given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]
  • Frank, album owner, presumably a student at Columbia College Law School.  Presumably Frank Resler Crumbie of  Nyack, New York
  • Anna, who presented the album to Frank at Christmas in 1878.  Presumably Anna Eliza Crumbie of Nyack,  New York
C
  • ? E. Cameron, signed at New York, on December 16, 1880; not sure of initials or of surname
  • Lillie Meda Clark, signed on January 15, 1882.  Page also mentions Meda Ressler.  Lillie Meda Clark was born 8 September 1862, daughter of John Quincy Clark and Catharine A. Adams of New York, according to "Records of the descendants of Hugh Clark: of Watertown, Mass. 1640-1866", by John Clark, A.B., published in 1866
  • James Crumbie; not sure of surname; his name is on a scrap of paper pasted on the page.
D
  • Henry J. Davison, Jr., of 3 East 72nd Street, New York City, signed on March 1, 1884 at the Columbia College Law School.  He was Henry James Davison, Jr., an 1884 graduate of Columbia College Law School.
G
  • Maggie A. Gedney of Nyack on Hudson, New York, signed on October 18, 1881.  Presumably Margaret Gedney, daughter of Robert Gedney, and future wife of Hon. Joseph J. Hart of Nyack, New York
K
  • Nellie Kline, signed at 45 West 48th Street, New York, New York, on April 18, 1881
  • Mamie A. Knapp of "MeadowBank", Hackensack, New Jersey, signed at 45 West 48th St., on April 13, 1881
  • Knapp, Jr., signed on February 19, 1879.  Presumably Edward Jarvis Knapp., Jr., brother of signer Susie Trevor Knapp, and son of Edward Jarvis Knapp and Martha Matilda (Sears) Knapp.
  • Susie Trevor Knapp, signed on February 18, 1879.  Susan Trevor Knapp, sister of signer Edward Jarvis Knapp, Jr., was born about 1862 at New York, the daughter of Edward Jarvis Knapp and Martha Matilda (Sears) Knapp.
L
  • Jennie Lansing of Albany, New York, signed on April 5, 1881.  She was the sister of signer Carrie Lansing, and daughter of Joseph and Lucy Lansing.
  • Carrie Lansing of Albany, New York, signed on April 4, 1881.  She was Caroline Lansing, sister of signer Jennie Lansing, and daughgter of Joseph and Lucy Lansing.
  • Grace M. Law of Nyack on Hudson, New York, signed on June 28, 1881.  Possibly the daughter of John and Rachel Law.
  • ? Lesley, signed at New York, on August 29, 1880
  • G. Henry Lyon, signed on March 14, 1882
M
  • Lincoln W. MacLeod, signed at New York, on March 17, 1884.  Perhaps Lincoln Wiley MacLeod, who took part in the siege of Santiago, in the Spanish American War.  He died at age 50 in 1913, at 195  Amity Street in Flushing, New York.  He was born about 1862 in New York, the son of Samuel and Sarah Boise (Irving) MacLeod
  • John R. McDonald, or Jonathan R. McDonald, signed at New York, on December 17, 1880
N
  • L. E. Neergaard, signed at Nyack, New York, on August 29, 1880; not sure of first initial.  Perhaps Lewis Elmer Neergaard, born  about 1862 at New York, son of John William Neergaard and Margaret Ann (Thompson) Neergaard.  See comments section for more information.
S
  • James U. Sanders of Helena, Montana, signed on December 6, 1883.  He was James Upson Sanders of Helena, Montana, born 12 July 1859 at Akron, Ohio, son of Wilbur Fisk Sanders and Harriet Peck (Fenn) Sanders, who moved to Bannack, Idaho Territory in 1863.  He graduated from Columbia University Law School in 1884 and returned to Montana to practice law with his father.
  • George Stewart, signed at New York, on October 20, 1881.
V
  • Lizzie Van Nest, signed on April 2, 1881
  • William Varker of New York City, signed on September 11, 1879.  Presumably William Rutter Varker, born about 1862 in New York, son of Thomas Varker, Jr., and Misha (Rutter) Varker and brother of signers M. G. Varker and Jessie G. Varker
  • M. G. Varker, signed at Sunnybank, Nyack, New York, on August 19, 1879.  Presumably Misha Gundry Varker, sister of signers William Varker and Jennie G. Varker, and daughter of Thomas Varker, Jr., and Misha (Rutter) Varker.
  • Jessie G. Varker, signed at "Sunnybank", Nyack, New York, on September 3, 1879.  Presumably the Jessie Varker who was the sister of signers William R. Varker and M. G. Varker.  Jessie Georgiana Varker was the daughter of Thomas Varker, Jr., and Misha (Rucker) Varker.
Thanks for stopping by!


4 comments:

  1. Frank Resler Crumbie, Nyack, studied law at Columbia. Passed the bar in 1885. His wife, Annie gave him a scrapbook for collecting autographs.

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    1. I appreciate this so much and am amending the post to reflect your information.

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  2. Possible connection to L.E. Neergaard -- Luis E. Neergaard (sometimes called de Neergaard) worked as a representative for New York Life in Mexico and in the late 1800s. He was a co-founder of La Nacional life insurance company in 1901 and was its director general until 1908. Expats in Mexico sometimes adopted Spanish names - so Lewis could be Luis. La Nacional still exists as Grupo Nacional Provincial

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for that information - adding texture to a name and date!

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