Wednesday, January 8, 2014

1880s-1900s Autograph Album of Robert Edward Marshall of Hector, New York & Valois, New York


1880s-1900s autograph album of Robert Edward Marshall of Hector, New York, and Valois, New York.


The album is approximately 7" x 4-1/4" and contains the sentiments of 25 of Robert's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.

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

Robert Edward Marshall was born 29 June 1871 at North Hector, New York, or Covert, New York, the son of Freeman and Marianne Charlotte (Porter) Marshall, "Lottie", immigrants to New York from Lincolnshire, England.

Two people who expressed a relationship with Robert were siblings Edna M. Denmark and Harold Denmark, whose parents were Monroe and Addie Denmark of Elmira, New York.



Robert was educated at North Hector, New York, as evidenced by the page signed by W. H. Curtis of North Hector, New York, on January 19, 1887, who called himself Robert's schoolmate.


On 13 March 1891 in New York, Robert Edward Marshall married Fannie Hinckley, daughter of Eliel M. and Agnes Lula (Sanders) Hinckley.  Fannie was bornn 27 August 1871 at North Hector, New York.

According to the Federal Censuses, the couple lived at Hector, Dix and Watkins Glen, all in New York, and they apparently lived at Valois, New York, for a time, as their children were born there.   Robert was a house carpenter.  They had at least three children, I believe:

  1. Floretta Marshall, born 8 June 1892 at Valois, New York; died 22 September 1892 at Valois, New York
  2. Floyd David Marshall, born 26 January 1894 at Valois, New York; died in 1990
  3. Bessie Marshall, born 25 July 1896 at Valois, New York; died in 1958.
Floyd David Marshall's name appears on two pages in the album, but they were apparently signed by someone else, presumably Robert or Fannie, as Flyd would have been too young.



Someone also signed a page for Robert's daughter Bessie on April 27, 1901.


Robert Edward Marshall died in 1931 at Montour Falls, New York, and Fannie in 1970 at Watkins Glen, New York.

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

The page below contains the names of children, who may have been relatives or neighbors.


Two pages contained a note referring to the death of the signer.  W. R. Welding signed a page at North Hector, New York, on February 2, 1887.  He was Postmaster William R. Welding, who died at the age of 41 on April 8, 1894.  Someone, presumably Robert, added the note: "Dead".


 Frank Van Vleet of Lodi, New York, signed a page on January 21, 1887.  Someone, presumably Robert, added the note: "Dead".


When purchased, the album came with some loose pages from a more contemporary album from the 1930s.  I don't know if the two albums have a relationship or not.  The pages were addressed to a Jane/Jayne from people with surnames of Wallenstein, Manger and an undecipherable one, possibly Hardi, and a page signed by "Cousin Barbara".

List of signers:  [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]

  • Page with children's given names: Fanny, Cora, Susie & Beanie [not sure of Beanie]
  • Otis Blaine
  • James Brogan, signed at North Hector, New York, on December 28, 1890.  Middle initial might be F or H or ?
  • Flora Clawson; shared the page with Madolene Smith
  • Thomas Connor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, signed at North Hector, New York, on December 28, 1890
  • W. H. Curtis of North Hector, New York, signed on January 19, 1887; Robert Edward Marshall's schoolmate
  • Edna M. Denmark, signed at Elmira Heights, New York, on August 16, 1903; Robert Edward Marshall's cousin
  • Harold Denmark, inscribed to "Uncle Robert... from your little cousin"
  • S. Anna Denson, signed at Elmira, New York on August 24, 1903
  • Leo Freudenheim of Elmira, New York
  • Elmore Freudenheim of Elmira, New York
  • Minnie Howard of North Hector, New York, signed on January 24, 1887
  • Phebe Jackson of North Hector, New York, signed on January 31, 1887
  • Alice A. King of North Hector, New York, signed on December 15, 1887
  • R. E. Marshall of North Hector, New York; Robert Edward Marshall, album owner
  • Master Floyd Marshall of North Hector, New York, signed on March 4, 1899.  Floyd David Marshall, son of album owner Robert Edward Marshall.  It's doubtful that Floyd signed this page himself, as he was born in 1894.  He, or someone for him, signed another page as well
  • Bessie Marshall, signed on April 27, 1901; Robert Edward Marshall's daughter Bessie Marshall
  • Fred Rhodes of Lodi, New York, signed on January 30, 1889
  • Grace Sargent of North Hector, New York, signed on January 25, 1887
  • Madolene Smith of Valois, New York, signed in 1906; shared the page with Flora Clawson
  • Ralph Stanley of North Hector, New York, signed on February 2, 1887
  • Grace Stanley of North Hector, New York, signed on January 28, 1887
  • Willie Stone, signed at Elmira, Chemung County, New York, perhaps on New Year's Day 1890, judging from the message.
  • Bert Townsend of North Hector, New York, signed on January 21, 1887
  • Frank Van Vleet of Lodi, New York, signed on January 21, 1887.  Someone, presumably album owner Robert Edward Marshall, wrote: "Dead"
  • W. R. Welding, signed at North Hector, New York, on February 2, 1887; he was William R. Welding, Postmaster.  Someone, presumably Robert E. Marshall, wrote on the page: "Dead".  I found an obituary indicating that W. R. Welding died on April 8, 1894, at age 41
Hector, New York [A]; Valois, New York [B]; Dix, New York [C]; Montour Falls, New York [D]; and Watkins Glen, New York [E]



Thanks for stopping by!



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