Thursday, October 30, 2014

1886-1906 Autograph Album of Jessie Cassandra Stearns of Kansas and Washington


1886-1906 autograph album that belonged to Kansas native Jessie Cassandra Stearns who moved with her family to Skagit County, Washington and attended Northwest Normal School, where many of her signers were fellow students.

Northwest Normal School was then at Lynden, Washington, but later moved to Bellingham, Washington, and is now known as Western Washington University.

Below, Jessie inscribed a page to her future well wishers.


The album measures approximately 7" x 4" and contains the sentiments of 84 of Jessie's relatives, friends, schoolmates and teacher.  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.


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

Jessie Cassandra Stearns was born November 20, 1875 at Peru, Kansas, or Sedan, Kansas, the daughter of Earl Herbert Stearns and Margaret Angeline (Clossin/Closson) Stearns, who were born in Pennsylvania and Indiana, respectively.

Jessie's paternal grandparents Sheldon Ulysses Stearnes/Stearns and Mary Jocelyn (Monroe) Stearns inscribed facing pages in the album.



Jessie had a brother and two sisters.  The sisters inscribed pages in the album, Mary Kathryn Stearns, "Kate", at Bay View, Washington on October 28, 1886, and Claudia M. Stearns, "Claudie", at Anacortes, Washington, on February 9, 1906.



Many other relatives inscribed pages in the album, including members of the Morris, Snook, Stearns and Williamson families, among possibly others; refer to the list of signers below.

On February 1, 1897, Jessie Cassandra Stearns married Robert Lee Bradley, son of Valentine and Matilda Josephine (May) Bradley.  He was born June 3, 1869 at Oak Harbor, Washington.  I believe he was the R. L. Bradley, who inscribed the last page in Jessie's album.


They settled at Anacortes, Washington.  Robert died in 1927, and Jessie in 1959.

Surnames in the album

?HPV
? [3]HaineyPackardVanderford
BHintzPalmer [3]W
Bates [2]Holton [2]PenfieldWallace
BateyJPlummerWhite
BirdJackmanPratt [3]Williamson [2]
BoylesKRWilmore
Bradley [2]KingdonReddickWoody
BraninLRobinsonWright
ButlerLesterS
CLindley [2]Sample
CovenderMSavings
CrandallMarchandSlade
CulverMcKenna [3]Smith [2]
DMehaffeySnook [4]
Daniels [3]MerrittStearns [11]
Durkee [2]Morris [5]T
DurrNTrice
FNeville
FoxO
GO'Neil
Gossard






Signers in the album        [Note: Given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]

?
  • Aunt Phe, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 5, 1886.
  • Cousin Eva, signed at Washington Territory on August 28, 1887. Later note" "Married January 25, 1892 to A. S. Hilton"
  • Pauline, signed on October 1, 1891, at Northwest Normal School
B
  • Ada M. Bates of Lynden, Washington, signed on January 1, 1892. Ada Margaret (Tennant) Bates, whose third husband James Loring Bates inscribed the right facing page.
  • J. L. Bates, signed on January 1, 1892. James Loring Bates, whose wife Ada Margaret (Tennant) Bates signed the left facing page. Ada had been married twice before. James may have been married before as well.
  • John Henry Batey of Sedro, Washington, signed at Lynden, Washington, on October 27, 1891; Jessie's schoolmate
  • Mattie Bird; Jessie's schoolmate
  • Daisy Boyles, signed at Lynden, Washington, at Northwest Normal School, on December 12, 1891. Later note: "Died Feb. 27, 1893"
  • J. R. Bradley; Jessie's teacher
  • R. L. Bradley. Presumably Robert Lee Bradley, whom Jessie Cassandra Stearns married about 1897.
  • Charles E. Branin, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on September 29, 1891
  • Grace Butler, signed at Semiahmoo, Washington, on November 17, 1891; Jessie's schoolmate at Northwest Normal School
C
  • Mary Covender, signed at Lynden, Washington, on October 8, 1891; Jessie's schoolmate
  • Cora Z. Crandall, signed at Lynden, Washington, on October 28, 1891 at Northwest Normal School
  • Delbert Culver, signed at Bay View, Washington, in 1893
D
  • Eva Daniels, signed on April 21, 1895
  • Marion Daniels
  • Marion Daniels, signed at Edison, Washington, on January 22, 1895
  • Wreath Durkee, signed at Lynden, Washington, on October 7, 1891 at Northwest Normal School; Jessie's schoolmate
  • Hawley Durkee, signed on November 19, 1890 at Northwest Normal School
  • Louie C. Durr of Fairhaven, Washington, signed on Reunion Eve on January 21, 1892. Louis C. Durr
F
  • Jessie L. Fox, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, in 1891
G
  • Cora Gossard; Jessie's schoolmate at Northwest Normal School; not sure of surname
H
  • Mrs. Lillian Hainey
  • David Hintz of Custer, Washington, signed on January 21, 1892 at Northwest Normal School Later note: "Married Feb. 1894 to Addie Palmer"
  • A. M. Holton, signed at Lynden, Washington, on October 23, 1891. Later note: "Married Apr. 14 1896 to Olive"
  • Irving S. Holton, signed at Mt. Vernon, Washington, on September 20, 1895


J
  • Will H. Jackman, signed at Lynden, Washington, on December 11, 1890; Jessie's classmate. Later note: "Married to Miss Shoemaker - Nov. 1895"
K
  • Eva Kingdon, signed at Lynden, Washington, on September 30, 1891; Jessie's schoolmate
L
  • Juliette R. Lester, signed at Bay View, Washington, on August 23, 1891
  • George R. Lindley, signed at Lynden, Washington, on November 19, 1890 at Northwest Normal School. Later note: "Married to Miss Kate"
  • Cornelia M. Lindley, signed at Lynden, Washington, on November 19, 1890. Later note: "Died October 8, 1891"
M
  • Marion Marchand of Newhall, Washington; classmate
  • Willie McKenna of Bay View, Washington
  • May McKenna
  • Louise K. McKenna, signed at Bay View, Washington, on February 21, 1893. "Ever remember our School days at the Bay View College". Later note: :Married Mar. 2, 1895 to C. A. Risbell"
  • Dollie Mehaffey, signed at Cedar Vale, Kansas, on December 9, 1886. Later note: "Married Dec. 25, 1891"
  • Charles E. Merritt, signed on January 17, 1892. Later note: "Married".  He married Jessie's aunt, Minnie Etta Stearns.
  • Claud Morris, signed at Peru, Kansas. Jessie's cousin, Claude Warren Morris, son of John Warren Morris and Louise Angeline (Stearns) Morris, a sister to Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns.
  • May L. Morris, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 9, 1880; Jessie's cousin May Louise Morris, daughter of John Warren Morris and Louise Angeline (Stearns) Morris, sister of Jennie's father Earl Herbert Stearns.
  • Aunt Louise, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 9, 1886. She was Louise Angeline (Stearns) Morris, wife of John Warren Morris and sister of Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns.
  • Ralph W. Morris, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 9, 1886. Jessie's cousin, son of John Warren Morris and Louise Angeline (Stearns) Morris, who was a sister of Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns.
  • John Morris, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 10, 1886. Presumably John Warren Morris, who was the husband of Jessie's paternal aunt Louise Angeline (Stearns) Morris.
N
  • Annie Neville. Later note: "Died June 1888"
O
  • Jessie O'Neil, signed at Lynden, Washington, on November 27, 1890. Later note: "Married to Mr."
P
  • Nellie Packard, signed at Northwest Normal School on November 4, 1890; Jessie's schoolmate. Later note: "Married Dec. 25, 1890
  • Carrie Palmer, signed at Lynden, Washington, on November 11, 1890; schoolmate at Northwest Normal School
  • Cary A. Palmer, signed at Lynden, Washington, on January 19, 1892; schoolmate at Northwest Normal School
  • Addie M. Palmer, signed at Northwest Normal School on October 28, 1891. Later note: "Married February 1894 to Dave Hintz"
  • Laura Penfield of Whatcom, Washington, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington. Later note: "Married to Mr. __ of Iowa"
  • Laura Plummer, signed at Lynden, Washington, on December 6, 1890. N.W.N., Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington
  • Hattie E. Pratt, signed on September 24, 1891
  • Hattie H. Pratt, signed on September 24, 1891
  • Will D. Pratt, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on September 30, 1891
R
  • Lulu Reddick, signed at Lynden, Washington, on October 1, 1891; Jessie's schoolmate, presumably Northwest Normal School. Later note: "Married 1892 to -" [no entry]
  • Emma Robinson, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on January 14, 1892. Later note: "Married Feb. 23, 1897 to Rev. W. Daniels"
S
  • Ella Sample, signed on January 30, 1887
  • Harry Savings of Blaine, Washington, signed on Lynden, Washington, on November 12, 1890; Jessie's schoolmate
  • F. A. Slade, or T. A. Slade, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on January 14, 1892
  • Alice Smith, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on October 31, 1890
  • Laura Smith of Mountain View, Washington, in Whatcom County, signed at Lynden, Washington at Northwest Normal School on November 1, 1890; Jessie's schoolmate.
  • Meg Snook, signed at Bay View, Washington, on August 24, 1891; Jessie's cousin. Later note: "Married Sep. 22, 1893 to J. P. Johnston". Presumably Mary Margretta (Snook) Johnston, daughter of John Summers Snook and Ellen Orinda (Stearns) Snook, who was a sister to Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns.
  • Bertie Snook, signed at Peru, Kansas, on May 4, 1888; Jessie's cousin. Presumably Silas Herbert Snook, whose mother was Ellen Orinda (Stearns) Shook, a sister to Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns.
  • Gertie Snook, signed at Bay View, Washington Territory, on May 4, 1889; Jessie's cousin. Presumably Cora Gertrude Snook, daughter of John Summers Snook and Ellen Orinda (Stearns) Snook, who was a sister to Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns. Later note: Married May 22, 1892 to H. H. Dean"
  • Aunt Ellen, signed at Bay View, Washington, on March 31, 1892. Possibly Ellen Orinda (Stearns) Snook
  • Jessie Cassandra Stearns of Kansas and Washington; album owner.  She apparently received the album at Christmas in 1886 and wrote a page to her future well wishers.
  • Aunt Blanche, signed at Peru, Kansas, at Christmas in 1886. Later note: "Married June 1, 1887 S. G. Buell". She was Julia Blanche Stearns, future wife of Sylvester Greider Buell.
  • Sister Kate, signed at Bay View, Washington, on October 28, 1886. Mary Kathryn Stearns, Jessie's younger sister, who would marry Charles Elmer [or Esley] McCullough about 1905.
  • Aunt Etta, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 3, 1886. Later note: "Married to Chas. Merritt Oct. 19 - '92". She was Minnie Etta Stearns, who married Charles Elmer Merritt [or Charles Esley Merritt] as noted.
  • Sheldon U. Stearnes of Peru, Kansas; spelled his names with an extra e, though his wife, Mary Jocelyn (Monroe) Stearns, who signed the right facing page, did not use the extra e. Later note: Died "Dec. 18, 1888" Sheldon Ulysses Stearns
  • Mary J. Stearns, signed at Peru, Kansas, on November 9, 1886. Jessie's grandmother Mary Jocelyn (Monroe) Stearns, whose husband Sheldon Ulysses Stearns signed the left facing page.
  • Willie Stearns, signed on November 6, 1886. Later note: "Died July 18, 1890"
  • Claudia S., signed at Anacortes, Washington, on February 9, 1906. Jessie's younger sister Claudia Stearns, "Claudie"
  • Hessie Stearns, signed at Peru, Kansas, on December 5, 1886. Hessie Jane (Cain) Stearns, wife of signer George Mageline Stearns.
  • G. M. Stearns of Peru, Kansas, signed in December 1886. Presumably George Mageline Stearns, husband of signer Hessie Jane (Cain) Stearns.
  • Aunt Etta, signed at Lynden, Washington, on November 9, 1890; Jessie's schoolmate at Northwest Normal School. Presumably Minnie Etta Stearns, younger sister of Jessie's father Earl Herbert Stearns
T
  • W. L. Trice, signed at Northwest Normal School, on Lynden, Washington, on November 11, 1890. Not sure of surname.
V
  • J. F. Vanderford of Sauk City, Washington, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on January 18, 1892. "Remember the relationship between you and ___" Presumably John F. Vanderford. Later note: "Married to" [no entry]
W
  • Lillie M. Wallace, signed at Mount Baker, Washington Territory, on August 28, 1887
  • Edith White of Custer, Washington, signed on October 3, 1891 at N.W.N.S. at Lynden, Washington. Northwest Normal School
  • Kate Williamson, signed at Padilla, Washington, on March 3, 1897
  • Florence Williamson, signed at Padilla, Washington, on April 2, 1897; Jessie's niece
  • Carrie Wilmore, signed at Lynden, Washington, on November 3, 1890; not sure of surname
  • Della Woody, signed on October 30, 1891; Jessie's schoolmate. Later note: "Married in September 1891 to Mr. York"
  • Anna Wright, signed at Northwest Normal School at Lynden, Washington, on October 5, 1891
Peru, Kansas, to Bay View, Washington


Thanks for stopping by!

4 comments:

  1. I enjoyed seeing this. I'm related to several signers through Sheldon Ulysses, my 3x great grandfather. Thank you for sharing. :-)

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  2. Nice! Would you like to see images of those pages, my treat? You'll find my email address on right margin near top.

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  3. That is so kind and would be lovely. I'll write soon. I was glad to see there was a Claudia (besides me) somewhere in my family. :-) I'm just curious how you came across the book?

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