1890-1893 Autograph Album of Alma Betsy Vandy of North Cohocton, New York

1890-1893 autograph album of Alma Betsy Vandy of North Cohocton, New York.  According to an obituary of her father, her name may have originally been Vanderwarakin, according to his death notice, or Vander Workin, according to an online family tree.

Alma received the album as a birthday present from her mother on April 20, 1890.

The album measures approximately 6" x 4" and contains the sentiments of 37 of Alma'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!]

Alma Vandy, or Vanderwarakin or Vander Workin, was born April 20, 1882 in New York, the daughter of Henry Vandy, or Vanderwarakin or Vander Workin, and Phoebe Ane (Waite) Vandy.  Henry died when Alma was just a child.  A newspaper notice implies that Henry left his wife and two children, Alma and her brother Justin Marcus Vandy, well off.

Alma's mother Phoebe Ann (Waite) Vandy inscribed a page in Alma's album on June 13, 1891.  I believe by that time Phoebe had married her second husband, Beach S. Drake.

Several of Alma's cousins inscribed pages in her album, and there may have been more who didn't express a relationship.

Cousin Mary A. Waite inscribed a page at Naples, New York, on January 17, 1890.  She was the daughter of Gardner Waite, a brother of Alma's mother, Phoebe Ann (Waite) Vandy Drake.

Cousin Angie Stanton inscribed a page on May 13, 1890.  She also indicated that she was Alma's schoolmate.

Cousin Mabel Hatch inscribed a page on December 10, 1891.

Alma's cousin Colbie Waite of Jackson, Michigan, inscribed a page on January 25, 1893.  He was Colby Waite, son of Edwin Waite, who was a brother of Alma's mother Phoebe Ann (Waite) Vandy Drake.

As noted above, many of the signers were Alma's schoolmates.  Their teacher, Myron L. Tiffany of North Cohocton, New York, inscribed a page on December 7, 1891.

On April 13, 1904, Alma Vandy married Holly James Chapman, son of James Hiram Chapman and Susan M.  (Graham) Chapman.  Holly was born October 6, 1879.  He and Alma settled at Cohocton, New York, and raised, I believe, four children.  Holly died in 1976 and Alma in 1980.

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.

Surnames in the album

? [2]	G	N	V
B	G ?	Northrop	Vandy
Bellis	Griesa	P	Vincent
C	H	Partridge	W
Caskey	Hatch	Polmanteer	W ?
Conklin	Haynes	S	Waite [2]
Corey	Hills	Stanton	Ward
Cornish	J	T	Weed
D	Jenks	Terry	Wetmore [2]
Dewey	M	Tiffany [2]	Wheaton
Drake	Miller	Tripp	Wiseman
F	Moore	Tyler
Fowler

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

• Maud, signed on January 17, 1890
• Lenna; Alma's schoolmate

B

• Arthur Bellis of Bloods, New York, signed on December 7, 1891; Alma's schoolmate

C

• Bertha Caskey, signed on December 9, 1891; Alma's schoolmate
• Myrtle Conklin, signed on December 8, 1891; Alma's schoolmate
• Nellie Corey, signed on May 28, 1890; Alma's schoolmate
• Lena Cornish

D

• M. G. Dewey; not sure of surname
• Alma's mother, signed on June 13, 1891. She was Phoebe Ann (Waite) Vandy Drake.

F

• Vern Fowler, signed on December 8, 1891

G

• Etta G. of North Cohocton, New York
• Henrietta Griesa of North Cohocton, New York; she signed as Henretta, but I believe she was Henrietta.

H

• Mabel Hatch, signed on December 10, 1891; Alma's cousin
• Cora Haynes, signed on December 8, 1891; Alma's schoolmate.
• Cora Hills of North Cohocton, New York, signed on March 28, 1890; Alma's schoolmate

J

• Nina B. Jenks, signed on December 9, 1891

M

• Edith Miller of North Cohocton, New York, signed on December 8, 1891
• Arthur B. Moore of North Cohocton, New York; Alma's schoolmate

N

• Mina Northrop of Ingleside, New York, signed on January 25, 1893

P

• Rena E. Partridge, signed on December 8, 1891; Alma's schoolmate
• Dora Polmanteer, signed on December 8, 1891; Alma's schoolmate

S

• Angie Stanton, signed on May 13, 1890; Alma's cousin and schoolmate

T

• Effie Terry, signed on December 8, 1891; Alma's schoolmate
• Grace Tiffany of North Cohocton, New York, signed on December 5, 1891; Alma's schoolmate
• Myron L. Tiffany of North Cohocton, New York, signed on December 7, 1891; Alma's teacher
• Earle Tripp of Atlanta, New York, signed on February 28, 1893
• Salome Tyler, signed on December 9, 1891; Alma's schoolmate

V

• Miss Alma Vandy of North Cohocton, New York, album owner. She dated the page April 20, 1890
• Burdett Vincent, signed on December 7, 1891; Alma's schoolmate

W

• May L. W., signed on June 15, 1890; Alma's schoolmate
• Mary A. Waite, signed at Naples, New York, on January 17, 1890. Alma's cousin, Mary A. Waite was the daughter of Julia and Gardner Waite, who was a brother to Alma's mother Phoebe Ann (Waite) Vandy Drake.
• Colbie Waite, signed at Jackson, Michigan, on January 25, 1893. Alma's cousin Colby Waite, son of Edwin Waite, who was a brother of Alma's mother Phoebe Ann (Waite) Vandy Drake.
• Bernie Ward; Alma's schoolmate
• Myrtle Weed
• Daisy L. Wetmore of Springwater, New York, signed on December 8, 1891; Alma's schoolmate
• Arch G. Wetmore, signed on December 7, 1891
• Celia Wheaton, signed on May 3, 1890; Alma's schoolmate
• Gertie Wiseman; Alma's schoolmate

North Cohocton, New York

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