1882-1899 Autograph Album of Berthia or Bertha Williams of Steamburg, New York; m. John W. Eastman

1882-1899 autograph album that belonged to Berthia Williams of Steamburg, New York, a village in the town of Coldspring, New York.  Most records show her as Bertha Williams, but she spelled her name as Berthia on the reverse of the first end paper.

The album was a present from Berthia's cousin Ranie E. Hotchkiss, who inscribed a presentation page and another page.

The album measures approximately 7" x 4-1/4" and contains the sentiments of about 50 of Berthia's relatives and friends.  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.

Berthia or Bertha Williams was born in April 1853, the daughter of George Alva Williams and Lovisa (Morse) Williams.  Both of Berthia's parents inscribed pages in her album.  Her father George Alva Williams:

Berthia's mother inscribed facing pages near the end of the album.

Berthia's older sister, Emily (Williams) Barton, wife of Francis M. Barton, inscribed a page at Steamburg, New York, on January 18, 1886.

Other relatives who inscribed pages were Aunt Matilda; Cousin Ida Williams; Aunt Annie.  And it's likely that the J. W. Eastman who inscribed a page at Steamburg, New York, on July 6, 1884, was John W. Eastman, Berthia's future husband.  His mother, Elvira Eva (Wellman) Eastman, also inscribed a page.

John and Berthia lived at Coldspring, New York and had at least one child, daughter Millie M. Eastman.  John died in 1922 and Bertha in 1933.  They're buried at the Steamburg Cemetery, with Eastman and Williams relatives.

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

? [4]	H	L	R	V
B	H ?	Lord [2]	Raymond	Vermilyea [2]
Barton	Hale [2]	O	Robinson [2]	W
Beyer	Hamilton	Oviatt [2]	S	W ?
Bowen [4]	Hayward	P	Saunders	Wheeler
E	Hibbard	Peabody	Simkin	Whitney
Eastman [2]	Hotchkiss	Pope	Stillman	Williams [4]
Evans [2]	Hovey [2]	Q	T	Wilson
G	K	Quackenbush	Thomas	Wing
Gilbert	Knapp [2]

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

• Aunt Matilda
• Helen ?; Mrs. S. C. Wilson, signed at Chicago, Illinois, on August 30, 1899
• ###, signed on November 14, 1883
• Annie; Berthia's aunt. Looks like C. Annie or G. Annie.

B

• Emily M. Barton, signed at Steamburg, New York, on January 18, 1886; called herself Berthia's sister.
• Written on the page upside down: Fred L. Beyer, signed at Steamburg, New Jersey, on June 26, 1882
• Tyler Bowen, signed on May 28, 1882
• Milan Bowen of Bowenville, New York, signed on May 29, 1882
• Otis F. Bowen, signed at Randolph, New York, on May 31, 1882
• Mrs. Bowen, signed at Randolph, New York, on May 30, 1882. Might be Mrs. H. Bowen or N. Bowen

E

• J. W. Eastman, signed at Steamburg, New York, on July 6, 1884.  Presumably John W. Eastman, Berthia's future husband.
• Mrs. E. Eastman, signed at Steamburg, New York, on July 6, 1884.  Presumably Elvira Eva (Wellman) Eastman, mother of John W. Eastman, Berthia's future husband
• Sylvia Evans of Spring Mills, New York, signed on April 7, 1886
• Anna Evans

G

• Written on the page upside down: Lenna Gilbert of Almond, New York, signed on April 7, 1886.

H

• Mrs. H., signed at Steamburg, New York, on August 9, 1882
• Albert Hale
• 2-page sentiment inscribed by Elvira C. Hale
• Clara Hamilton, signed at Steamburg, New York, on August 6, 1882
• I. P. Hayward, signed at Steamburg, New York, on December 24, 1883
• E. J. Hibbard, signed on April 6, 1885
• Ranie E. Hotchkiss; Berthia's cousin, who presented the album to Berthia
• S. T. Hovey, signed on November 29, 1882
• Nettie Hovey, signed at East Randolph, New York on November 23, 1882

K

• Mrs. G. W. Knapp, signed at Wellsville, New York, on April 7, 1886. She included her birth date: Jan 19, 1834. She was Fannie (Oviatt) Knapp, wife of George Washington Knapp.
• G. W. Knapp of Wellsville, New York, signed on April 7, 1886. Like his wife, he included his birth year: Feb 27, 1830. He was George Washington Knapp, husband of Fannie (Oviatt) Knapp, who also signed a page.

L

• ? W. Lord, signed at Erie City, Pennsylvania, on January 30, 1882. Given name initial might be O.
• Josie Lord, signed at Corry, New York, on February 5, 1882; can't determine middle initial

O

• D. B. Oviatt, signed at Wellsville, New York, on February 22, 1883
• Rettie C. Oviatt of Wellsville, New York, signed on March 24, 1886

P

• Cora Peabody, signed at Wellsville, New York, on April 7, 1886
• Erna L. Pope of Randolph, New York, signed at Steamburg, New York, on June 22, 1882

Q

• Ella Quackenbush, signed on April 6, 1886; current or former schoolmate at Wellsville, New York

R

• J. W. Raymond of Wheeler, New York, signed at Steamburg, New York, on February 26, 1883
• Ida A. Robinson of West Valley, New York, signed on April 11, 1882
• J. E. Robinson of West Valley, New York, signed on April 11, 1882

S

• J. G. Saunders, signed at Steamburg, New York, on February 26, 1883
• Mary E. Simkin of Wellsville, New York, signed on March 26, 1885
• Mary Stillman of Wellsville, New York, signed on March 27, 1886

T

• Hattie Thomas, signed at Wellsville, New York, on April 7, 1886

V

• Eliza N. Vermilyea, signed at Corry, New York, on February 5, 1882
• Roscoe B. Vermilyea, signed at Corry, New York, on February 5, 1882

W

• Delia W., signed on "4-7-86"
• Samantha Wheeler, signed at Randolph, in September 1883
• B. L. Whitney, signed at Steamburg, New York, on February 22, 1883
• Bertha Williams; album owner. It was given to her by Cousin Ranie.  Most records show Bertha Williams.
• G. A. Williams; Berthia's father George Alva Williams
• Ida Williams, signed on January 5, 1890; Berthia's cousin Ida, daughter of Fred and Henrietta Williams
• 2-page sentiment by Berthia's mother Lovisa (Morse) Williams
• Helen ?; Mrs. S. C. Wilson, signed at Chicago, Illinois, on August 30, 1899
• S. A. Wing of Blockville, New York, signed on January 6, 1884

Steamburg, New York

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