Saturday, May 9, 2015

#1 of 2 1880s Autograph Albums of Ina B. Durgin of Mechanic Falls, Maine; while She was at Norway, Maine


1880s autograph album of Ina B. Durgin of Mechanic Falls, Maine, and apparently also of Norway, Maine, where she may have been working when these sentiments were acquired.  The album was given to her by her brother Albert F. Durgin on April 2, 1881 at Norway, Maine.


Ina wasted no time in filling this autograph album and started another one that she presumably received at Christmas in 1882.  See another post that features the later album.

This earlier album measures approximately 6-1/4" by 3-3/4" and contains the sentiments of 90 of Ina's relatives and friends.  Evie Andrews inscribed her page at the Norway Shop Shop on February 8, 1882; it's possible that Ina, and perhaps many of the other inscribers, worked there.



 An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appear at the end of this post.  A few inscribed pages in both albums.


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

Ina B. Durgin was born February 10, 1865 in Maine, the daughter of William R. Durgin and Esther Ann (Turner) Durgin.   Ina's parents both signed pages in her album.


Ina had at least four siblings: Julia; Albert; Merrill and Elmer.  In addition to the presentation page, Albert inscribed another page in the album, on April 3, 1881.  


Brother Merrill M. Durgin and his future wife Mary Flora Tubbs inscribed pages, as they did in the other album, after their marriage.  



Brother Elmer E. Durgin of Mechanic Falls, Maine, inscribed a page on September 18, 1882.   


I found two marriage records for Ina B. Durgin and Edwin Henry Downs, one at Minot, Maine, on January 7, 1887, and another at Lewiston, Maine, on January 25, 1888.  Edwin Henry Downs, born February 17, 1862, was the son of Asa L. Downs and Clara Jane (Perkins) Downs.   Edwin inscribed a page in Ina's other album on July 21, 1884, but he didn't inscribe a page in this one.

Ina and Edwin lived at Minot, Maine, and Mechanic Falls, Maine.  They had at least two children, daughters Ola Francena Downs and Esther Jane Downs.  Edwin died in 1941 and Ina in 1944.  If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Surnames in the Album

? [3]DKPR
ADavis [2]KeoughPageRichards
AbbottDrakeKimballParkerRines
AdamsDurgin [7]KnightPenleyRoyal
AkersELPerkinsS
AndrewsEdson [2]L [3]Perkins ?Sawtelle
BEstesMPierceSeitz
BeeFMason [2]PikeStiles
BoyntonFarrowMonahanPingreeStrout [3]
BridgeFavor [2]MorsePollockStuart
Buck [2]Fiske [2]NPottleT
Burnell [2]FrenchNorsworthyPrideTubbs
CGOPulsifer [2]W
CarsleyG ?O'BrionWard
ChipmanGouldO'BrionWaterhouse [2]
ClarkGroverWelch
ClementH
Crommett [2]Haskell [2]
CrookerHobbs
CummingsHooper [3]
Curtis

Inscribers in the Album - given names within specific surnames might not be in alphabetical order.
  • "Sister to Boots", inscribed at Poland, Maine, on November 16, 1881. Whether these are her initials are not, "S. T." is written in the corner, though I'm not positive of the T. "Boots" inscribed the right facing page.
  • "Boots" of Norway, Maine, inscribed on November 16, 1881. I believe "Boots" and "Sister of Boots", who inscribed the left facing page, were Ina's relatives.
  • Aunt Linnie, inscribed at Norway, Maine, on August 16, 1881
A
  • Lulie C. Abbott, inscribed on February 16, 1882
  • Alba S. Adams of Norway, Maine, inscribed on May 28, 1881
  • Lizzie A. Akers, inscribed at Norway, Maine, on March 5, 1882
  • Evie Andrews of South Paris, Maine, inscribed at Norway Shoe Shop on February 8, 1882
B
  • Ella Bee of Norway, Maine, inscribed on July 2, 1881
  • Fannie Boynton of Norway, Maine, inscribed on March 20, 1882
  • C. S. Bridge of Mechanic Falls, Maine, inscribed on September 26, 1882. Initials are so ornate that I could have misinterpreted them.
  • H. Blanche Buck of Norway, Maine, inscribed on April 4, 1881
  • S. Norman Buck of Norway, Maine, inscribed on April 5, 1881
  • C. F. Burnell of Norway, Maine, inscribed on February 8, 1882
  • Hallie I. Burnell, or Hattie I. Burnell, of Norway, Maine, inscribed on February 8, 1882. Middle initial could be J.
C
  • Miss A. H. Carsley of Poland, Maine, inscribed on November 24, 1881
  • Ida V. Chipman of Mechanic Falls, Maine, inscribed on September 17, 1882
  • Abra Clark of South Paris, Maine, inscribed on March 19, 1882
  • Grace M. Clement of Norway, Maine, inscribed on June 28, 1881
  • Lizzie S. Crommett of Norway, Maine, inscribed on February 8, 1882
  • Will Crommett of Norway, Maine, inscribed on "2-7-82" "Scrub Oak"
  • Fannie M. Crooker of Norway, Maine, inscribed on September 6, 1881
  • Stephen B. Cummings of Norway, Maine, inscribed on March 12, 1882. "From a friendly neighbor"
  • M. A. Curtis, inscribed at South Paris, Maine, on July 11, 1881
D
  • Anna E. Davis of "Harris Hill", inscribed on November 25, 1881
  • Mabel Davis of Mechanic Falls, Maine, inscribed on June 3, 1882. There's a faint name in pencil that appears to be Ela Davis, but I'm not sure.
  • A. Florence Drake of Norway, Maine, inscribed on January 18, 1882
  • Ina B. Durgin of Mechanic Falls, Maine, and Norway, Maine; album owner
  • A. L. Durgin, who was Ina's brother Albert L. Durgin, presented the album to her at Norway, Maine, on April 2, 1881.  Albert inscribed a page later on in the album on April 3, 1881.
  • William R. Durgin of Mechanic Falls, Maine, inscribed on September 17, 1882; Ina's father
  • "Mother"; she was presumably Esther Ann (Turner) Durgin, Ina's mother.
  • Cora E. Durgin of Poland, Maine, inscribed on November 28, 1881; Ina's cousin
  • Elmer E. Durgin of Mechanic Falls, Maine, inscribed on September 18, 1882; Ina's brother
  • M. M. Durgin, inscribed at Norway, Maine, on April 3, 1881; Ina's brother Merrill M. Durgin, whose future wife May Flora Tubbs also inscribed a page in the album.
E
  • Marzzie M. Edson of Norway, Maine, inscribed on June 29, 1881; Marzetta M. Edson
  • Orin Edson of Norway, Maine, inscribed on June 29, 1881
  • C. J. Estes of Poland, Maine
F
  • Carrie Farrow of Norway, Maine, inscribed on April 25, 1881
  • Elsie A. Favor of Norway, Maine, inscribed on May 8, 1881
  • A. T. Favor, inscribed at Norway, Maine, in December 1881
  • Lizzie Fiske of North Waterford, Maine, inscribed at Norway, Maine, on July 24, 1881. Middle initial possibly J. Later note, presumably written by Ina: "Married"
  • Martha M. Fiske of North Waterford, Maine, inscribed on July 26, 1881
  • Arthur French, inscribed on November 14, 1881
G
  • M. ? G. of Norway, Maine, inscribed on February 13, 1882. Middle initial might be J or I or C or ? Later note, presumably written by Ina: "Married"
  • Mary A. Gould of Poland, Maine, inscribed in November 1881
  • Florence C. Grover of Norway, Maine, inscribed on June 6, 1881
H
  • Annie L. Haskell of Norway, Maine, inscribed on January 1, 1882
  • Ada V. Haskell of Norway, Maine, inscribed on January 1, 1882
  • A. L. Hobbs of Norway, Maine, inscribed on March 6, 1882
  • L. K. Hooper, or S. K. Hooper, inscribed on April 20, 1882
  • Ina's name written very cleverly, with the sentiment comprising the three letters. Looks like Mary W. L. Hooper of Norway, Maine, inscribed on April 20, 1882
  • W. W. Hooper of Norway, Maine, inscribed on April 20, 1882
K
  • Elishia Keough of Paris Hill, Maine, inscribed on March 15, 1882
  • Fannie Kimball, inscribed at Poland, Maine, on November 28, 1881
  • Calista A. Knight of Norway, Maine, inscribed on March 14, 1882
L
  • Ada A. Libby of Norway, Maine, inscribed on February 21, 1882
  • Edith M. Libby, inscribed on February 17, 1882
M
  • Hortense Mason of Gilead, Maine, inscribed at Norway, Maine, on April 1, 1882
  • Nellie E. Mason, inscribed on July 12, 1881. Note written presumably by Ina: "Married"
  • Kittie M. Monahan, inscribed at Norway, Maine, on June 13, 1881
  • S. Lizzie Morse, inscribed at Norway, Maine, on February 13, 1882
N
  • G. C. Norsworthy of Norway, Maine, inscribed on April 14, 1881. Presumably George Charles Norsworthy, a native of Exeter, Devon, England, who naturalized at South Paris, Maine, in 1883 and lived at Norway, Maine.
O
  • S. Nettie O'Brion of Norway, Maine, inscribed on June 24 1880. Her husband Alton inscribed the right facing page.
  • Alton O'Brion, inscribed at Norway, Maine, on June 25, 1881; his wife Nettie inscribed the left facing page.
P
  • Lilla Page of Mechanic Falls, Maine, inscribed at Norway, Maine, on July 18, 1881
  • May E. Parker of Norway, Maine, inscribed on May 26, 1881. Later note, presumably by Ina: "Married"
  • Ellen P. Penley of West Bethel, Maine, inscribed on February 20, 1882
  • Carrie E. Perkins of Mechanic Falls, Maine, inscribed on September 22, 1882
  • Surname partially gone, but possibly D. Edgar Perkins of Mechanic Falls, Maine, inscribed on September 21, 1882. The surname ends in "kins". He mentioned "corn shop"; perhaps they worked together there for a time.
  • Annie Pierce of Mechanic Falls, Maine, inscribed on September 10, 1882
  • M. Estelle Pike, inscribed at Norway, Maine, on June 27, 1881
  • Kate F. Pingree of Norway, Maine, inscribed on May 23, 1881
  • E. A. Pollock of Whitinsville, Massachusetts, inscribed on July 31, 1882
  • Stella I. Pottle of Norway, Maine, inscribed on July 18, 1881
  • Lizzie B. Pride of Waterford, Maine, inscribed on July 30, 1881; later note, presumably written by Ina: "Married"
  • F. A. Pulsifer of P Corner, Maine, inscribed on November 27, 1881. Not sure of the initial P, but if it is a P, perhaps it stood for Poland Corner, which another inscriber referenced, or perhaps for Pulsifer Corner
  • Mrs. C. A. Pulsifer
R
  • Lena Richards of South Paris, Maine, inscribed on June 14, 1881
  • Nellie Rines of Norway, Maine, inscribed on June 28, 1881
  • F. G. Royal, inscribed at Danville, Maine, on September 15, 1882. Possibly Fred G. Royal
S
  • Addie M. Sawtelle, inscribed on October 31, 1882. "Your Twin Sister"
  • Evelyn Seitz of Norway, Maine, inscribed on April 5, 1881
  • Minnie A. Stiles of Norway, Maine, inscribed on August 12, 1881. Later note, presumably written by Ina: "Married"
  • N. Hattie Strout, or V. Hattie Strout, or??. She mentions Maranacook, possibly the lake within the town of Readfield, Maine, and Winthrop, Maine
  • Carrie M. Strout, inscribed at Winthrop, Maine, on August 26, 1882; Ina's aunt
  • Sadie F. Strout, inscribed on November 22, 1881; Ina's old schoolmate. She mentions Poland Corner, Maine, where they spent many happy hours together.
  • Gertie M. Stuart, inscribed at Mechanic Falls, Maine, on September 13, 1882
T
  • May F. Tubbs of Norway, Maine, inscribed on May 28, 1881. She was presumably the future wife of Ina's brother Merrill M. Durgin, who also inscribed a page in the album.
W
  • Herburt E. Ward of Poland, Maine, inscribed on November 16, 1881
  • Mary A. Waterhouse, inscribed at Poland Corner, Maine, on November 28, 1881. Presumably Mary Ann Williams Ward Waterhouse, second wife of inscriber Zadoc Allen Waterhouse.
  • Z. A. Waterhouse, inscribed at Poland, Maine, on November 28, 1881. Presumably Zadoc Allen Waterhouse (1816-1890), whose second wife Mary Ann Williams Ward Waterhouse also inscribed a page in the album.
  • Mary E. Welch of Poland, Maine


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