Saturday, March 19, 2016

c1900 Photograph of Laura B. Hamilton; by the Bishop Studio, Location Unknown


c1900 photograph of a young woman identified as Laura B. Hamilton.  The photograph was taken by the Bishop studio, but there's no mention of location.

There were many studios operated by someone named Bishop.  Langdon's List of 19th & Early 20th Century Photographers in the United States from 1844-1950 lists 26, and there were likely more.  And more still in Canada, where Laura may have lived.


If you recognize this Laura B. Hamilton from your family photos and research, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Carte de Visite of a Man possibly Named Orland; by the Enos Crockett Studio of Rockland, Maine


Carte de visite of a handsome man taken by the Enos Crockett studio of Rockland, Maine.  The handwriting below the man's image is obscured by a thick stain.

It's possible that the line of handwriting above is "Yours Truly", and the line below is "Orland".  However, it's also possible that what I'm thinking is "Yours Truly" might be something else, perhaps his name.  I can't tell if there is another word beyond what I've construed, possibly erroneously, as "Truly".  If the top line is a name, it's possible that "Orland" refers to the Hancock County town of Orland, Maine.

I'm leaning toward "Yours Truly" and a given name of "Orland".


I found several men with the given name "Orland" of a plausible age in and around the Rockland, Maine, area.  Hopefully a reader will recognize this fellow from family photos and research and will forward his name.

Read more about photographer Enos Crockett (1815-1876), a saloon owner and photographer, here, at the Maine Memory Network.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

1857-1862 Autograph Album, Presumably Owned by Laura V. F. Overlock of Waldoboro, Maine


1857-1862 autograph album owned by a Laura from Waldoboro,  Maine, presumably Laura V. F. Overlock, future wife of Theodore Stanley Brown.

"The Album of Poetry" measures approximately 7-3/4" by 6-1/4" and was printed by the Moss & Brother of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  It contains six full-page engravings, two of what appear to be original art works and the sentiments of 47 of Laura's relatives, friends and schoolmates.

Tucked in a page inscribed by E. Winnie Overlock at Waldoboro, Maine, on February 14, 1858 is the photograph of an unidentified young man.  E. Winnie Overlock was the sister of Laura V. F. Overlock, the album's presumed owner.



Also tucked in is a wonderfully intricate drawing by E. Warren Hastings of Charlestown, Massachusetts.  An incense burner fashioned by E. Warren Hastings in 1871 is held at the Smithsonian Institution.


Another page contains a hand-painted illustration containing the names of Ella M. Cochrane and James H. Cochrane.


From brief online research, hopefully correct and assuming the album owner was Laura V. F. Overlock:  [corrections and additions requested]

Laura V. F. Overlock was born, according to her death record, at Waldoboro, Maine, on March 18, 183x, with the last digit hard to decipher.  It may have been 1839, as most census records seem to indicate a birth around 1839 or 1840; there's a later penciled notation of "40".  Her parents were Thomas Overlock and Elizabeth M. (Pollard ?) Overlock, who were born at Waldoboro, Maine, and Brunswick,  Maine, respectively.

On November 17, 1863 at Waldoboro, Maine, Laura V. F. Overlock married Theodore Stanley Brown, son of Charles Sampson Brown and Susan Noyes (Robinson) Brown.  Theodore was born at Waldoboro, Maine, about October 1833.  Thomas inscribed a page in Laura's album at Waldoboro, Maine, on January 20, 1858.


Laura V. F. (Overlock) Brown died at Waldoboro, Maine, on April 21, 1919.

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

Surnames in the Album

? [4]DDemuthLLightbody
BB ?DowLudden ?
BennerFFeylerMMoses
BlethenFrench [2]OOverlock [2]
BrownGGilbertPPackard
CC ? [2]HH ?RRobinson
CastnerHarrimanSS ?
ChapmanHastings [2]Sargent
Clark [2]Hollis [shared and individual pages]Soule
ClarkeJJonesStacey
Cochrane [2]KK ?TTenney
Coolidge [2]Kimball [2]WWoodman

Inscribers in the Album
  • Hard to read if this is a name or an unsigned inscription: ? Tasos Derar pappateuas ?
  • Stephen
  • Maria, inscribed at Brunswick, Maine in April 1861
  • Mira Augusta; not sure of first name
B
  • B. V. B.
  • E. R. Benner of Waldoboro, Maine, inscribed on March 18, 1858.  Perhaps Edward R. Benner
  • S. A. Blethen, inscribed at Dover, Maine, on March 31, 1861
  • Theodore S. Brown, inscribed at Waldoboro,  Maine, on January 20, 1858.  Presumably Theodore Stanley Brown, who would marry Laura V. F. Overlock, album owner, in 1863.
C
  • Helen S. C., inscribed at South Framingham, Massachusetts, on April 1, 1861
  • M. J. C.; Laura's schoolmate
  • Mrs. William H. Castner, inscribed at Waldoboro, Maine, on June 5, 1857; a 3-page inscription
  • A. F. Chapman
  • J. M. Clark, inscribed at Waldoboro, Maine, on August 10, 1857
  • Willie Clark, inscribed at South Framingham, Massachusetts, in March 1861
  • Sam W. Clarke, inscribed at Waldoboro, Maine, on October 22, 1862; presumably Samuel Warren Clarke (1837-1904)
  • Hand painted illustration with the names of Ella M. Cochran and James H. Cochrane worked into a scroll.
  • Hand painted illustration with the names of Ella M. Cochran and James H. Cochrane worked into a scroll.
  • E. Coolidge, inscribed at South Framingham, presumably Massachusetts, on February 24, 1861.  Middle initial might be H. or T.C.  Possibly Edwin H. Coolidge, brother of Harriet E. Coolidge
  • H. E. Coolidge, inscribed at South Framingham, presumably Massachusetts, on February 24, 1861 or 1861.  Possibly Harriet E. Coolidge, sister of Edwin H. Coolidge
D
  • A. A. Demuth, inscribed at Waldoboro, Maine, on December 6, 1858
  • Mallie E. Dow, inscribed at Waldoboro, Maine, on July 2, 1857
F
  • Shared page: 1)  Miss Maria D. Moses of South Paris, Maine, inscribed on January 12, 1859; 2)  Miss Martha J. Feyler of Waldoboro, Maine; 3) Miss Lizzie Hollis of Waldoboro, Maine, inscribed on May 6, 1859; middle initial G or T or ?; 4)  Jo Jones of Brooks, Maine
  • E. E. French, inscribed at South Framingham, presumably Massachusetts, on March 30, 1861
  • Leora A. French, inscribed at Saxonville, presumably Massachusetts, on March 28, 1861
G
  • Susie E. Gilbert, inscribed at West Brookfield, Massachusetts, on March 31, 1860 or 1861
  • A. P. H.; not sure of initials
H
  • Eunice A. C. Harriman of Waldoboro,  Maine, inscribed on February 4, 1858; Laura's schoolmate and friend
  • Intricate drawing by E. Warren Hastings of Charlestown, Massachusetts; brother of inscriber Rosa Hastings.  Perhaps the maker of this incense burner held at the Smithsonian Institution: http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/online/mousetrap/#
  • Rosa Hastings of Charlestown, Massachusetts; sister of inscriber E. Warren Hastings
  • Shared page: 1)  Miss Maria D. Moses of South Paris, Maine, inscribed on January 12, 1859; 2)  Miss Martha J. Feyler of Waldoboro, Maine; 3) Miss Lizzie Hollis of Waldoboro, Maine, inscribed on May 6, 1859; middle initial G or T or ?; 4)  Jo Jones of Brooks, Maine
J
  • Shared page: 1)  Miss Maria D. Moses of South Paris, Maine, inscribed on January 12, 1859; 2)  Miss Martha J. Feyler of Waldoboro, Maine; 3) Miss Lizzie Hollis of Waldoboro, Maine, inscribed on May 6, 1859; middle initial G or T or ?; she also inscribed an individual page at Waldoboro, Maine, on May 9, 1859; 4) Jo Jones of Brooks, Maine
K
  • Addie K., inscribed at Waldoboro,  Maine, in 1857
  • Lizzie W. Kimball of Waldoboro, Maine.  She may have been Elizabeth (Winchenbach) Kimball, and it may have been her husband,  Nathan R. Kimball, who inscribed the facing page as N. R. Kimball.
  • N. R. Kimball; not sure of initials; he pasted two photographs of himself on the page.  He may have been Dr. Nathan R. Kimball, and it may have been his wife Elizabeth (Winchenbach) Kimball, who inscribed the facing page as Lizzie W. Kimball of Waldoboro, Maine.
L
  • Thomas Lightbody.  E. A. L. Stacey also inscribed the page, at Waldoboro, Maine, on March 29, 1857
  • Scrap of paper pasted on a page with two names: L. V. F. Overlock and J. Ludden [?].  L. V. F. Overlock is presumably the album owner Laura.
M
  • Shared page: 1)  Miss Maria D. Moses of South Paris, Maine, inscribed on January 12, 1859; 2)  Miss Martha J. Feyler of Waldoboro, Maine; 3) Miss Lizzie Hollis of Waldoboro, Maine, inscribed on May 6, 1859; middle initial G or T or ?; 4)  Jo Jones of Brooks, Maine
O
  • E. Winnie Overlock, inscribed at Waldoboro, Maine, on February 14, 1858; sister of album owner Laura V. F. Overlock.  A photograph of a young man is tucked in this page, but whether there is a relationship to the inscriber of not, I don't know.
  • Laura, autograph album owner, presumably Laura V. F. Overlock (1840-1916), who would marry Theodore Stanley Brown in 1863.  She was born in 1840, daughter of Thomas Overlock and Elizabeth (Pollard ?) Overlock.  Her name appears on a scrap of paper pasted on a page of the album as L.V.F. Overlock
P
  • Charles A. Packard of Waldoboro,  Maine, inscribed in September 1857
R
  • Miss M. Lizzie Robinson, inscribed at South Framingham, presumably Massachusetts, inscribed on March 30, 1861
S
  • H. R. E. S.
  • Mary E. Sargent, from Somerville,  Massachusetts, or inscribed there, on August 10, 1861
  • Nellie Soule, inscribed a three page sentiment on June 4, 1857
  • E. A. L. Stacey, inscribed at Waldoboro, Maine, on March 29, 1857.  Thomas Lightbody also inscribed the page.
T
  • Name possibly A. G. Tenney of Brunswick, Maine, inscribed at Waldoboro, Maine, on September 20, 1858.  He may have been Albert Gorham Tenney (1814-1894) of Brunswick, Maine
W
  • Ettie Woodman

Friday, March 11, 2016

1880s Autograph Album of Ada Frances Burrell of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, with Autographs of Teachers, Schoolmates and Relatives


Autograph Album of Ada Frances Burrell of East Weymouth, Massachusetts.

The ownership page has a date of December 25, 1886, as if the album had been a Christmas present.  However, there are some inscriptions dated earlier in 1886, so perhaps she had received the album in 1885.


The album measures approximately 4" by 2-3/4" and contains the sentiments of 24 of Ada's relatives, friends, schoolmates and teachers; two inscribed multiple pages.  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.

Julia M. Talbot of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed a page at High Street School on January 13, 1886.  


Ada may also have been a student at High Street School.  Several inscribers gave only their surnames preceded by Miss.  Perhaps they were teachers at High Street School.  They were:
  • Miss Belcher
  • Miss Koehen
  • Miss Porter
  • Miss Webster
From brief online research, hopefully correct:  [corrections and additions requested]

Ada Frances Burrell was born December 1, 1876 at Weymouth, Massachusetts, the daughter of Henry Herbert Burrell and Marie Antoinette (Laughton) Burrell.  Ada had at least 3 siblings, two of whom, Lillie Otis Burrell and Jennie May Burrell, inscribed pages in Ada's album.  Jennie inscribed multiple pages.



Ada's maternal aunt, Cemira Adelaide (Laughton) Raymond, inscribed a page.


Nancie Burrell of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed a page in 1886.


On July 29, 1904 at Weymouth, Massachusetts, Ada married William E. Dasha, son of John J. Dasha and Sarah A. (Bicknell) Dasha.  Ada and William raised their family at Weymouth, Massachusetts.  Ada died in 1962 and William inn 1963.  They're buried in the North Weymouth Cemetery at Weymouth, Massachusetts.

If you have corrections to the information above, or stories to share about the Burrell family or any of the other inscribers, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Surnames in the Album

BelcherGardner
BradfordHarden
Burrell [4]Keohen
CushingL ?
FogO'Brien
FordPorter
FraherRaymond [4]

Inscribers in the Album

B
  • Miss Belcher of South Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed on May 28, 1888
  • Nettie Bradford of N Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed on May 28, 1888
  • Ada F. Burrell of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, dated December 25, 1886 [there were autographs from before this date]; Ada, the album owner, presumably received the album as a Christmas present.
  • Jennie Burrell of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed on February 22, 1887; she inscribed other pages as well, one of them on May 18, 1888.
  • Lillie; Ada's sister Lilly Otis Burrell
  • Nancie Burrell of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed in 1886
C
  • Nellie Cushing of East Weymouth, Massachusetts
F
  • Emma Fog, inscribed on February 2, 1887
  • Sadie E. Ford of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed on January 14, 1886
  • Alice E. Fraher, inscribed on November 5, 1886
G
  • Carrie J. Gardner of South Weymouth, Massachusetts
H
  • K. P. Harden
K
  • Miss Koehen of North Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed on May 28, 1888
L
  • J. S. L. of East Weymouth, Massachusetts
O
  • Della O'Brien, inscribed on February 23, 1887
P
  • Miss Porter of North Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed on May 28, 1888
R
  • Berta W. Raymond of South Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed on January 17, 1886
  • Frank Raymond of East Weymouth, Massachusetts; he inscribed another page on December 13, 1886 and another on May 28, 1888
  • Lucy A. Raymond of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed in February 1887
  • Aunt Myra.  She was Cemira Adelaide (Laughton) Raymond, sister of Ada's mother Marie Antoinette (Laughton) Burrell.
  • Jennie Reed of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed on January 25, 1887
  • Nellie Roberts of East Weymouth, Massachusetts
T
  • Julia M. Talbot of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed on January 13, 1886 at the High Street School
W
  • Miss Webster of East Weymouth, Massachusetts, inscribed in 1888 [presumably May 28, but she mistakenly wrote Mass]
  • A. Otis Wing, inscribed on December 13, 1886

Thursday, March 10, 2016

1885-1894 Autograph Album of One of the Children of John and Anabella (Taylor) Gould of Stillwater, Maine


1885-1894 autograph album that belonged to one of the children of John and Anabella (Taylor) Gould of Stillwater, Maine, Nova Scotia natives who settled in the Bangor, Maine, area of Stillwater and Old Town.

The album measures approximately 6-1/4" by 4" and contains the sentiments of 14 of the album owner's relatives and friends.

John and Anabella (Taylor) Gould had the following children:
  1. Thomas W. Gould, born about January 1849 in Nova Scotia 
  2. Susan Gould, born about 1850 in Nova Scotia
  3. Mary D. Gould, born about 1854 in Nova Scotia
  4. Isabelle G. Gould, "Belle", born about June 1855 in Nova Scotia; not the album owner
  5. Minnie Gould, born about 1858 in Nova Scotia
  6. John W. Gould, born about 1861 in Maine
  7. Joseph F. Gould, born about 1863 in Maine
  8. Addie R. Gould, born about 1866 in Maine; not the album owner
The album owner's sister, Addie R. Gould of Stillwater, Maine, inscribed a page as "Your loving sister" on January 1, 1885.  She, therefore, was not the album owner.


The album owner's niece, Hellen Maude Sanborn, daughter of Isabelle (Gould) and Willis Henry Sanborn, inscribed a page at Stillwater, Maine, on October 1, 1894, the latest inscription in the album.  Because she described herself as a niece, her mother, Isabelle (Gould) Sanborn was not the album owner.


The album owner's aunt, Josie M. McIntosh of Warren, Pennsylvania, inscribed a page on August 10, 1889.


The Inscribers in Alphabetical Order

B
  • Nellie Bennett, inscribed at Stillwater, Maine, on March 21, 1886
  • Ellen P. Burns of Attica, Kansas, inscribed at Upper Stillwater, Maine, on August 31, 1885
F
  • L. C. Foss of Albion, Maine, inscribed at Stillwater, Main, on June 18, 1885
  • Pearl R. Fox of Stillwater, Maine, inscribed on February 28, 1885
G
  • Addie R. Gould of Stillwater, Maine, inscribed on January 1, 1885; sister of the album owner, thus not the owner of the autograph album
  • Miss Gould of Stillwater, Maine, daughter of John and Annabelle (Taylor) Gould; album owner
H
  • Evie Hamblen of Stillwater, Maine, inscribed on January 29, 1886
  • Percy A. Horn of Stillwater, Maine, inscribed on "4-3-1887"
M
  • W. Manchester of Stillwater, Maine, inscribed on April 17, 1887
  • Josie M. McIntosh of Warren, Pennsylvania, inscribed on August 10, 1889; Miss Gould's aunt
  • Janie C. Michaels of Stillwater, Maine
P
  • Achsah M. Porter, inscribed at Upper Stillwater, Maine, on December 18, 1885.  Achsah M. (Philbrick) Porter (1835-1893), wife of Lewis H. Porter
  • Rose M. Porter of Stillwater, Maine, inscribed December 19, 1885
S
  • Hellen Maude Sanborn of Bangor, Maine, inscribed at Stillwater, Maine, on October 1, 1894; "your loving niece".  Daughter of Isabelle (Gould) Sanborn, wife of Willis Henry Sanborn.   So Isabelle is not the owner of the autograph album.
  • M. H. Small of Wilton, Maine, inscribed on February 18, 1885
If you have corrections to the information above, or information on any of the inscribers, please leave a comment or contact me directly.


Wednesday, March 9, 2016

1909-1922 Postcards Sent to Shut-in Lucie Fish or Fishe and Sisters Georgia and Beth of Jonesboro, Maine


7 postcards sent to the Fish or Fishe sisters of Jonesboro, Maine - five to shut-in Lucia L. Fish, "Lucie" - and one each to Georgia Lindsey Fish and Elizabeth M. Fish, "Beth".  

They were the daughters of George Washington Gates Smith and Lizzie Madge (Drisko) Fish of Jonesboro, Maine.

The postcard sent to Georgia shows a Bird's Eye View of Barre, Vermont and contains a long message.  See the card and a transcript at the end of this post.

Arthur's Home Magazine, Volume 53 of 1885, contains an article that described the founding and mission of the Shut-in Society in 1885, most likely by its first president, Mrs. Helen E. Brown.  The second president was a shut-in herself, a Mrs. J. M. D. Conklin.  Other members included Miss E. E. Burge; Mrs. May S. Dickinson; Miss Annie E. Fuller; Miss E. Proudfit; Miss Jennie Cassidy; Mr. W. C. Mather; Mrs. M. E. Sangster; Miss Hester Bates; Miss M. Hitchen; Mrs. Kate S. Burr; Annie S. Bartlett.

Mrs. May S. Dickinson may have been the author, educator and humanitarian Mary Lowe Dickinson, a Fitchburg, Massachusetts, native, who married New York City banker John Dickinson.

Another article about the Shut-In Society appeared in the Cambridge Tribune issue of July 4, 1896.   At that time, the secretary of the organization was Miss Mary Hamilton Hartley of 14 Lincoln Street, New Haven, Connecticut.

Lucia Leigh Fish, "Lucie", was born February 26, 1890.  She died in 1956.  Georgia Lindsey Fish was born January 14, 1895.  She married William Noland Morris, "Willie", at Jonesboro, Maine, on August 15, 1915.  Willie died in 1972 and Georgia in 1982.  The postcards sent to her were dated 1909, 1919 and 1922.

Georgia Lindsey Fish was born January 14, 1895.  She married William Noland Morris, "Willie", at Jonesboro, on August 15, 1915.  Willie died in 1972 and Georgia in 1982.

Elizabeth M. Fish, "Beth", was born October 28, 1903.  She died in 1988.

There was another daughter, Cecile or Cecilia, born in 1899, but she died in 1903, before these cards were sent.

Card sent by Ethel Ladd, a shut-in at Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba.  She notes that her father raises strawberries for market.



Ethel Arline Ladd was born October 22, 1897 in Vermont, daughter of William Porter Ladd and his second wife Sarah Agnes (Sanborn) Ladd.   Her father, according to an online reference, once lived on a pineapple farm at Santiago de las Vegas.  The family later moved to Volusia County, Florida.  Ethel must have fought through whatever kept her a shut-in, as she went on to marry Albert C. Tyler and have at least one child.  Ethel died in 1982 and is buried with her brother Eugene Philip Ladd in the DeLand Memorial Gardens cemetery at DeLand, Florida.  Hopefully a reader will have more information.

Card sent to Miss Lucie Fishe by Alice M., postmarked 1908 in Bangor, Pennsylvania, with a photograph of the United Evangelical Church of Bangor, Pennsylvania, on the message side.



Card sent to Lucia Fish in 1909 by Alonzo Cole, Superintendent of the Shut-in Society Boys at 21 Wolcott Street, Dorchester, Massachusetts



Card sent to Miss Lucie Fishe by Leo Clark, 120 Pearl Street, New York, New York, in 1919.



Card sent to Miss Lucie Fish by Mrs. W. F. Hampe at 604 McCabe Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland, in 1922



  Card sent to Miss Beth Fish with no sender information and the postmark obstructed.



Card sent in what appears to be 1913 by "Sister" to Miss Georgia L. Fishe at Salem Depot, New Hampshire, in care of E. B. Hall, R.F.D. 1.  "Sister" may have been either Lucia or Beth.



"The show that is here is just the same as when it was here last year.  Al Martz is to be here the 17th.  Ruth's cold is about the same.  Mina gets our mail for us at night.  Last eve she and H was up and talked to me quite a while.  Mina is going away next Friday.  I can't bear to think of hr going - now there is a ray of comfort in seeing her but if she goes!!  Had a note from Aunt Cora last eve.  Yes they miss you at school and everybody asks for you.  Have a lot to tell you in my letter.  Mina said last night she was going to send you a card.  Mama will write tomorrow and she sends you her bestest love.  And she says give her love to Ploma and Hannah.  I have a __ for P when I write.  I've been sewing two forty.
It doesn't seem possible you have been gone only a week.  To us it seems years.  How kind people are to you, dear, and we feel so grateful to them.  Tata, til tomorrow."

If you can supply the missing word in the message above or provide more information on the people mentioned or the Fish or Fishe sisters themselves, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

A label for L. A. Fish & Company of Jonesboro, Maine:



Monday, March 7, 2016

1880s Autograph Album of Cora M. Libby of Winterport, Maine; student at Hampden Academy, Monroe Academy; East Maine Conference Seminary


1880s autograph album of Cora M. Libby of Winterport, Maine, with signatures from students at
  • Hampden Academy at Hampden, Maine
  • Monroe Academy at Monroe, Maine - one inscriber called it Monroe College
  • East Maine Conference Seminary at Bucksport, Maine

The album measures approximately 7-3/4" by 5" and contains the sentiments of 80 of Cora's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  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.

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

Cora Mabel Libby was born November 28, 1870 at Winterport, Maine, the daughter of David Libby and Mary A. (Torrey) Libby.  Cora's sister Lida M. Libby inscribed a page at Winterport, Maine, on October 31, 1886; she was Mary Eliza Libby.


One inscriber, M. Haley, or N. Haley, who inscribed her page at Winterport, Maine, on February 26, 1887, called herself Cora's aunt.  Her handwriting appears that of an elderly person, so perhaps she was a great aunt.


On November 13, 1890 at Monroe,  Maine, Cora married Frank M. Fairbanks, son of Joseph Whitney Fairbanks and Elizabeth (Chase) Fairbanks of Monroe, Maine.  Frank was born at Monroe in September of 1866, on the 15th, according to his obituary.

Frank inscribed a page in Cora's album on March 11, 1888.


Frank and Cora lived at Monroe, Maine; Unity, Maine; and Pittsfield, Maine, and had at least one child, a son William L. Fairbanks, who was born in 1892 and died in 1922.  Frank worked as an undertaker and had a special interest in bands, as a member and benefactor.

Frank died in 1940 and Cora in 1945.  They're buried in the Pittsfield Village Cemetery at Pittsfield, Maine.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Surnames in the Album

?FFairbanksMMayoSSnow
AAchornFloodMcGeeSpratt [2]
BBeattyGGarlandNNealeyStaniford
BennochGrant [2]NickersonStaples
BowdenGreyNorrisStubbs
CCampbell [2]HHadleyPPalmer [2]TTasker
CarletonHaleyPartridgeTracy
Chase [2]HardyPierceTurner
Clark [2]HarrimanPorter [2]WWhite
Clarke [3]Hopkins [2]RReedWhitmore
ClementsHumphreyRitchie [2]Wilson
Colson [4]JJoyRobbinsWoodman
Crowell [2]KKnowltonRobertson
DDownesLLibby [2]Robinson [3]
EEllingwood [3]Littlefield [5]
Emery

Inscribers in the Album - given names within a surname are not necessarily in alphabetical order

  • Blanche, inscribed at Monroe College in 1886
A
  • Marion L. Achorn of Waldoboro, Maine, inscribed at East Maine Conference Seminary on April 20, 1887; Cora's schoolmate
B
  • Angie L. Beatty of Hampden Corner, Hampden, Maine, inscribed at Hampden Academy on October 13, 1887
  • Lou W. Bennoch of Winterport, Maine, inscribed at Hampden, Maine, on October 31, 1888  "Cherry gin".  Presumably Lucy W. Bennoch of Dixmont, Maine
  • George I. Bowden of Penobscot, Maine, inscribed at Monroe in the Fall of 1886, presumably Monroe Academy
C
  • Minnie M. Campbell of Winterport, Maine, inscribed on 9/4/1888
  • Percie A. Campbell of Winterport, Maine, inscribed on August 11, 1888
  • Charlie R. Carleton of Winterport,  Maine, inscribed at East Maine Conference Seminary on April 28, 1887; presumably Charles R. Carleton
  • Mrs. Lora A. Chase of Monroe, Maine, inscribed on November 13, 1886; possibly Cora's teacher
  • May A. Chase of White's Corner at Winterport, Maine, inscribed at Hampden Academy on October 30, 1888
  • John Clark of Frankfort, Maine, inscribed at East Maine Conference Seminary on April 26, 1887.  His middle initial might be T or F
  • Addie Clark of Winterport, Maine, inscribed at East Maine Conference Seminary on April 18, 1887
  • Minnie L. Clarke of Winterport,  Maine
  • Maude Clarke of Winterport, Maine, inscribed on May 29, 1889
  • Edith M. Clarke of Winterport,  Maine, inscribed at Hampden Academy on November 18, 1887
  • R. L. Clements of White's Corner at Winterport, Maine, inscribed on November 25, 1887
  • Elsie M. Colson of Winterport, Maine, inscribed on June 14, 1889
  • Austin D. Colson of Bucksport, Maine, inscribed at East Maine Conference Seminary on April 28, 1776
  • Susie H. Colson of Monroe, Maine, inscribed on November 11, 1886
  • Minnie E. Colson of West Winterport, Maine, inscribed at Hampden, Maine, on October 20, 1887
  • Lea Crowell of Hampden Corner at Hampden, Maine, inscribed at Hampden Academy on November 8, 1888
  • A. J. Crowell of Hampden, Maine, inscribed on November 8, 1888; presumably Archie J. Crowell
D
  • Vicola I. Downes of Winterport, Maine, inscribed on 10-11-1887
E
  • Mabel Ellingwood of Winterport, Maine, inscribed on June 26, 1889
  • Everett Ellingwood of Ellingwood Corner at Winterport, Maine, inscribed on June 25, 1889
  • Carroll E. Ellingwood of Winterport, Maine, inscribed on June 26, 1889
  • Etta G. Emery, inscribed at Hampden Academy on October 10, 1887
F
  • Frank M. Fairbanks of Monroe, Maine, inscribed on March 11, 1888
  • Stillman D. Flood of Searsport, Maine, inscribed on October 31, 1886
G
  • Will L. Garland of Hampden,  Maine, inscribed on October 22, 1888
  • Evie A. Grant of Monroe, Maine, inscribed on November 4, 1886, "Fall of 1886", indicating a Fall Term, possibly at Monroe Academy
  • May L. Grant of Hampden Corner, Hampden, Maine, inscribed on October 11, 1887
  • Emilie C. Grey of Bucksport, Maine, inscribed at East Maine Conference Seminary on April 23, 1887
H
  • L. W. Hadley of Frankfort, Maine, inscribed at East Maine Conference Seminary on April 26, 1887
  • M. Haley, or N. Haley, inscribed at Winterport, Maine, on February 26, 1887; Cora's aunt
  • Emma L. Hardy of Winterport, Maine, inscribed at East Maine Conference Seminary on APril 22, 1887
  • Martha E. Harriman of Prospect Ferry, Maine, inscribed at East Maine Conference Seminary during the Spring term of 1887
  • Minnie Hopkins of Hampden, Maine, inscribed during the Academy Fall Term of 1887
  • Mary Hopkins, inscribed at Hampden Academy on October 20, 1887
  • Annie E. Humphrey of Bangor, Maine, inscribed at Hampden, Maine, on November 2, 1887
J
  • Agnes S. Joy of Monroe, Maine, inscribed on November 9, 1886
K
  • J. F. Knowlton, inscribed on April 18, 1887
L
  • Cora M. Libby of Winterport, Maine; album owner Cora Mabel Libby
  • Lida M. Libby of Winterport, Maine, inscribed on October 31, 1886; Cora's sister
  • Roscoe E. Littlefield of Winterport,  Maine, inscribed on June 30, 1889
  • Leroy E. Littlefield of Ellingwood Corner in Winterport, Maine, inscribed on July 1, 1887
  • Ellen M. Littlefield of Ellingwood Corner, at Winterport, Maine, inscribed on July 1, 1889
  • Oscar E. Littlefield of Winterport, Maine
  • Daisy A. Littlefield of Ellingwood Corner at Winterport, Maine, inscribed on July 2, 1889
M
  • Agnes G. Mayo of Monroe, Maine, inscribed on November 13, 1886
  • Katie A. McGee of Winterport, Maine, inscribed on September 7, 1888
N
  • Helen M. Nealey, inscribed at Monroe, Maine, on November 2, 1886
  • E. D. Nickerson of Searsport, Maine, inscribed on November 7, 1886
  • Carrie C. Norris of Hampden, Maine, inscribed on October 20, 1887
P
  • George A. Palmer of Monroe, Maine, inscribed on November 1886 in High School, presumably Monroe Academy
  • Lizzie M. Palmer of Monroe, Maine, inscribed on November 8, 1886
  • Lillie Partridge of Hampden, Maine
  • Sadie M. Pierce, inscribed at Hampden Academy on November 6, 1888
  • Charley E. Porter of Ellingwood Corner at Winterport, Maine, inscribed on June 21, 1889
  • Mrs. Alfred Porter, inscribed at Winterport, Maine, on June 21, 1889
R
  • Grace M. Reed of Hampden, Maine, inscribed on October 26, 1887
  • Hollis Ritchie of White's Corner at Winterport, Maine, inscribed on January 24, 1887.  The Mrs. M. E. Ritchie who inscribed a page was presumably his mother Mary E. (Colson) Ritchie
  • Mrs. M. E. Ritchie, inscribed at Winterport, Maine, on January 8, 1889; presumably Mary E. (Colson) Ritchie, wife of William W. Ritchie and mother of inscriber Hollis Ritchie
  • Myrtie G. Robbins of Fort Fairfield, Maine, inscribed at F.S.N.S., presumably Farmington State Normal School
  • Theo E. Robertson, inscribed at Monroe, Maine, in 1886
  • Allie M. Robinson of Forest City, Maine, inscribed at East West Conference Seminary on April 25, 1887
  • Mrs. C. F. Robinson of Ellingwood Corner, Winterport, Maine, inscribed on June 9, 1889; possibly Mrs. Juliet (Doble) Robinson, wife of Charles F. Robinson
  • Etta M. Robinson of Ellingwood Corner at Winterport, Maine, inscribed on June 3, 1889
S
  • Alice Snow of Bangor, Maine, inscribed at Hampden Academy on October 20, 1887
  • F. A. Spratt of Hampden, Maine, inscribed on October 26, 1887
  • Bessie Nutter Spratt of Hampden, Maine, inscribed on October 28, 1887; presumably Bessie Weston (Nutter) Spratt (1857-1918), wife of Frank A. Spratt
  • Jennie W. Staniford of Hampden Corner, Hampden, Maine, inscribed on 10/12/1887
  • Mabel R. Staples of Monroe, Maine, inscribed on November 9, 1886
  • Arthur P. Stubbs of Winterport, Maine, inscribed at East Maine Conference Seminary on April 28, 1887
T
  • Fannie E. Tasker of North Monroe, Maine
  • Hattie M. Tracy of Hampden, Maine
  • C. W. Turner of Hampden, Maine, inscribed on October 15, 1887
W
  • Abbie S. White of Winterport, Maine, inscribed at Hampden, Maine, on November 18, 1887
  • Albra Whitmore of West Hampden, Maine, inscribed on December 22, 1888
  • Amanda M. Wilson of Bangor, Maine, inscribed at East Maine Conference Seminary at Bucksport, Maine, on April 15, 1887
  • Mrs. S. C. Woodman of Ellingwood Corner at Winterport, Maine, inscribed on July 8, 1889.  She was Sarah (Colson) Woodman, wife of Josiah S. Woodman.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Vintage Paper Bag from the Confection and Fruit Business of George W. Marsh and son Matthew G. Marsh of East Eddington, Maine


Small paper bag from the confectionery and fruit business of George W. Marsh and son Matthew George Marsh of East Eddington, Maine.

The 1930 Census of Eddington notes that the Marsh family lived on Main Road; I assume their grocery store was also located there.


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

George W. Marsh was born in Maine in 1854, son of Rev. Leonard Marsh and, I think, his second wife, Mary Betsey, unless Mary and Betsey were two different women.

Rev. Marsh, a shoemaker and clergyman, was born at Fredericton, New Brunswick, on December 20, 1809; he lived in several towns in Maine, presumably following church openings.  He had to have been married at least three times, as his first wife, Rebecca Ann, died in 1845, before George was born.  He married late in life, in 1892, to Mary Silsby (Frost) Moore, widow of Benjamin Franklin Moore.

It's the middle portion of Rev. Marsh's life that has eluded me.  The 1860 Census of the town of Monroe, Maine, shows Rev. Marsh's wife as Betsey, born about 1822 in New Brunswick.  Another clue is a headstone for Mrs. Mary Marsh, wife of Rev. Leonard Marsh, at the Pine Tree Cemetery at Eddington, Maine, where many members of the Marsh family are buried, including George and Matthew.  The stone notes that Mary died in 1891, with her age given as 73 years and 7 months, which would put her birth year as around 1818.  Again, were Betsey and Mary the same person or did Mary succeed Betsey as Rev. Marsh's wife?

George W. Marsh married twice: 1) Martha J. Spencer in 1872 - she died in 1886; and 2) Lizzie M. Spencer in 1890.  Martha and Lizzie may have the daughters of Ebenezer and Elizabeth G. (Orcutt) Spencer.  The Spencer and Marsh families lived near each other near the border of Penobscot and Hancock counties.

Matthew George Marsh was March 2, 1886, according to his World War I draft registration card, but 1885 according to his gravestone.  It seems likely that his mother was Martha J. (Spencer) Marsh, who may have died in childbirth.  I don't believe Matthew married.

George died in 1938 and Matthew in 1940; as noted above, they are buried with family members in the Pine Tree Cemetery at Eddington, Maine.

There's a sad account about George's half-brother, John B. Marsh, in Incidents Among Shot and Shell: The Only Authentic Work Extant Giving the Many Tragic and Touching Incidents that Came Under the Notice of the United States Christian, published in 1868.  John was living in the South when the Civil War broke out and was conscripted into the Confederate Army.  He was executed after trying to desert.

If you have corrections to the information above, or memories of the store that the Marsh father and son operated, please leave a comment or contact me directly.



Old Photograph of the House where Eva Williams was Born, presumably at Canaan, Maine


Note of September 2016:  A reader recognizes this as the house he grew up in; it's on Easy Street in Canaan, Maine.



Very old photograph of a house identified on the reverse as the home at Canaan where Eva Williams was born.  The person who sold the photograph to me indicated that Canaan was Canaan, Maine.  The photograph shows a woman and child, perhaps Eva.


Although I can't confirm that the Canaan in the photograph is Canaan, Maine, it's intriguing that an Eva Hazel Williams was born at Canaan, Maine, on March 7, 1890, to Edwin Hutchinson Williams, a merchant and postmaster, and Addie Florence (Moore) Williams.

Eva Hazel Williams married farmer Alton F. Rolfe at Skowhegan, Maine, on July 31, 1909.  Alton was born February 14, 1887 at Canaan, Maine, son of Fred and Ella M. (Walker) Rolfe.  Eva and Alton were living at Canaan, Maine, at the time of the 1910 Census, but later moved to nearby Skowhegan, Maine, where Alton worked as a painter in the automotive industry.  I found records for two daughters, but there may have been more children.

If you recognize the house in the photograph and can confirm that it is in Canaan, Maine, and, better yet, confirm that it was the home of Edwin Hutchinson Williams and Addie Florence (Moore) Williams, please leave a comment or contact me directly.