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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

PAGE 8 - 8 MARRIAGE INVITATIONS

This feels like part of a Christmas Song...   Eight Marriage Invitations!

My Greatgrandfather, James Grover "Grove" TERWILLIGER, (1856-1929), kept an oversized Souvenir Album, which includes a few items of his father's and then his and his wife's family, friends, their activities and events through the 1800s into the quite early 1900s.  On this page, I find one relative, Jenny D. Graves - my 1st cousin, 3x removed.

The couples' marriages are apparently in the early 1880s, not all cards list the year; italics and non-italics and size of font are my best attempt of reflecting the cards themselves:

1.  Jones - Hier  Mr. & Mrs. R.W. Jones request your presence of the Marriage of their Daughter, Lulu  to  George S. Hier, Wednesday Evening, March 26, 1879, at eight o'clock, No. 154 South Salina St., Syracuse, N.Y.  ["Lulu" is nickname for Louisa]                              

2.  Ryan - Fyler  this envelope contains three heavy unadorned cards: (a) Ceremony    Thursday May seventeenth, 1883. St. Lucy's Church, Syracuse, N.Y., 9.30 A.M.,  (b)  Peter L. Ryan    Ada C. Fyler  and, finally (c) a church card:  Please present this card to the usher.   No details of the parents - this is a rather unusual invitation to a wedding, don't you think?

3.  Hansell - Dill  Mr. & Mrs. Standish F. Hansell  request your presencc at the marriage of their daughter Mary to  James Brooks Dill, Thursday afternoon, October 21st  at four o'clock,  1705 Summer St. Philadelphia.   1880   

4.  Burdett - Crow  Mr. & Mrs. G.C. Burdett, request your presence at teh marriage of their daughter Lillie  to  A. Eugene Crow,  Tuesday afternoon, September twenty sixth, at four o'clock,  Church of the Heavenly Rest,  Fifth Avenue near Forty-Fifth Street, New York.

5.  Tefft - Schwarz  Here is a notice of a marriage having already taken place:   Adolph H. Schwarz,  Mary C. Tefft  Married  Thursday, February 14th 1878.   4 Burns Place, Syracuse, N.Y.   An enclosed card seems to be an at-home card:  Mr. & Mrs. A.H. Schwarz,  Empire House, Syracuse, N.Y.  [Empire House was a large hotel by the railway station in Syracuse NY]

6.  Hastings - Rogers  The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage reception of F. Adele Hastings  and  Geo. Tracy Rogers,  Thursday evening April fourteenth, eighteen hundred eighty one, at eight o'clock.  754 Main St.  Buffalo, N.Y.

7.  Graves - Craner  Mr. & Mrs E.C. Graves request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their daughter,  Jennie D.  to Royal K. Craner, Thursday, April 28th, 1881, at 5 o'clock P.M.  Jordan, N.Y.    [Jennie is the daughter of Edward C. Graves, my greatgreatgrandfather Charles Giles GRAVES's brother]

8.  James - Pearson Mr. & Mrs. Thomas L. James request your presence at the marriage of their daughter, on Thursday, April twentieth, at half past seven o'clock.  Church of the Holy Trinity, Madison Ave. & 42d Street.   It's not an oversight as the names of the couple are not listed on this invitation at all.  But - there are four enclosed cards:  (a) Mr. Henry G. Pearson  a larger card: (b) Miss James   an even larger card: (c) Please present this card at the Church  and finally, a large card: (d) Reception from eight until ten  6 East 49th Street.


Contact me if you wish to see the individual cards, and if any of these people are your ancestors, do let me know any details of these brides and grooms.  I'm always excited to add more details to my greatgrandfather's Album inventory.  

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas everyone.  Have a glorious New Year in 2013 with loving family and friends.   - Celia


Friday, November 30, 2012

PAGE 7 - 7 MARRIAGE INVITATIONS

Away from Death & Calling Cards, and into Marriages for this next post! This Souvenir Album belonged to my great-grandfather "Grove" who filled it in;  it was saved by his eldest child, my grandmother, and was carried back and forth through her many moves back and forth across North America, finally ending up in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

The dates of several of these marriages are in the early 1880s, so I can assume that these individuals are friends of either or both James Grover "Grove" TERWILLIGER & Clara Augusta "Gussie" GRAVES. Grove & Gussie were my maternal great-grandparents and lived in New York and in New Jersey. These seven couples are as follows:



Munroe & Williams
Dilks & Robinson
Eggert & Jacques
Jones & Halsted
Rice  & Kelly
McDonald & Little
Snydam & Clark

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  

Munroe & Williams:
"Mr & Mrs Allen Munroe  request your presence at the marriage of their daughter Mary Louise,  to  David Sage Williams, on Wednesday January thirty first at twelve o'clock. West Genessee St.  Syracuse N.Y."

 Dilks & Robinson:
"Mr & Mrs George W Dilks  request your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Josephine,  to  Andrew J Robinson, on Tuesday evening December fifth, at seven o'clock.  University Place Church, 10th Street & University Place"     Enclosed card:  "Reception  from eight until eleven o'clock, 34 West 9th Street"

Eggert & Jacques: 
"Mr & Mrs William Eggert  request your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Vine,  to  John Jacques, Thursday evening March fifteenth at eight o'clock.  Central Congregational Church, Madison Avenue & 47th Street  New York.  1015 Lexington Avenue"    Enclosed card: "Reception, from half past eight until twelve o'clock, Turf Club, Madison Avenue & 26th Street"    *Update from an anonymous comment:  Vine is actually Alvina Eggert, and the year is 1883.

Jones & Halsted:
"Mrs L Russell Jones  requests your presence at the marriage of her daughter, Isabella Ker  to  Newberry O Halsted, Wednesday September 26th 1883, at twelve o'clock, Christ Church, Rye, NY"

Rice  & Kelly:
"Mr & Mrs Edward F Rice  request your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Lizzie E,  to  Andrew W Kelly, Wednesday afternoon, January fourth 1882, at half past five o'clock.  First Presbyterian Church, Syracuse NY"    Enclosed small card: "Please present this card at Church"

McDonald & Little: 
Mrs. J. Grant McDonald  requests the pleasure of your company at the marriage of her daughter, Belle,  to  H. John Little, on Thursday evening, February nineteenth, at half past eight o'clock.  41 West 42nd Street."

Snydam & Clark:
"Mr. & Mrs. L. C. Snydam,  request your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Jessie,  to  Gaylord P. Clark, Wednesday afternoon June fifteenth, at four o'clock.  Baldwinsville, N.Y.  1881" 
(remember Dr. Gaylord P Clark from the Calling cards? became Dean of College of Medicine, Syracuse University; died young).
-  -  -  -  -  

I hope you enjoy checking out some of the links in the above marriage announcements.  It's clear that I'll need to go back through some of the Calling Cards eventually and update the information I find about some of my greatgrandparents' friends.  

As always, do contact me if you wish any information or photographs of the Marriage Invitations of specific individuals.  The next page in the TERWILLIGER SOUVENIR ALBUM, Page 8, contains 8 Marriage Invitations.  A nice symmetry.  

Monday, October 8, 2012

PAGE 6 - CALLING CARDS, BLACK-BORDERED


On this next page of the Souvenirs Album, my great-grandfather Grove carefully glued down 18 Calling Cards, in a rather pretty pattern.

Of these, you can see that 6 have black borders on them (4 thick borders, 2 thin borders), which indicate the person on the card was in mourning.

Interestingly, many of the cards have addresses on them - although I'll have to see if all of those addresses are for New York city, Albany, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Roselle New Jersey, or places further away!  Clearly, Google Maps and I are going to become great friends.

As in previous posts, the links often go to the quirky site Old Fulton NY Post Cards (turn off your speakers!), which has a wonderful searchable database of old New York state newspapers.  If you look at the pages for the person in an article or social note, don't forget to use Control-F to find the name highlighted on the newspaper page.  Of course you'll find lots of interesting distractions as well on the pages!

I've decided to transcribe in 3 horizontal sections from left to right, top down. The mourning cards with black outlining are underlined.  Enjoy clicking through the links here, as well.

Top Row:
  • Left Corner:  Charles H Holt,  #9 Pine Street (penciled), although the printed address on the card is 643 Fifth Avenue.  - Well, the addresses don't match, but I think this is our Charles H. Holt, found on Ancestry.com in the NY 1891 city directory:  occupation  Executor, 1180 Ninth av.  h 47 W. 72d.  That occupation "Executor" is a legal term regarding estate law and related roles; don't confuse the word with Executioner, a quite different role indeed!
  • James Nicolson   - is this the James Nicolson who was active/owner in the Hardware & Metals Trades?  or the James Nicolson advisor to British Admiralty -?  or some other person entirely...?
  • Belle McDonald, 41 West 42nd St.  - possibly the writer of Sunday School books or the woman who penned the fanciful story of how a deer founded what is now Gloversville NY;  possibly this is Mrs. Belle McDonald whose daughter died in 1903 at Oriskany NY.  But I suspect she may be the co-owner of a Millinery store in Johnstown, who bought supplies in New York (Johnstown is a little north of Albany).  Perhaps a totally different friend?
  • Right Corner:  Mr. Charles F. MacLean, 14 Gramercy Park   - This would be the lawyer who became the NY Police Commissioner, and later a Justice of the NY Supreme Court;  died 19 March 1924 in NY.  Unclear who the person is who died (as this mourning card signifies) as his wife was alive in 1924; possibly a parent?   And, ah yes, Gramercy Park - New York City's only private park.  A rather exclusive address, indeed!  I have a memory that my grandmother Terwilliger mentioned coyly that their family had a key to open the gate and visit/play there at times.
Middle Section:
  • Rotated card: Mr. Carlton Rogers Jewett    - I found a lovely photo of Dr. Jewett on a Jewett family tree [Ancestry.com], and a rather gushy write-up of his wedding in 1885, with words like "a very brilliant reception" etc.  Although a physician, he was listed in the newspaper article as both Dr. and Mr. Jewett.
  • Dr. F. H. Dillingham, 118 East 17th St,    - physician in NY,  living with Charles T. Dillingham, publisher, as found on Ancestry.com NY 1882 City Directory.  He was an Assistant Sanitary Superintendent in Manhattan, and worked in the Health Department for about 20 years until resigning in 1902.
  • Rotated card:  Emma Edwards   - so far I've found several likely Miss Emma Edwards, and several Mrs. Emma Edwards, not necessarily the same women, in various towns of New York state.
  • Manfred P. Welcher, Pleasantville N.Y.   - The Rev. Dr. Manfred P. Welcher, "Field Secretary of the Anti-Cigarette League of America"; this organization sought to make illegal the selling of cigarettes and cigarette paper to minors.  In 1902, he is listed as (Rev.),  living in Brooklyn, NY, on Carlton Avenue [Ancestry.com].   Pleasantville is a pretty little town in Westchester county about 30 miles out of town from New York.
  • Rotated card: William W. Hansell, 1705 Summer St     - There was a calling card for a Standish F. Hansell posted on "PAGE 4 - 29 Calling Cards"; perhaps a relative?  Searching on Ancestry.com, 1885 City Directories: William W. Hansell, home residence at 1705 Summer Street in Philadelphia PA, a partner with Merritt Hall,  Hansell & Hall "shoes".   On the same page is listed Standish F. Hansell, and a number of other Hansells, several related to "Hansell & Sons, Saddlers".   Here's a link to a 1901 social notice of a William Hansell off on a 10-day yacht cruise with friends [middle of page].  Another link to a 1902 notice that he had been robbed of money and a gun by a Florida pilot [going through a 'bad channel'], while sailing with the same friends as noted in the 1901 notice.
  • Jas. Terwilliger, 139 Warren Street    - This would be my greatgrandfather  father's card.   This is the manner in which he usually signed his name or put his name on a photo.  Plus, the only other possible James Terwilliger would be his nephew who was born 1886 - too young to have a Calling card for this Album.  As James M. Terwilliger lived in Syracuse for much of his life except until shortly before he died, this address would be for the town of Syracuse 
  • Centre, thick black border:  Mrs. N. G. Wolfe   - Although her mourning card is carefully placed smack in the middle, I've had no luck finding more information about who this person could be, nor her husband, nor her relationship with my Terwilligers. 
  • Below left angled:  Robert S. MacArthur, 130 West 21 (penciled)    - (Rev.) Robert S. MacArthur, was Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, NY; and later, President of the Baptist World Alliance.  See Book link here as well, about the History of Calvary Baptist Church, written by Robert Stuart MacArthur & Frank Rogers Morse, published 1890.
  • Centre rotated card, thick black border:  James P. Ballard,  Jan. 1st, 1883 (penciled)   - This may be the same person nominated (Democratic ticket) for  Assessor-Van Buren.  And likely the same person, whose daughter Florence was married to Frank A. Weber of the Royal Air Force [Britain] on July 13, 1918.   The date penciled on the calling card may be the date of visitation -?  Perhaps someone has a better idea...
  • Right angled card:  Harvey C. Hemingway, 129 Macon St, Brooklyn (penciled)    - In 1895 the Hemingway Preserving Company was incorporated in Auburn NY, with Harvey C. Hemingway, Dwight F. Hemingway, & Edward W. Parmele, as Incorporators and Directors.   In 1900 City Directory, Harvey is listed as Sec-Treas & General Manager of HC & Co Inc., living in Syracuse, NY.  The company was briefly described in the Directory as 'packers and mfrs canning machinery'.  In 1925 the Syracuse City Directory lists him as Pres and gen.mgr; living with two other directors at same home address - 2 sons? Roy W. & Stuart C.  
Bottom Row:
  • Left Corner, thin black border:  Miss Carrie E. Gibson, 42 East 29th St .  - I believe this might be the Carrie Gibson who married J. Frank Hull and settled in Poughkeepsie.  Before her marriage, she was quite musical (singing); there is a newspaper account of her conducting a choir of young children for a special event held at Cherry St. Chapel, Poughkeepsie.
  • Charles Harris, 278 Carroll St    - There are many many Charles Harris individuals listed in New York in the late 1800s and early 1900s - [over 20] too many to identify this particular person, and none to  match the same address, which is in Brooklyn, by the way.
  • Augustus E. Jardine   - In 1910 Atlantic City N.J. Directory, [Ancestry.com] he is listed w. wife Mary; occupation as vice-pres and gen mgr Atlantic City Transportation Co..  Ten years earlier, in 1900 Federal Census of Smyrna Delaware, [Ancestry.com] he is listed with wife Mary and son Edward, his occupation was Sec-Treasurer of Transport co.   He died 18 October 1925 and is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY.
  • Right Corner, thin black border:  Mrs. William H. Strickland, 87 Madison Ave.    -  The assumption is that it's not her husband who died [she would likely then card herself as Mrs. -her given name- Strickland].  One possibility is found in 3 March 1891: "William H. Strickland, one of the lumbar kings of the Penobscot River, died in his home in Bangor last Friday, aged 61 years."  Or... was he an agent for travelling entertainers?  And who is she? 
There you have it - an entire page of interesting Calling Cards including Mourning Cards.  A lot of searching and digging through potential names in New York state, as well as other possibilities that showed up in searches.  At some point, one has to quit and put this up online... I'm definitely NOT doing an exhaustive search here for this project, simply a brief logical search through several different databases, checking maps as well.  

Once again, if you know any of these listed people, do let me know the correct details or any stories of them.  I'd be thrilled to be able to add to the inventory of my greatgrandfather's Souvenirs Album.  


Tuesday, September 18, 2012

PAGE 5 - NEWBURGH CENTENNIAL 1883

I definitely need a lesson in American History here...  there are so many items and images on this lovely Newburgh Centennial memorial card which are clearly symbolic of the end of the Revolutionary War (which in Canada in the 1950s I had learned as the War of Independence).   Also, there are 4 calling cards on each corner of the page.


  NEWBURGH CENTENNIAL
    Commemorating the Closing Events of the Revolution
    13 star symbols in a large arc

- A central image of a meeting place/home with roadway with partially-open metal gate in front,  trees losing foliage in background around building.  This is likely Washington's Headquarters, the Hasbrouk House.
- 2 laurel wreaths hanging off crossed spears at top corners of image.
- Two additional crossed spears holding up a flag.
- A musket and sword crossed in front of the image with the sword point opening the gate.
- A small snare drum to the right of the image.
- There is a small round item in the forefront, resting on the ground, and a wiggly item next to it - neither of which I can identify.... items to do with musketry?

Four sentences, written in graceful arcs:
Left side:
Washington refused
    the Crown  May 22d 1782.

     Washington's reply to the
Newburgh letters March 15th 1783.

Right side:
     Washington's proclamation of
peace to the Army  April 18th 1783.

                      Army disbanded by
order of Congress  Oct. 18th  1783.


Below the image in a straight line:

THURSDAY,  OCTOBER,  18TH  1883.
                            COMMITTEE

      PETER WARD, CHAIRMAN             J. T. HEADLEY
        J. J. S. McCROSKERY                     M. H. HIRSCHBERG
        J. C. ADAMS                                   R. V. K. MONTFORT,  SECRETARY


NB: Peter Ward was Mayor of Newburgh NY
======================================  
For more information on the Newburgh Centennial in October 1883, I have included links here, and here,  for those interesting in reading more about the celebration as well as about the published reasons for the centennial.  Fascinating eye-witness accounts, with speeches, poem, prayer, and more.
======================================

Four Calling Cards: 
Now we come to those Calling cards of four women, 3 of whom as their married state.  Were they close friends or colleagues who sat with my ancestors on that day of celebration?  Did they make up a party of celebrants?  Were they wives of men who were taking an active role in the Celebration?  Random women who sat at a buffet table with them?  These are four women completely unknown to me.

My main searches were on Fulton History newspapers website  as well as on Ancestry.com (censuses, newspapers, directories).  It is possible that these women have nothing at all to do with each other nor with the Centennial, but may have been fitted into the space for convenience.  Sigh.  I have so many questions.

Top Left:
Mrs. J Albert Lum  - no specific person comes to light in a quick search on Fulton History newspapers, nor on Ancestry... 

Top Right:    
Mrs. Albert A Palmer - there are many Albert Palmer men, with many middle initials [e.g., J, P, M, W];  possibly this is the wife of the New York photographer... but not proven

Bottom Left:
Lillian Eddy, of 350 Lexington Avenue; possibly the Miss Lillian Eddy who gave a recitation at the June 27, 1891 first convention of the Y.W.C.T.U. "to the delight of all";  or the Miss Lillian Eddy who was an early advocate for the Hamburg NY Public Library (are they the same person?).  The address could be in Albany NY, or New York (Lexington at 40th).  

Bottom Right:
Mrs. James Brooks Dill -  I found a 1910 New York Herald report of her husband's Doctor of Law degree, stating he is currently "Judge of the Court of Errors and Appeals of New Jersey"; he was also author of "Dill on Corporations", and died in December 1910 after a short illness... however I don't yet have his wife's name.

Perhaps I'll find more information about these 4 women as we go through the many marriage cards and other items in the Souvenir Album.  So many names, so little information.

The next page in the Souvenirs Album is - of course - many Calling Cards once more!  But six of these cards have black borders around them.   Perhaps I will be able to find more information on them - I can only hope.

Do contact me if you have information on any of the people mentioned above, or if you wish more details.

Friday, September 7, 2012

PAGE 4 - 29 Calling Cards!


Oh, my greatgrandfather!! So many Calling cards - and this isn't even all of them.  There is still another full page of Calling cards, plus he has a few tucked here and there on pages later on in the Album.  I do wish he'd written some little tiny word or two scrawled on each card - that would have been so helpful, wouldn't it?

Here is the photo of the page, and you can see he's tried for a designed page but then pasted a few odd ones in here and there at the end.  Well, he wasn't very creative but was definitely very detailed and thorough!  I'll start at top left, and work my way more or less across the page.  That makes 5 rows, more or less.

Much of the information about these people has been found on the fascinating site Old Fulton New York, with databases of old newspapers in northern New York state, plus old postcards, and more.

Top row, 1:
  • F H Stewart   - 1868 Rochester City Directory lists same as "hairdresser; h 3 Cedar" - could it be this person?
  • Genevieve Roberts  - several Genevieve Roberts' in newspapers of 1800s into 1940s, so difficult to decide which might be correct one by age/relationship; perhaps a contemporary of my grandmother
  • Wm T Baker  - businessman; a social listing Aug 23, 1891, Utica Sunday Tribune, states Mr & Mrs Wm T Baker returned from a month's stay at Long Beach, on the Atlantic";  he is also listed Jan 11, 1906 as 1 of 7 Directors of newly incorporated business, The Clayville Knitting Co. of Utica.
  • Florence L Tolford  - not certain of which age group is correct for this particular Florence, is this a friend of  2ndGreatgrandfather's, greatgrandfather's, or grandmother's social group
  • George D Huling   - many Huling families in NY, but I couldn't find this particular George D Huling in a brief search; a Beekman Huling in Saratoga Springs published a Whig paper in early-mid 1800s, and this George might be a relative?
  • Tillie Vetter  - Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper, Sunday Feb. 12th, 1911, lists Tillie as member of women's chorus of Minstrel show; likely a friend of my grandmother's
Next row down, 2:
  • Uda/Ada? G Cook   -  Many Ada Cooks in NY state, unable to determine person
  • Edward E Thomas [sideways]  - an Edward E Thomas is living in Albany during 1800s, possibly this man
  • Sam'l L Maralious   - what a wonderfully unusual surname! Sam'l is listed in 1884 NY City Directory, occupation Clerk, living at 166 E 67th 
  • E L Wadsworth    - Who knew there were so many E L Wadsworth men? One is listed in 1866 IRS tax assessment as an Insurance agent; another living in Saratoga Springs; one in Auburn; another in New Hartford. Sigh.  Hmm - the Auburn one seems to be a member of the Auburn City Lodge K of P, No 195, according to an 1897 list of "secret societies" [found on www.fultonhistory.com].  
  • Walter R Leggatt    - a New York Lawyer, former member of  NY County Republican Committee; d. of "typhoid pneumonia" 28 Aug 1889 in CT
  • Nellie E Whitlock   - m. Thomas Hogan [lawyer] in April 1886; unfortunately in the following week, his brother Patrick died of a cardiac condition (as reported in The Syracuse Standard, May 3, 1886)
Next row down, 3:
  • F C Rust   - hmmm, his card was on a previous page; still don't know who he is
  • Bryan Collins   - possibly this is the Bryan Collins who was a baritone singer in the 1890s
  • Dr. Gaylord P Clark   - physician/educator, Dean of College of Medicine at Syracuse University, Syracuse NY
  • Emma H Marquette  - seems to be a friend of my grandmother's; several newspapers mention her: 1906 [camping trip] and 1910 [bookkeeper/stenographer trained at Thorpe's]
  • George Klinck   - several George Klinck men found; one in Utica December 27, 1882, is noted to be one of several of the oldest members of the Oriental Lodge (Masonic order); another/same man of the New York Custom House
Next row down, 4:
  • Carrie V DeSand   - unable to find information on this young woman
  • *C Gussie Graves  - Grove's wife-to-be, Clara Augusta "Gussie" Graves; married in 1879
  • N H Melius   - professional musician, specializing in harmonica as well as trombone; 1870s and 1880s
  • Mamie F Hewes, 4 West 47 - perhaps the wife of Williard Hewes, living in NY city; seems abt same age as my grandmother (b.1800s)
  • Mrs. Standish F Hansell   - The only Standish F(orde) Hansell seems to have lived in Philadelphia
    - penciled on same card : Mrs. A W Palmer  -  too many Palmers in NY, and no A.W. Palmer that I could easily found.  Clearly the two women came to visit together, as friends.  A brief search did not find anything I could hang my hat on for these two.
Bottom row, 5:
  • Charles Carroll Smith  - February 20, 1908, The Syracuse Herald, has a column stating that Charles Carroll Smith is busily compiling the alphabetical index of births, deaths, and marriages for 1906, in the Bureau of Vital Statistics; other articles note an author of several books; and both an elder and younger gentleman of same name.  One 1891 article  describes a Charles Carroll Smith [Charley] as the "beau" of Saratoga Springs.  Which one do you pick for the Calling card -?  Are they the same person?
  • Rev. Daniel P Ward, 343 West 25th Street  - "well-known for his charity and activity", d. at age 47 of heart disease, according to The NY Times, Sunday January 13, 1901
  • Richard L E  Ihle   - an unusual name, several possibilities, but not one which seems most likely
  • Gussie Booth   - appears to be a contemporary of my greatgrandmother's; likely to be the young woman married in Syracuse to a Mr. Bertram, Conductor of the NY Special train in early 1880s
  • Mr. J Henry Albee, No. 137 West 42nd St.   - no specific information on this gentleman
  • Carrie Magee    - hmmm, could this be the same Carrie Magee who married April 16, 1885, to George Woodburn 
    - penned on same card:  Sara Furniss  - no information found for Sara
  • Mrs. Clare A Benedict   - Emma Gertrude (Graves) Benedict, a cousin of Grove's wife, Gussie
The next page in the Souvenirs Album relates to the Newburgh Centennial... What do you know about that? Hmmm.  With of course, 4 Calling cards pasted into corners of the page.  I'm looking forward to writing about it, and showing you the outsized card about it.  

I hope you're enjoying the journey through my greatgrandfather's Souvenirs Album.  There are many pages with odd and unusual items, as well as relatively common items like these Calling cards.  I just realized I'm mentioning various ancestors with no names:

  1. my 2nd greatgrandfather:  James M. TERWILLIGER (1825-1909), m. Harriet BUELL 1851
  2. my greatgrandfather - the owner/compiler of this Souvenir Album:  James Grover "Grove" TERWILLIGER (1856-1929), m. Clara Augusta "Gussie" GRAVES 1875
  3. my grandmother (maternal): Marguerite Josephine  "Daisy" "GrandPete" TERWILLIGER (1880-1973), m. Charles Edward KUHN 1910.
If you know more information about any of the people listed above, do let me know.  And if any of them are your ancestors or known to you, certainly do contact me.  I'm happy to provide close-up photographs of each card to you, or answer any of your questions.  

Sunday, August 26, 2012

PAGE 3 - CALLING CARDS (25) - Part 2

See Part 1 for the previous top 3 rows - 15 Calling cards.

I am trying to do a brief search for all the names on the Calling cards on these Album pages.  It is quite challenging to find details quickly for the unmarried women, particularly if they use a nickname or shortened form of their given name, for example:
  - Georgie could come from Georgia, Georgina, Georgianne.
  - Jennie could come from Jennifer, Janet, Jennet, Jane.
I'm hoping that I can find more details for these many unmarried young women when I come to other items in the Album such as marriage invitations or other social events.

Here are the final 2 rows of 10 Calling cards on Page 3 of the Souvenirs Album.  

Second Row from bottom, 4, left to right:

  • George B Best    - possibly the Commissioner of Bridges (as described in 1905 NY newspaper)
  • Josephine G Talford    - not enough clues to find her details
  • F C Rust     - 1875 Syracuse Sunday Times lists a Q.M. Sergt. F.C. Rust, on two committees for an Annual Reception and Ball for the Sumner Corps, April 14th;  likely correct person  
  • May E Kales    -  not able to find her details
  • Geo H Sheldon    - likely the man active in politics: in 1912, a George H Sheldon was noted as Treasurer of the Republican National Committee in Syracuse Newspaper; earlier in 1877, listed as Fire Marshall, but not certain this is one and same man
Bottom Row, 5:
  • Jennie S Allen     - again, unknown young woman
  • Burt J McGrew     - You'd think this name would be unusual enough to find the man easily... not so
  • Gussie A Moore      - again, unknown young woman
  • Will C Graves     - William Cornelius Graves, b. 1856 Jordan NY, a cousin of Grove Terwilliger; died at aged 42 yrs; "... Owing to sickness, the funeral will be private."  Never married.
  • May L Harker     - not as unusual name as I thought - no clues found 
My greatgrandfather, James Grover "Grove" TERWILLIGER, clearly mixed in Calling cards from his father and mother's social circles as well as his and his wife's, on these many pages of Calling cards.  I'm hoping that when there are related items further into the Album, that they will be solely of his circle. We'll see.

For all the women's names - and others - if I find more information on them further in the Souvenirs Album, I will update the pages.  And if you know more details and information, I'm happy to add this, or do a substantial comment below the page.   Do contact me at any time about any of these cards or information.

Thank you for coming to look at these social cards.  The fonts and styles are quite interesting, aren't they?  Ornate calligraphy, embellished Olde English, simple cursive, and print versions.  I'm surprised at the variety shown on the cards.  Click on the link to Old English capitals, to help read some of the more ornate versions.

PAGE 3 - CALLING CARDS (25) - Part 1

Several relatives' calling cards are included in this page of Calling Cards.   This post, Part 1, will include 15 cards; the next post, Part 2, will include the remaining 10 cards.

Apologies for the lack of sharpness in the photos.  I've asked my brother Jake to help me with replacement photographs.  He's a wonderful amateur photographer when he's not working in his actual profession, real estate.

As you see, this page has 25 cards in quite tidy rows of 5 columns in both directions.  The names will be listed in columns across, from left to right, top row #1 to bottom row #5

Top Row, 1, left to right:
  •  Georgie A Palmer    - ornate lettering and nickname implies a girl... style of card, implies unmarried; can't find any engagement/marriage cards for a Palmer in the Album, so she's unknown
  •  J L Parker    - a business card: with Arnold, Constable & Co., 19th St. & Broadway, New York; CARPET DEPARTMENT; check out the link for more information on this wonderful old business, and photos of the building!
  • Florence E Graves    - Florence Estelle Graves, my greatgrandmother's younger sister, the youngest of the 3 girls of Charles G Graves and Harriet P Ormsbee; b. 3 Feb 1860 NY.  As she was married 6 Sep 1893, this clearly predates her marriage to Ernest F Tyler
  • Mrs E C Hall    - I see no clues for this person to date
  • Jennie A Hitchcock    - one more unmarried woman, not known
Next Row, 2:
  • Frank A Johnson    - Hmm - There seems to be a Frank A Johnson associated with the Legion; and another who was a Principal of a school in Binghamton NY in the late 1800s; not clear which -if either- is this person
  • Laura M Silliman   - a number of possibilities, but not specific enough to identify this unmarried woman
  • Dr F E Stewart   -  I believe he was a general physician ("allopath" - Western medicine treatments), who died in the late 1920s
  • Jennie E Cole    -  clearly another unmarried young woman
  • G H Hull     - This may be George H Hull, an economist who published a book in NY, 1911
Middle Row, 3:
  • Fannie R Sanger     - likely to be the Fannie Sanger who married Feb.1905 to Arthur Statham; "guests from Syracuse..." stated in NY newspaper account
  • Lillie Burdett     - another unmarried young woman, few clues
  • Daisy Terwilliger   -  my maternal grandmother; see *below for close-up of card and more details.
  • Lillian Graves     - Lillian is the eldest of the three Graves sisters: Lillian, Gussie, and Florence; Lillian married a lawyer, Gabriel W Wisner; they had 4 children, the only girl named for her youngest sister Florence.
  • Maud H Schiffer    - 1880 Census shows 11 yr old Maud H Schiffer living w. widowed mother in Albany NY; possibly the correct person
I'm hoping that, by the time I've gone through each and every item in the Souvenirs Album, I'll be able to identify a few more of these people.  Perhaps they will show up in recitals, marriage invitations, other social events, or additional records pasted into this Album.  Dig, dig, dig...

* Here is a close-up of  Daisy Terwilliger's Calling card, with a hand-drawn daisy she drew on it.  Daisy is James Grover Terwilliger's eldest child, my grandmother, Marguerite Josephine Terwilliger.  And, if you know anything in flowers, likely you will know that a marguerite is a type of daisy, thus the family nickname.   She loved to draw, and often did sketches of places and people for fun.  She married in 1910, so this is earlier than that, likely about 1900ish when she was an adult, about 20 or so.

The remaining 10 Calling cards on this Album page - Rows 4 and 5, will be completed in the next post.  Whew!   Do you know any of these surnames or people?  I would love to be able to update the information with any details that may be known or found.  If any of these cards are of your ancestors, do feel free to contact me.

The next post will complete this third page of 25 cards.  You'll never guess what the next page is, right?   Whoops, you guessed it.  That's correct - MORE calling cards - 29, I think.  I hope you enjoy these Calling Cards and the glimpse they give into the social life of ancestors in the mid-late 1800s.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

PAGE 2 - More CALLING CARDS (14)

On Page 2 of the Souvenirs Album, are 14 Calling Cards.  Aren't they arranged in a pretty way?

I wish I knew how and why he organized them the way he did.  It may have been relatively random, or it may have to do with the period of time in which he put this Album together.  Perhaps he had a box of these cards and he simply reached in and grabbed 14 of them - and here they are!


 Left Row, slanted:
  • Mrs Sam'l L Maralious  - Samuel was a Clerk in the Civil Service, living at 166 E. 67th NY, in 1884; I didn't find his wife's name in a brief search
  • Dr J E Stillwell  -  I believe this is the same person who wrote several Genealogical/Historical volumes, as well as a Stillwell genealogy/family history book  *Perhaps he encouraged Grove to put this Album together... I wonder.
  • Emma A Grose   
Middle-left column Row:
  • Mrs J G Humberg   - JG Humberg NY either Clerk, or owned Strawgds business, acc. to NY Directories
  • Theodore T Munroe    - Deputy Collector, Treasury Department, 1881 
  • Grace E Irish
  • Benj H Toquet   - Drawing Teacher, Grammar School No.20, listed in 1888; Artist in 1877 NY City Directory
Middle-right column Row:
  • Thomas E Deeley  - his wife's calling card was on previous page [see previous post] 
  • Miss Gussie Graves   - Clara Augusta Graves, became James M.Terwilliger's wife.  See *below for close-up
  • Mr George Stewart Stitt    - Lawyer in NY state, d. 1890
  • Alvine Eggert    - such an unusual name, but a brief search found no records  
Right Row, slanted: 
  • Mrs Grenville D Wilson    - this is Josephine;  her husband was a professor, music teacher, composer and musician; started Nyack Choral Group; d. 1897
  • E B Judson, Jr      - Director of Syracuse trolley line 1889;   also was V.Pres. of First National Bank in Syracuse; his father, E B Judson, was the President of same bank
  • Miss Estelle Walter   

*A close-up of the Calling Card of his soon-to-be bride, Miss Gussie Graves.  James Grover "Grove" Terwilliger married Clara Augusta "Gussie" Graves, 2 Oct 1879, in Syracuse.


The details of individuals above, should be considered "likely" but not proven.  They may be found with Googling the specific name plus New York and a date range of 1880-1900.  The details should be checked more thoroughly if these are likely to be your ancestors. 

As before, if you would like more information or details of any of these cards, including a better close-up of any card, contact me.  I'd be happy to assist.   If you have information or details on the names and other information I have put here, please do let me know and I will do "addendums" to the pages (eventually).

My greatgrandfather had many calling cards, and the very next page in his Souvenirs Album has - Gasp! -  a total of 25 Calling Cards!   I may need to break the page into two posts, in order to research the names briefly, as well as display them adequately.


Sunday, August 19, 2012

PAGE 1 - CALLING CARDS (14)

The first page of the Souvenirs Album contains a page of Calling cards, one with an original signature, as you can see clearly.  These are various friends, family, and colleagues, apparently.

Where I can find information on the names, I am including what I can find, in brief.  Always do your own research, if these are names in your family trees.
Top row: 3 cards 
  • Mrs. A. H. Schwarz   -  I believe her husband was the Ass't Superintendent of the Oswego & Syracuse Railway Co.
  • E. Willard Tuthill 
  • Mrs. Standish F. Hansell  -     Standish Forde Hansell was an entrepreneur and businessman.  This is his wife, Emma.  
Second Row: 4 cards
  • Nellie A. Robinson
  • Willis Wolford
  • Lillian Terwilliger  - Lillian was the 1st cousin of James Grover Terwilliger.
  • R. M. Richardson, Jr.  - is this possibly the son of General R.M. Richardson of Syracuse? 
Third Row:  3 cards
  • Robt Townsend
  • Annie L. Clark
  • R. Worthington Nason   - this person may well be named for Henry Rossiter Worthington, who was a hydraulic engineer and businessman, and also president of Nason Manufacturing Company in NY
Bottom Row: 4 cards
  • Miss Nason    - likely the daughter of R. Worthington Nason (above)
  • Edw E Thomas   
  • Grace Leavitt
  • Thomas E Deeley 

If any of these people are related to you, I am happy to take a close-up photo of the calling card for your own records.  And, if you have information on any of these people, do please share your knowledge!  I'd be thrilled to find out more about the people in my ancestors' lives.

Next post:  29 calling cards, laid out rather interestingly on the second page of the Souvenir Album.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Inside Front Cover

Oh my goodness - the inside front cover has so many glued-down items!  I had to take new photos in order to show them clearly to everyone.  Sorry for the date on the photo... I'll check the settings for future photos.

Some of these items date from 1827, and go up to 1870s.  

Note that any time a "James/Jas Terwilliger" is shown on a record on this specific page, it is for my 2nd greatgrandfather, James M. Terwilliger (and I have no idea of what the "M" stood for!). 


Starting at the top left, there is a ribbon commemorating the 1842 opening of the Croton Aqueduct    Check out details of this water supply system, with photos online.  The hand-written comment at the bottom says: "Aqueduct removed in 1900".  If you want a listing of what was written, and who all was named at the bottom of the ribbon, write me and I'll be happy to send you details.


Next, along the top going right, is a list of the 1847 Whig Ticket, Elected.  Here's a photo of the names on the Right side of this page.  Recognize any of those people?

Along the right hand side of the paper is hand-written:  "Whig Ticket  Fall of 1847   Elected" - I'm not certain if it is written in my 2nd greatgrandfather's, although it does look like it. 


Beside the 1847 State Assembly list, is another list, 1848 Whig Ticket, for DeWitt, Onondaga County, NY.   See photo on Left side.  Several persons were elected on this list, including my 2nd greatgrandfather, James Terwilliger (minus the M on this list) shown on the bottom of the list as "Inspector of Election. District No.2."   Along the side is hand-written: "Town of DeWitt, Onondaga co."  And, along the bottom, is hand-written, "Whig Ticket, Spring of 1848"

On the extreme right top corner of the inside cover, is a ribbon with NEA  Denver '95.  I had to go digging for this one.  It stands for the 1895 Denver National Education Association Convention.  I was not sure why this was glued in here; as far as I knew, neither Terwilliger was involved in Education, but there it is, filling a space on the inside of the front cover.  James M. had a younger stepsister, a teacher, so perhaps from his relation with her.


Next comes a mystery - is it a cheque? a receipt?  what is it about?  Here are photos of back and front,  dated New York, June 5, 1827.   

This appears to be a cheque from Winfield Scott for $100, payable to M. Mayo Scott - his daughter, Maria Mayo Scott.   The reverse shows what appears to be the very same hand (Winfield Scott's writing?) as endorsement, and with additional writing in a very ornate calligraphic script - people? places? purposes?   Any suggestions for the writing here?   It's extremely challenging to read.



Is it for a debt of his daughter?  It does seem to say something about "recd payt" above the final signature on the reverse - a Willard Carb?  I cannot make out all the words, although I believe I can read, "James Cram Co."  just above.   None of which provides history to me - in particular, how on earth did my greatgrandfather receive this document, and why?  In what way was he involved or known to this famous general - or his daughter!  What is it doing glued down in the inside front cover here of the Souvenirs Album?!   I've given up at this moment.


Let's go along the bottom of the page now:  starting with bottom left. Here we have a silk menu from the October 12th 1860 historic Dinner and Ball in honor of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.  The Prince of Wales was 18 yr old Albert Edward, later known as King Edward VII.   

This fabulous luxurious event was held at Delmonico's - a lavish spectacle.  Drool over the foods, all listed in French of course.  
I particularly like the bottom section where it describes Pieces Montees, which are spectacular confectionary centerpieces - in the shape of Queen Victoria and her Consort, Prince Albert, and also the "SS Great Eastern" [a sailing steam ship], and finally, "Flora's Vase" (the latter shows no photo, so I'm not sure what it looks like).    Apparently these four centerpieces were absolutely out of this world, according to newspaper reports.  And at the bottom of the menu is printed the following:  "Silver Fountain, etc., etc."   Hmmm, I wonder what the "etc." covered!  

The next item over from the HRH 1860 menu, is another political Ticket:  the Spring 1847 Temperance Ticket for the town of DeWitt, Onondaga Co., NY.   

My 2nd greatgrandfather, James Terwilliger, was elected as Inspector, Election District 2.  Above on this page, he shows as elected in 1848 as well.   Clearly my 2nd greatgrandfather had political aspirations.  
James M. TERWILLIGER

A little information on this politician, James M. Terwilliger: He was born 30 Jan 1825 in New Scotland, Albany, NY and married Harriet F. Buell in 1851; he died 18 Oct 1909 in Roselle, New Jersey, at the home of his son, James Grover Terwilliger.  

My greatgrandfather James Grover Terwilliger - whose Souvenirs Album this is - was born 27 May 1856 in Syracuse NY.  By 1860[US Census] his family were shown as settled in Syracuse, Onondaga County, NY.  He married Clara Augusta "Gussie" Graves 2 Oct 1879 in Jordan NY; and died 17 Mar 1929 in Englewood, NJ.  Gussie outlived him, dying 30 Oct 1955 in Florida at the age of 97.



The next item by the right inside edge of the page, is a paper Dominion of Canada 25 cent paper bill.   This version is glued tightly to the cover so I can't turn it over, unfortunately, for more information.  However, it is clearly the version issued in 1870. Click on the link here for details on this unusual print of money - these were known as shinplasters.   


Whew!  Almost done this first page.  The remainder of the bottom right page is filled with 6 hotel logos - I'm assuming these were brought back from various travels.  Starting with the two on the top right: 

The Seelbach Hotel in Louisville KY (now a 4 star Hilton Hotel).  


Second right, is the Hotel Duquesne in Pittsburgh PA.  It must have changed hands enough that I can't find any records of it at this point.  Anyone know if it's still there with it's current name?  


Next, bottom left corner, is the Hotel Cecil in New York City.  Another hotel that doesn't seem to be present at this time.  

Next - the gold logo of  an unknown purpose... a hotel?  institution?  Any specialists in heraldry reading this?  Any identifying letters are soooooo tiny, my old eyes can't read them even with a magnifier!  I'm assuming a hotel.   Here's a closeup on the right.   


Next, the red logo on blue background, Brighton Beach Hotel in New York City, which was by Coney Island.  Another one which is no longer known.   Read about the amazing 9-day move of this hotel in 1888!  Definitely amazing.  

The final bottom left corner of this inside front cover is torn at the corner, but appears to be The Battersea [Hotel?].  Another place no longer found when searching online.  


Whew!  This took much of the day to photograph, and write up... I hope you have enjoyed the history and odd bits and pieces of this first post of what is inside my greatgrandfather's Souvenirs Album.  


The next page has over a dozen calling cards... who will they be?   Tune in - soon - for the next page.


Cheers.