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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.