FOREWORD  TO “CARRIE’S AUTOGRAPH ALBUM”

Today’s expanded interest in genealogy not only includes an insatiable thirst for the who
and where of  our predecessors, but for some of us,  there’s an urge to probe into the
society and customs of the days in which these people lived.  We become fascinated by
newspapers, diaries, letters, and in my case, autograph albums, too.  They can be very
attractive vehicles of portraying friendships, family closeness, and in most instances, can
give us a glimpse of  those within a cultural circle.  Although I have found and transcribed
several very interesting diaries, this autograph album is special.  The person who toted this
album to church, meetings, parties and shopping trips was not related to me.  She was,
however, a member of the family who adopted my father in 1905.    

Carrie Chapman was born in Jefferson County, N. Y. on February 19, 1875 (some records
use February 9th), the daughter of Simeon and Eliza Chapman.  She married William W.
Conklin, born July 18, 1870, son of Theodore and Laurentine Wallace Conklin, on
October 4, 1893 at a neighbor’s home, that of  J. Hamburg.  After their marriage the
couple lived on the Conklin property in the Town of Hounsfield in Jefferson County, N.
Y.  Her husband, his brother, and his father were partners in a farming operation. In 1898
a double house was built on the property.  Will and Carrie lived in one portion of the
house.  Their only child, a  daughter, Rosamond Eliza Conklin, was born there on March
13, 1902.  At some later point, I think the family  lived on what was called the Liddy farm
in the far eastern end of the Town of Hounsfield.   Later, the family owned a farm along
the Indian River near Evans Mills. The couple celebrated their 25th anniversary, but the
exact location of the event remains unidentified.  A poem written for the occasion by  
Minnie A. Conklin may be found at the back of the book.  Will passed away on January
14, 1919.  I was told that Carrie then married a John Allen (name not yet confirmed).  She
passed away at age 47 on October 15, 1922 (date not yet confirmed).   
  
The book I compiled of these autographs contained the entries in various handwriting
styles similar to the originals.  Unfortunately, for this Internet presentation, I am not
expert enough to do that.  The spelling, grammar, and style have not been changed.  
Handwriting was an art back in the days when these autographs were written.  All the
entries were penned with an attractive, forward style.  Nowadays, the trend seems to be
backhand, which, in my opinion, doesn’t lend itself to beauty.  

When chronicling the entries I noticed a discrepancy  as to the date of the first entry.  
The first autograph, I believe, was written by Carrie’s brother-in-law, Herbert D. Conklin,
 on  December 25, 1893. It was from “Bert” that Carrie received the album, probably as a
Christmas gift.  A gal by the name of Sarah Fleming, Theresa, N. Y. appears to have
written the wrong date on her entry on June 2, 1893, which is several months before the
album was given to Carrie.   The latest entry appears to have been written on July 9, 1905, 
by a visiting relative, W. J. Chapman of Everett, Washington.  However, most of the
entries were written when Carrie was between the ages of 18 and 24.

Carrie appears to have had a wide circle of friends and relatives.  My limited research 
into Carrie’s roots hasn’t produced an exact birthplace, perhaps it was Clayton or
Theresa, N. Y.  It seems almost certain that her teenage years were spent in the
Theresa-Evans Mills-Philadelphia area of Jefferson County.   Many of the names in the
album are associated with residents of those towns.  The friends who wrote those entries
give the reader clues that “going to town” (Brownville) was a fun affair.  Apparently,
these girls came to the farm near Brownville on visits to see their friend, Carrie.
Somehow, they always fit in a shopping expedition or two and it was on these occasions
that the girls set up memories only hinted at in these autographical entries.  We shall have
to remain curious.  Being a farm wife at the age of 18 must have been very confining for a
young lady with many friends.       

It was recently told to me that Carrie, at some point in her life, became a member of the
Eastern Star, perhaps there in Brownville.  There was some hint that this caused a bit of
a financial burden on the household.  Evidence of a financial strain is apparent in her letter 
 written in August of 1908 to her sister-in-law, Minnie Conklin. I have included the letter
 at the back of the book.  
 
The entries made by those with Canadian addresses cause me to wonder if Carrie’s
parents had Canadian roots.  Perhaps the family vacationed in the Canadian sites
of Kingston, Point Traverse, and South Bay.  There were several entries by those who
lived in Watertown.  Several were written by neighbors and, I believe, some were 
scribed by those who attended church with Will and Carrie.  The book I compiled contains
a tabulation which represents my guess at the relationships.  For anybody interested, I
hope to be able to send that to you.   I am hoping that the tabulation will also serve to
assist those looking for an ancestor of the 1890’s.   In the remarks section of the
tabulation, a woman’s maiden or married name may appear.  This may be helpful in
identifying an ancestor.   

The diary measures 3-1/4” x 6-1/4”.  Its color is brownish red and forget-me-nots are
embossed and have an almost enamelized feel when touched.  Perhaps I shall get my
husband to put up a photo of the album in the photograph section of my website.  The
front and back inside covers are in a moire taffeta-like heavy paper.  There are four
colorful pictures in the book. Carrie’s husband called the album a “garden spot.”  I would
have agree that these adornments were lovely gardens of greenery and flowers, aptly
accompanying the treasured words written to Carrie.   Some of the pages are decorated
with what appears to have been pencil sketches, and one wonders if perhaps these were
some type of transfer.  

Let’s see if the reader agrees that our Carrie probably had a very pleasant, fun-loving 
personality so worthy of these precious autographical entries. I think you will agree that
she must have been a wonderful friend, also.   Enjoy.  
                       						  
							Shirley C. Farone
					           		Ashland, Ohio
October 10, 1997 
Modified Foreword for Internet - April 4, 2000

Note - April 4, 2000 -- The album is now in the possession of Carrie’s granddaughter,
Mrs. Ray O’Connor of CT.

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