Last week I published the first part the journey into the autograph book of Arthur Nathan Jordan of Dunlap, Iowa. This week we will continue through the remainder of this priceless treasure. But before we begin….pause here for a moment…..as I was imaging the pages of this book it made me reflect on times gone by. Could our ancestors have even imagined that this small memento would have stood the test of time and still be here for examination some 133 years later? Better yet, would they have been amazed at the strides that technology has taken and that I am able to share these dip pen signatures with you via a digital camera, a battery powered scanner and the internet?
On to the book:
Artie Oct 13, 1881
When things don’t go to suit you,
And the world seems upside down,
Don’t waste the time in fretting,
But drive away the frown.
Ollie C Martin
Erieville, N.Y.
I don’t know who this Ollie (probably Oliver is, but I will put him on my research list)
The next entry is also a bit of a mystery to me. Initially I thought that this signature said “Juanita Martin”, but there are no known Juanita’s in this family. With handwriting, first impressions are often difficult to “unsee” but I kept working at this one and began to think it was GrandMA Martin. Today, just now as I type this out, I know that it is GrandPA Martin! The line “Aged 73” clinches it for me.
Dear Artie
Your book is so clean and white
I hardly dare to try to write
but when this tree you see
remember me
when far away in distant lands
Grandpa Martin
Aged 73 Sept 25 81
Cazenovia
These lines were written by Nathan Holman Martin, father of Electa Martin (Jordan) and grandfather of Arthur Nathan Jordan. The endearing little tree in the bottom left corner took time and effort to complete. I can only discern the word “artist” but I cannot figure out the other two (three?) words. If you have an idea, please share them in a comment. I am open to any and all ideas or information. Note: Nathan’s wife Susanna Cook would have been too young in 1881, only 68. Sadly, she would pass the year after this visit. She and Nathan are buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Cazenovia, New York.
To Artie
May God bless
you
Auntie Julia E. Martin
Julia E. Hall was the wife of Lyman L Martin; Electa’s brother and thereby Arthur’s “Auntie”. He also signed the book and his entry is farther down in this post.
Cousin Lillie Martin
Vernon, N.Y.
This entry confuses me. Lillian Julia Martin was the daughter of Julia (Hall) and Lyman Martin. However, she would have been only 4 1/2 in September of 1881. I would guess that one of her parents signed the book on her behalf.
Albert Martin
Lebanon
N.Y
M E Martin
I would surmise that Albert Martin is Albert Smith Martin (1828-1915), the brother of Nathan Holman Martin. I am not sure about M E Martin….more research required.
To Artie
To thine own self be true and keep
Thy mind from sloth they heart from soil
Press on and thou shall surely reap
A heavenly harvest for thy toil
Viola M. Lowrey
Jan 12th 1882
Viola 1865-1954 was the daughter of John B Lowrey and Helen Deuel. John and Helen were born in the Saratoga, New York area, but like the Jordan family moved to the Midwest. The Lowrey’s resided in Woodbine, Iowa about 9 miles from Arthur’s home in Dunlap. These lines are from a poem called Press On by Park Benjamin.
James Jordan
Naples
Ontario County
N.Y.
Dunlap
Harrison Co
Iowa
Aug 25 83
This signature is quite a prize to me and I am surprised that it is in this book. James (1828-?) is the brother of Thomas Jordan and Arthur’s uncle. While I do know quite a bit about their other brother John (you can read about him here, here and finally here.) The amount of information that I have about James Jordan is underwhelming to say the least. But I do have his autograph and I also know that he visited Dunlap in August of 1883. Perhaps I can check the local paper for news of his trip…..
Dunlap
Aug 12 84
To Artie
True happiness, is the
consciousness of being at
perfect peace with God.
Your Friend.
W. H. Davis
This signature is beautifully written and the penmanship is beyond reproach. This also happens to be my great grandfather’s autograph so I am allowed to be a bit biased. The Davis family owned a farm adjacent to the Jordan homestead. Not only were they neighbors and friends, William Hughes Davis 1865-1940 would marry Arthur’s sister, Gertrude in 1888.
Ah! And yet another mystery entry.
To Artie:
Strive to be a gentle boy,
for it is only the gentle boys
who make gentle-men.
Your Aunt Liss (?)
Sept 17 82
Could this perhaps be James Jordan’s wife, whose name I do not know? The handwriting and the detail is lovely.
To Artie
To yourself be true and it
Must need follow as the Night
Follows the day thou canst
Not be false to anyone
Charles Davis
Dunlap
Dec 31 1884
Charles Davis 1863-1935 chose to loosely quote Shakespeare for his friend Arthur. Charles was the brother of William Hughes Davis (above) and would eventually marry Viola Lowrey (above). Charles and Viola would marry on 26 September 1888. William Hughes Davis and Gertrude Ella Davis married on the same day. It was NOT a double wedding though they did go to the courthouse together to obtain their marriage licenses. Travel not being what it is now, that must have been a busy and stressful day for the families as WH and Gertrude married in Dunlap and Charles and Viola married in Woodbine.
Another mystery—Someone that travelled with James Jordan perhaps?
P R Stowell
Erieville NY
Dunlap Aug 31st 1883
Harrison Co
To Artie
you ask for your album my name
with pleasure I hear & obey
refusal wave folly or crime
for who could to Artie say nay
Not Grand Ma
The subtraction in the top corner befuddles me. Out of Arthur’s 4 grandparents, only one lived past 1885 (Nathan Martin) and we have already seen his writing and autograph. But perhaps that ciphering is just an anomaly and has no bearing on this autograph. In such case, this could be either the signature of Susanna Cook Martin 1812-1882 OR Anna Judge Jordan 1806-1885.
To Artie,
Round went the Album,
Hither it came,
For me to write in,
So here is my name:
Cousin Frankie
Cazenovia, Oct, 9, 1881
This catchy little inscription was written by Frank Holman Dewey 1867-1948. He was the son of Jennie Mary (Martin) Dewey 1843-1928 and Franklin Washington Dewey 1841-1904. Jennie was the younger sister of Electa (Martin) Jordan. When this was written the family was living in New York. Yet, in the 1885 Iowa state census the family was residing in Dunlap and father Franklin was listed as a broom maker. By 1900 they had moved to Des Moines.
Cazenovia NY
Oct 9 1881
In all your walk
through life follow
the “golden rule” and
you will have friends
on every hand
Uncle Frank
This is the signature of Franklin Washington Dewey, husband of Jennie Mary Martin.
To Artie
It is the man
and not the close (sic)
that men look at
New York state
Uncle Lyman
Lyman L Martin 1838-1931 was the younger brother of Electa Martin. The signatures of his wife (Julia Hall Martin) and daughter (Lillian Martin) are above.
Artie-;
A beautiful life ends not
in death
Cazenovia N.Y. Oct 9 1881
Aunt Jennie
Jennie Mary Martin Dewey was the next to the last inscription in this tiny book of priceless treasures. Her statement may seem somber and pointed for the autograph book of an 8 year old boy and her short saying could be waved off with the flick of an uncaring hand. But her words are perhaps more relevant now than the day she committed them to paper. I know Art cherished this book as it has survived marriages, births, deaths and trips across country. One hundred and thirty three years later I am grateful they have shared with us a fleeting glimpse into their beautiful lives.