Sallie Nancy Blasdel (1870-1925)
[later Sallie Nancy (Blasdel) Skeen]
Her Autograph Book When She Was A Teenager
"When memory with her golden key unlocks the past remember me."
The dates show that these autographs from cousins and neighbors
were collected by her during her teen years, up to and including
the time of her marriage to J.L. Skeen II. Most are dated 1883 and
1884, when she was about 13 and 14 years old.
There are 50 pages shown here, including the front cover and title
page. There are other (blank) pages in the book some of which are
totally blank and some of which have various flower designs pasted
on the page; all these unsigned pages are omitted here.
This book was owned by Isabelle (Skeen) Winton at the time of her death
in 1974. It then passed to Orrin J. & Nancy Winton and then to Laurie Jean
(Winton) Defeo ca. 2001. It is currently in the custody of Gary J. Winton
of Melbourne, Florida (2021) and as of June 2021 in the temporary custody of
of Orrin C. Winton of Susanville, California, soon to return it to Gary Winton.
Many of Sallie's friends, you will see, asked that she remember them.
"Remember me" they wrote. And so we are once again remembering Sallie
Blasdel and her childhood friends, relatives and neighbors by reading
this autograph book.
Front cover
Title page
Compliments of your friend M. Baker, Boswell, Aug 24, 1885
Dear Sallie,
When the mountain reached witch you must climb
Stand not repining o'er its towering hights;
Mount with the feet God gave you, lingering not,
Sighing for eagles wings to speed thigh flight
The steep and rocky path shall have an end.
Courage! Press onward to the distant crest;
Only the toilers, who with patient steps
Reaches the green summit, wears the crown of rest.
Kate S. Blasdel
With love and great respect,
I write these lines today;
And may they never be forgot
When I have gone away.
Ernest H. (or A.) Wendt
Cousin Sallie (Bright Ind., Dearborn Co.)
In your friendship chain
Regard me as one link.
G. W. Woods
Miss Sallie
Be Faithfull Be Hopefull
Be Charitable and this
will take you through life
with the assurance of a better one.
Robert Lazenby
To Sallie,
Just think of me when
the weather is dim.
C. M. Davis
Whenever and think(?) country
the the of school
wind snow one teacher
blows, flies poor accept (?)
the best wishes of a friend,
Ida W. Meader, Fowler, Ind., Feb. 15, 1885
[If the above is read downwards, it reads something like]:
Whenever the wind blows, and the snow flies,
think of one poor country school teacher.
Accept the best wishes of a friend...
Sallie,
Where, oh where, my cousin cold,
Can more bland a person be,
Than that six foot of kinsman bold,
That came yourself to see?
Lizzie Ewbank, July 10, 1883
Cousin Sallie,
When you number friends by dozens
Remember all your 'handsome cousins.'
And one who is not one of them.
Nellie A. Ewbank, Guilford, Ind., July 10th, 1883.
J W
Rememer me tho far awa
remember me on your weding day
For goodness sake send
me a slice of your weding cake.
J. W. Cooper. Remember me.
Dear Sallie,
May your path be strewn with roses;
and white lilies grow by its side, and
forgetmenots spring up after you pass.
Affectionately yours, Aunt Elle.
Dear Sallie
The following sentiment from Longfellow appears
to me to be beautiful and beautifully expressed.
"As the palm-tree standeth so straight and so tall,
The more the hail beats, and the more the rains fall --
So love in our hearts shall grow mighty and strong
Through crosses, through sorrows, through manifold wrong."
Your loving uncle, Robert C.H., Guilford, Ind., July 10th, 1883.
Friend Sallie,
Rememberance is a silken tie,
That binds true hearts together
And if you never break this tie
We will be friends forever.
Your friend, Cora Leming.
Parish Grove, Ind.
Sallie --
In his revenge shall be seen,
The rage of a queen.
Your schoolmate, Charley E. C., 1-8-85
Dear Sallie,
Never trouible, trouble,
Till trouble, troubles you.
Your friend,
Carrie Bundy, July 3th, 1883, Guilford, Ind.
Friend Sallie
Think of me when your heart is glad
For I will joy with you.
Think of me when your heart is sad
As a loving friend and true.
Laura Liddle, July 4th, 1883
July 10th, 1883
Cousin Sallie,
With love I write,
With love I see,
Do, now, goodnight
Remember me.
Annie
To Sallie
Gather the rosebud
While you may
Old time flying.
For that same flower that
Blooms today
To morrow will be dying.
Friend, Eva Seamoux
Guilford, Indiana July 2, 1883
Sallie --
May your life be joyous
and happy is my wish.
F. H. Ewbank
Bright, Ind.
Cousin Sallie
In prospering, friends we have plenty,
But in poverty not one out of twenty.
Your cousin, Anna Woods, June 18, 1883
To Sallie --
If album writing were my trade
I'd gladly write for you
And such is my great friendship
I would for nothing too.
George Hansell, Sept. 14, 1883
July 1st 1883
Dear Sallie:
"I love you," sang the birdie;
"I love you," sighed the wind.
"I love you," laughed the merry stream,
And I am not behind.
Your Cousin, May Hansell
Guilford Ind.
Sallie --
Let come the wild weather,
Come sleet and come snow,
We'll stand by each other,
However it blow."
Your cousin, Alta Hansell
Guilford, Ind., July 1st 1883.
June 16th 1883.
Sallie
Remember me
Louisa(?) Haddock, Bright Ind.
At Home, Bright Ind, June 16th 1883.
Sallie,
When far away and friends are few
Think of me and I will think of you.
Your old maid Friend, Helen
Bright Ind, June 18th 83.
Cousin Sallie
Friendship may wreath a garland
And gold may link a chain
But love alone can bind the ties
Unbroken to remain.
Nellie Woods
Cousin Sallie,
Long may you live,
Happy may you be.
May you ever keep
The rememberance of me.
Yours Truly, Rachel Blasdel.
State Line, 9 21 1884.
Sallie,
Remember me always as your cousin
Lou(?) Ewbank, July 10, 1883
Sallie,
In after days please think of me.
Your cousin, Nina. July 10th 1883
Dec the 3d 1885
Friend Sallie
Remember me in all your wishes
Remember me while washing Dishes
Geo. Bennett
Sallie:
Please remember me as one of your friends.
Marion Liddle. July 4th 1883.
Friend Sallie.
If you wish acorns, gather them
under the oak: if you wish a fortune
you must plant dollars; if you prefer
happiness sow the seeds of virtue
and "cultivate them with charity."
Your Friend, Lucy
Miss Sallie
Always do your best,
Angels can do no more.
Your Schoolmate
George W. Crabb.
Parish Grove, Indiana.
Jan 8, A.D. 1885..
"When memory with her
golden key, unlocks the
past remember me."
Your friend, Ella R. Liddle
Miss Sallie,
When school hours are o'er and work
is done don't forget to remember me.
Your Schoolmate
James V. Crabb
Parish Grove, Benton Co., Indiana
Jan. 8, 1885.
Compliments of
Annie Liddle,
Guilford Indiana
July 4, 1883.
Aug 24 1885
Friend Sallie,
We seek that witch
We never can win
And love that can not last
Our life is but a
Thought between the
Future and the past.
Yours with true friendship
Mary A. Bennett Talbot
Indiana
In memories Golden
Casket Drop one pearl for me.
Jan 11th 1885
Miss Sallie
May thy darkest hour in life
be well lighted with the
sunshine of contentment
is the wish of your friend
Fannie Crabb
Friend Sallie
When you are standing
All alone reflecting over
The past
Rember that you have a
Friend that will forever last
Parnie Dietz
Remember me
Remember good night in the
hall Feb 5st 1887
Jan. 8th 1885
Miss Sallie:
"The best policy is politeness and
a good manner is the best thing
in the world, to a good name or, to
supply the want of it."
Your Friend and Teacher:
C. F. Johnson, Chase Ind.
Dear Sallie
May Happyness and Prosperity
be your lot and may you
never lack for Friends
Mrs. E. H. [or E.W.] Lazenby
Bright Ind.
June 19th, 1883
Dear Sallie
Tis sweet to be remembered
By those we trust are true
Pleas think of me sometime
I'll often think of you.
Hannah E. Woods
Bright, Ind.
Dear Sallie
May your young man be of a handsome mind
Who never linger far behind.
Ever your friend,
Lizzie Davis, June 8th
Sallie
My occupation is interrogation
My daily routine is to ask why and how
Now why do you ask my scrawl
And how are you going to read it.
Old Uncle Will --
Sallie
"Enjoy the Spring of Love and Youth
To some good angel leave the rest"
Bettie B. Ewbank, Guilford, Ind.,
July 10th 1883
Jan 1st 1887(?)
Cousin Sallie
When I poor self shall have vanished in vapor
may still my memory live -- on paper.
Is(?) the Best wishes of your True Ky Cousin
W.(?) Eubank, Brasher, Ky.
He that hath clean hands
Shall grow stronger and stronger.
-- Job
"In your friendship chain, regard me as one link." -- G. W. Woods
29 June 2021