Darwin R. Barker Historical Museum

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

The Charles R. Greene shoemaker’s ledger

By Douglas H. Shepard, 2011

In 2009, Colin Kourelis was renovating a house at 154 Middle Road in Dunkirk. A false wall was taken down and behind it was found a small (3¾” x 6¼”) memorandum book with lined pages. The covers are gone and many of the empty back pages have been chewed into by some nest-building creature. A few of the pages have pencil or crayon scribbling, so the supposition is that the little book was lying around in the attic, used briefly by a small child and then dropped into the space behind the false wall on the floor below.

An inside flyleaf has a penciled inscription that can just be made out:

C. R. Greene
Boots & Shoes
No. 71 Main St.
Fredonia
N.Y.

Number 71 Main Street today would be 7 East Main Street, a store in what was called the American Block. In the 1870s (the small booklet has entries from August 1872 through April 1873), the business at 71 Main Street was Frazine, Greene & Co., boots, shoes & rubber goods. The proprietors were George N. Frazine, Charles R. Greene and Leverett B. Greene.

Charles (the C. R. Greene of the memorandum book) used the booklet to make a kind of shorthand record of orders he received, whether or not they were completed, and what was the charge for the work. The penciled entries later had two parallel ink strokes marked through them, probably indicating that his records had been entered into the store’s ledger of all accounts, and, no doubt, more neatly written out for a permanent record.

Charles R. Greene was born on 8 November 1848 to Roselle and Eliza (Barker) Greene. Roselle Greene had come to Fredonia in 1832 to apprentice with Leverett Barker, Fredonia’s very successful tanner, who had married Desire, the daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah Barker (no relation) and built the first brick house in the village in 1821, today’s Barker Historical Museum. Roselle Greene became a partner of Leverett Barker’s, marrying his daughter Eliza in November 1837. The family also had tanneries, mills, and homes in Versailles NY.

When Leverett Barker died in May 1848, Roselle Greene became the head of the household, with Eliza responsible for Emeline Barker, 17; Julia Barker, 14; and their own children, Leverett B. Greene, 8; Mary B. Greene, 6; and Kate Greene, 3. Charles followed in November 1848. Roselle Greene died in 1859, leaving Leverett Barker Greene to take over his father’s role. Charles attended the local school and was able to have five terms at the Fredonia Academy from 1865 through 1867. He must then have apprenticed as a shoemaker, so that he was able to become a partner in the Frazine, Greene & Co. shoe store in April 1872. (G. N. Frazine was probably the money behind the business rather than an active partner, since he had long been a successful hardware merchant, established a coal yard and was involved with several other ventures over the years.) Once established in the store, Charles Greene married Alice, the daughter of Franklin and Ann Burritt, in October 1872.

Unfortunately, Charles became ill. His ledger entries end on 11 April 1873 and he died on 9 November 1874 of “congestion of the brain,” age 26. His young widow, Alice B. Greene, moved back in with her parents, the Franklin Burritts, until 1 May 1879, when she was married to Frank Conn of Dunkirk, manager of the Western Union Telegraph Office there. They lived on Fifth Street at the corner of Eagle Street, about at 19 West 5th Street, moving to Brooklyn NY by 1887. Because the house where the ledger was found, 154 Middle Road, was not built until the later 1920s, Charles Greene’s ledger must have been preserved, perhaps by accident, elsewhere. It may have come to Dunkirk with Alice Greene when she married Frank Conn and was left, then, at their 5^th Street home. There is no way of knowing how it migrated to the Middle Road attic and behind the false wall.

The original small ledger has been donated to the Barker Historical Museum through the generosity of Colin and Susan Kourelis, along with a scanned version. That will allow researchers to examine the entries without having to handle the fragile original. The ledger and the scan are accompanied by a printed transcription of the ledger’s text along with an index to the names which would be of particular interest to genealogists and local historians.

Ledger

Aug 19 1872

N Palmer Geo wife

A Pr Shoes

1 “ Rubber

Clara Whitney

1 Pr Shoes

Miss Lydia Denton

1 shoes

O Simmons

3 (?) Shoes

Warren Kellogg

1 Shoes boy

Mrs David Griggs

1 Shoes

Mrs Potter

1 Slips [Slippers?]

Albert Tarbox

1 Shoes Mrs

Eliza Lester

To 1 Pr slips

J (?) A Putnam

1 Pr Boot

F C Crane

1 Pr Boots

Frank Wiley

1 Pr Boots

Watson Wood

1 Pr Shoes

L.A.Barmore

1 Pr Shoes order

Sept 3

B W Cotton

1 Bot[tle] Blacking

H C Frisbee

1 Pr Shoes

A Corwin (?)

Pr Cartage (?)

D Smith

1 Pr Rubber

Henry Polfus

3 Pr shoe

Thos Horton

1 Pr Shoes Mrs

“ “

½ Doz “ Strings

1 Pr rubbers

C M Ball

1 light glass & setting

Sept 7

L B Greene

1 Pr Shoes H[ired?] Girl

C M Ball

1 Box Blacking

2 Pr Shoes

2 “ Rubber

2 “ Slippers

1 Doz Strings

1 Bot Benze (?) [Benzene?]

1 “ Dressing

1 Light Glass & Setting

O Simmons

1 Pr Shoes Dust (? Daut?)

L F Harrison

2 Box Blacking

1 pr Slip Watson (?)

Calvin Hutchin[son?]

1 Pr slips

L A Barmore

Ex (?) chang e chairs

Frank Oneal

1 Pr shoes

Mrs W Ryman

1 Pr Shoes

J (?) B Gardner

1 Pr Shoes Daut

Amos Harrison (?)

1 Pr shoes

A S Roberts

1 Pr Shoes

Per Mrs J Hamilton (?)

1 Pr shoes H G “

A S Roberts

1 Pr Shoes

“ “ “ H.G

per Mrs J Hamilton

Cha(?) Bartram

2 shoes Mrs

1 slips

Carlton Wilcox

2 Pr Shoes

1 Pair Pls Gaiters

Cha(?) Bartram

2 shoes Mrs

1 slips

Carlton Wilcox

2 Pr Shoes

1 Pair Pls Gaiters

1 “ Childs “

A S Couch

1 Pr Rub

O Simmons

1 Pr Rub Daut

Hurb Tarr

1 Pr Shoes Mrs

Dian Beebe

2 Shoes

Geo Tate

1 Pr Shoes Mrs

Jairus Porter

1 Pr Shoes

Putnam Bros

1 Pr Shoes firm (?)

W McKinstry

Pr Shoes Lewis

A H Barker

1 Pr Boot

Alvaro Wilson

1 pr Shoes Mrs

Dr Moore

2 Doz strings

Wm? Cooper

1 Pr Shoes

L S Riggs

1 Pr Boots

Wm Smith

1 Pr Boots

P H Stevens

1 Pr Boots pr Mr ?

Oct 2

Erastus Waters

Bal on Boots

Henry Polfus

1 Pr Boots

Allen (?) McEllwell

1 Pr Boots

EdWatson

1 Pr Boots

Putnam bros

1Pr Boots John Clary

1 “ Rub a o P

Norm (?) Palmer

Bal on Boots

Mrs S Snow

2 Pr shoes Paid

Frank Munger

3 (?) Pr shoes

Jack Baker

1 Pr shoes cash (?)

J M Parker

1 Pr shoes

L Stearns

1 Pr Boots

Ensign Ellis

1 Pr Boots

Tom (?) Glinn

1 Pr Shoes

C R Greene

? Trade

B W Cotton

1 pr Boots for Brooks(?)

S G Bailey

1 Pr Shoes Daut

W H Bettis

2 Pr Shoes

B W Cotton

1 Pr rub

E Hillard

2 Pr Shoes

J C Parker

1 Pr Rub Daut

S N Hatch

1 Pr Shoes

M Batcheldor

1 Pr Shoes

1 “ “

Geo White

1 Pr Rub

1 Doz string

Stephen Reed

1 Pr Boots Fred Tuttle

O M Couch

1 Pr Shoes

2 “ “

Step[h]en Palmer Arkwright

1 Pr Boots

A Corwin

By Cartage

W(?) M(?) Sloan

1 Pr Shoes

J Gardner

1 Pr Rubs

Ance Luce

1 Pr Boots

David (?) Barker

2 Pr Shoes Mrs

~~Hutchinson Paid 10/ for Shoes~~

H R Barker

1 Pr shoes Mrs

W ?? McElwood (?)

2 Pr shoes

1 Pr Ret[urned?]

~~H C Frisbee~~

~~1 Par Shoes~~

~~James Sprague~~

~~1 Pr Boots~~

Nov 4 1872

B W Cotton

1 Pr Rubs Daug

A Palmer

1 Pr Boots H. boy

J B Gardner

1 Pr Shoes

Geo Rood

2 Pr Slips Mrs

Geo W Knott

1 Pr Shoes

N Palmer

1 Pr Shoes Bot wife

Geo White

2 Pr Shoes

C O Wilcox

3 Pr Rub

1 “ “

L B Greene

2 for Feckler ???

H ?? Terrell

1 Pr Boots

Vincent Dunn

1 Pr Boots

Miss Smith

1 Pr Shoes

August Bouquin

1 Pr Shoes

John Fagan

1 Pr Boots

Mrs W

W McKinstry

1 Pr Shoes

1 “ Rubs

1 “ Slips Doves (?)

~~John Mullen~~

~~` Pr Shoes~~

Wm B Law

1 Pr Boots

Richard (?) Cushing

Pete M Hilton (?)

Geo White

1 Pr Slips

E Baldrick

1 Pr Rb Boots

? 1¼ Cords wood

C R Green

Abel (?) Badrich

For ? Mrs Towers

1 Pr Rub

A S Roberts

1 Pr Rubs

Pat Fagan

2 Pr Rubs

D Pritchard

1 Pr Rubs

E O Wilcox

1 Pr Rubs

John Fagan

By Cash

Alex McElwell

2 Pr Rubs

Stephen Palmer

1 Pr Boots Son

J N Rowe

1 Pr Shoes

1 “ Rubs

O Simpson (?) Daug

2 Pr Shoes

M H Sacket

2 Pr Shoes

Sam Warren

1 Pr Shoes boy

B (?) D K Benjamin

1 Pr Shoes

Dr Chas Smith

1 Pr Rubs

Nov 1 “ Daug

30 1 Shoes ??

Stephen Reed 1 Pr Boots

James Irving

1 Pr Boots boy (?)

Dr Chas Smith

1 Pr Rubs wf ?

1 “ “ Daug

1 Shoes

Albert ????

1 Pr Rubs

Dec 2 1872

Saml Cranston

5 Rush Potatoes

C R Greene

5 Rush P Cranston

Allen Pierce

1 Pr Boots

Pat McDonald

1 Pr Rubs

Dom Clark

2 Pr Shoes

Geo Rood

1 Pr Boot & Insoles?

By (?) Richard I Mercer

Benj Skinner

1 Pr Shoes

Henry Pemberton

By 1 Pr Shoes Ret

Wm Plank

1 Pr Rub B [Rubber Boots?]

Richard Edmons

1 Pr Rubs

Tim Canty

2 Pr Shoes

W G Till

1 Pr Rubs sf (sp?)

1 “ Slips

Geo H. White

2 Pr Rubs avenue

E H Thatcher

1 Pr Shoes Mrs

Hurb Tarr

1 Pr Boot & Insoles

L B Greene

Let g d? H Tarr

Jack Sage

1 Pr R Boots & Insoles

Norman Renolds (?)

Wood C R G

C R Greene

To the above

S S Crissy

1 Pr Rub A

C R Greene

1 Pr Rubs MRs

Henry Davis

1 Pr Shoes

1 “ Rubs

~~Henry Davis~~

James ? H. Lake?

1 Pr Shoes Mrs ?

L A Barmore

1 Pr Heels putting on

Corrington Barker

Bal on Goods

1 Pr shoes ?

1 Slips

W McKinstry Rec

To order

Sam Williams

1 Pr Shoes

1 Button Hook

H G Wilber

1 Pr Shoes

1 Pr rubs

O Simmons

2 Shoes

1 Pr Rubs

D Morris

1 Pr Slips

1 “ “

Robt Housdell

1 Pr Shoes

Hurb Davis

1 Pr Boots

Alec Mc Ellwell

1 pr Shoes

C M Ball

1 Pr Boots

1 “ “

A H Barker

1 Pr Slips

??? Swan

1 Pr Rubs Mrs

W McKinstry

1 Pr Rubs per order

?? Manton

2 Pr Slips

Morgan L Rice

1 Pr Bootsfor Geo Rice

Patrick McDonald

1 Pr Shoes

A O Putnam

1 Pr Shoes

1 “ “

Anne Bartram

2 Pr Slips

L T Parker

1 Pr rubs

W McKinstry

1 Pr Shoes Mrs Sr ?

1 Pr Rubs order

string

Order 24/ -- Bal 15

Chas Pringle

1 Pr rubs

Joseph Gardner

1 Pr Boots

D K Benjamin

2 Pr Rubs

Nelson A Mansfield

1 pr Shoes

C R Greene

1 pr Rubs

1 Pr Shoes Mrs

Robt Hasedell

~~1 Pr Boots~~

~~2 Slips~~

Jan 2 1873

JAirus Porter

1 Pr Shoes

C R Greene

To Chg ? E D Howard

Chas Davey

1 Pr Boot Mrs

C M Ball

1 Pr Shoes

L A Barmore

1 Pr Rub daug

H S Morton

1 Pr Boots

John Dickinson

1 Pr Shoes ~~Mrs~~

6 C R Greene

Cr K R Palmer

Arkwright

Stephen Palmer

1 Pr Boots

Stephen Reed

1 Pr felt Shoes

W W Cotton

1 Pr Rubs

C R Greene

1 Cash

C R Greene

To Trade

Russell Beckwith

1 Pr Rub

? ? Nobles

1 Pr Shoes avenue

Wm G Fell ?

2 Pr Shoes

W A Adams

1 Pr Shoes

Anson Reed

1 Pr Boots

Hanson Roberts

1 Pr Shoes

P H Stevens & Co

1 Pr Rubs little Frank

O Simmons

1 ?? Mak 1 Pr Boots

D S Stratman ?

1 Pr Shoes

C O Wilcox

1 Pr Rubs

August Burquin

1 Pr Boots

Geo Havens

1 Pr Shoes

25 C O Wilcox

1 Pr Shoes Daut ?

? L Barmore

2 Pr Shoes

Boot

A O Putnam

1 Pr Rubs

??? Tuffts ?

1 Pr Rubs

Thos Prushaw

1 Pr Rubbers

W W Odell

1 Pr Rub Boots

Feb 1

R H Wolfers

1 Pr Boots artur

D A White

1 Pr Rubs

Feb 3

Sheridan

James Morris

1 Pr Boots boy

T L Higgins

1 Pr Rubs

H L Taylor

1 Pr Shoes ent?

Robt Wilson

1 Pr Shoes

Dr Moore

1 Pr Rubs

J C Orton

1 Pr Shoes

Henry Pemberton

1 Pr Shoes baby

John Wheeler

1 Pr Shoes

[In margin: Returned]

Clara Whitney

1 Pr Shoes

L M Cole

1 Pr Shoes

John Bissell

1 Pr Shoes

C R Greene

To Trade ? D B

A Colburn

2 Pr Shoes

Miss Smith

1 Pr Shoes

[In margin: Returned]

Chas Pringle

2 Pr Shoes

Geo Bickers

1 Pr Rub

~~D R Barker~~

Alex McEllwel

1 Pr Boots

1 “ Shoes

Chas Cooper

1 Pr Boots

1 “ Rubs

G M Tremaine

1 Pr Rubs Dut ?

L C Tiffany

1 Pr Rubs

Mr. Wm Biggs

1 Pr Rubs Dut ?

H L Higgins

1 Pr Boots H[ired?] Man

B W Cotton

1 Bot Blacking

W McKinstry

1 Pr Rubs Daut

James H Lake

1 Pr Shoes orral wife

1 “ “ Miss

Warren Kellogg

2 [changed to] 3 Pr Shoes

Lycom Stevens

1 Pr Rub Boots pay in week

C M Ball

1 Pr Shoes

P F Mace

1 Pr Boots

1 “ Slips

C R Greene

Rubs

1 Pr per clute ?

H G Wilber ?

1 Pr Rub son

Mar 1

Mrs Gates

2 Pr boots son [marked over] Ret[urned?]

Insoles

D K Benjamin

3 Pr Slips

By Cash

?? Harrison

1 Pr shoes

3 strings

O Simmons

1 Pr Rubs Daut?

F G? Stevens

1 Pr Rubbers

Wm Moore

1 Pr Rubs

Edward Grover

2 [marked over] 1 Pr Shoe

Mrs McPherson [In left margin marked Ret]

3 Pr Doll Shoes

E.H Ramsdell son

1 Pr Rub Boots

“ Insoles

Chas S Thatcher

1 Pr Shoes Son

Abner ? Mattoon

3 7/8 wood CRG

C R Greene

Wood A Mattoon

W WWright

2 Pr Rubs

B W Cotton

1 Pr Boots Henry

Duane Beebe

1 Pr Boots son

Geo W Lewis

1 Pr Childs shoes

“ 8/-- Mrs ?

L B Greene(?)

Goods

Geo.H.White

Pr Shoes

____? Beebe

?????

Hanson Roberts

2 Pr Rubs

Mar 12

C M Ball

Tm 1 Pr Boots order

“ leash

G Harrison

1 Pr Rubs

E R Greene

Cash

1 Pr Slips

Tim Canty

1 Pr Shoes baby

B W Cotton

1 Pr Rubs

A Corwin

By Cartage

~~Chas~~/Geo Harrison

1 Pr Shoes

W.McKinstry

Per order

A? Colburn

Pr shoes

? Williams

Pr shoes

J B Gardner

1 Pr Boots

Chas Horton

1 Pr shoes

Watson Woods

1 Pr slips

? Summerkhol?

1 Pr shoes

H B Stevens

1 Pr Rubs

Amos Harrison?

1 Pr Rubs srvant?

Marcus Carroll

1 Pr Rubs

H Miner

2 Pr Slips

Jo Zahm

1 Pr Rubs Sans?

O C DeWitt

1 Pr Rubs

Lu Huntley

1 Pr Rubs

Stephen Palmer

1 Pr Boots son

Risley Roberts

1 Pr shoes

C Butler

1 Pr shoes Ret

Bal on ?

29 (cont.)

W? F Harrison

1 Pr shoes Rogers

John Peters

1 Pr Boots

S S Crissey

Order

?? Denton

1 Pr Slips

April 1

James? B Sprague

1 Pr Rubs D??t

Clara Whitney

2 Pr Shoes

Thod? Wolfers

1 Pr Rubs

H Henline

1 Pr Shoes baby

Mrs Storey Grand?

1 Pair shoes

Preston? Moore ???

2 Pr shoes

C Mullett

1 Pr shoes

C R Greene

? to Cash

Wood & Mc?Knott

H ? Pemberton

1 Pr Shoes per order

Isac? Dr Swift

1 Pr Boot

“

H A Taylor

1 Pr Shoes

W McKinstry & son

1 Pr Rubs

? Cotton ?

D A Clark

1 Pr shoes

J C Frisbee

1 Pr Rubs

John Lathrup

1 Pr Shoes

D. H. Stevens

1 Pr Shoes baby

E Eley

1 Pr Rubs daut

Index of Family Names

Adams, 14

Badrich, 9

Bailey, 6

Baker, 5

Baldrick, 8

Ball, 2, 12, 13, 17, 19

Barker, 4, 7, 11, 12, 16

Barmore, 2, 3, 11, 13, 15

Bartram, 3, 4, 13

Batcheldor, 6

Beckwith, 14

Beebe, 4, 19

Benjamin, 9, 13, 18

Bettis, 6

Bickers, 16

Biggs, 17

Bissell, 16

Bouquin, 8

Brooks, 6

Burquin, 15

Butler, 20

Canty, 10, 19

Carroll, 20

Clark, 10, 22

Clary, 5

Colburn, 16, 20

Cole, 16

Cooper, 5, 17

Corwin, 2, 6, 19

Cotton, 2, 6, 7, 14, 17, 19, 21

Couch, 4, 6

Crane, 1

Cranston, 10

Crissey, 21

Crissy, 11

Cushing, 8

Davey, 13

Davis, 11, 12

Denton, 1, 21

DeWitt, 20

Dickinson, 14

Dunn, 8

Edmons, 10

Eley, 22

Ellis, 5

Fagan, 8, 9

Feckler, 8

Fell, 14

Frisbee, 2, 7, 22

Gardner, 3, 7, 13, 20

Gates, 18

Glinn, 6

Green, 8

Greene, 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21

Griggs, 1

Grover, 18

Hamilton, 3

Harrison, 3, 18, 19, 20, 21

Hasedell, 13

Hatch, 6

Havens, 15

Henline, 21

Higgins, 15, 17

Hillard, 6

Hilton, 8

Horton, 2, 20

Housdell, 12

Howard, 13

Huntley, 20

Hutchin[son?], 3

~~Hutchinson~~, 7

Irving, 10

Kellogg, 1, 17

Knott, 7, 21

Lake, 11, 17

Lathrup, 22

Law, 8

Lester, 1

Lewis, 4, 19

Luce, 7

Mace, 17

Mansfield, 13

Manton, 12

Mattoon, 18

McDonald, 10, 12

McEllwel, 16

McEllwell, 5

McElwell, 9

McElwood, 7

McKinstry, 4, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 19, 21

McPherson, 18

Mercer, 10

Miner, 20

Moore, 5, 16, 18, 21

Morris, 12, 15

Morton, 14

~~Mullen~~, 8

Mullett, 21

Munger, 5

Nobles, 14

Odell, 15

Oneal, 3

Orton, 16

Palmer, 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 14, 20

Parker, 5, 6, 13

Pemberton, 10, 16, 21

Peters, 21

Pierce, 10

Plank, 10

Polfus, 2, 5

Porter, 4, 13

Potter, 1

Pringle, 13, 16

Pritchard, 9

Prushaw, 15

Putnam, 1, 4, 5, 13, 15

Ramsdell, 18

Reed, 6, 10, 14

Renolds, 11

Rice, 12

Riggs, 5

Roberts, 3, 9, 14, 19, 20

Rogers, 21

Rood, 7, 10

Rowe, 9

Ryman, 3

Sacket, 9

Sage, 11

Simmons, 1, 3, 4, 12, 15, 18

Simpson, 9

Skinner, 10

Sloan, 7

Smith, 2, 5, 8, 10, 16

Snow, 5

Sprague, 7, 21

Stearns, 5

Stevens, 5, 14, 17, 18, 20, 22

Storey, 21

Stratman, 15

Summerkhol, 20

Swift, 21

Tarbox, 1

Tarr, 4, 11

Tate, 4

Taylor, 16, 21

Terrell, 8

Thatcher, 11, 18

Tiffany, 17

Till, 11

Towers, 9

Tremaine, 17

Tuffts, 15

Tuttle, 6

Warren, 1, 9, 17

Waters, 5

Watson, 2, 3, 5, 20

Wheeler, 16

White, 6, 8, 11, 15, 19

Whitney, 1, 16, 21

Wilber, 12, 18

Wilcox, 4, 9, 15

Wiley, 1

Williams, 12, 20

Wilson, 4, 16

Wolfers, 15, 21

Wood, 2, 11, 18, 21

Woods, 20

Wright, 18

Zahm, 20

The Charles Hathaway family

By Douglas H. Shepard, 2014

Charles Hathaway was born in Massachusetts n 1823, parents unknown. On 23 April 1848 he married Lydia Silverthorn in Ashtabula OH. The 1850 Census finds them in Conneaut OH where Charles was teaching school. Their household included their son, Collins L, 1 year old, Charles’ brother Albert, 19, a printer, and maid Emily Woodard, 16. By 1860 they were living in Westfield NY where Charles, 37, taught school. The family included Lydia, 35; Collins, 11; and the twins, Adel and Ida, 4, born in Pennsylvania.

The Fredonia Censor of 5 November 1862 reported that Charles Hathaway of Westfield was one of two “conductors” of the Chautauqua County Teacher’s Institute at Panama NY in October. In July 1863 he registered for the draft. They were still living in Westfield in 1870 although Collins, now 21, was clerking in a bank in Horseheads NY and living in the family of banker Schuyler Runnels.

Charles’ brother Albert, who was also living in Westfield, died in 1873 and Charles was appointed guardian of the minor children, Carrie A., and William A. Hathaway.

By 1880 Charles, Lydia and daughter Ida M. were living in Horseheads. Albert’s son William A. was also living with them. The Silverthorn online family record notes that both Lydia and Charles died in Horseheads NY, although no dates or cemetery locations are given.

An album with photos of the twins and their relatives was donated to the Barker Museum. Most of the photos in the album were unidentified. The images appear to have been taken in the 1860s and 1870s. A list of them follows:

1. Small boy – The Douglass Gallery, 230 Main Street, Buffalo, NY

2. Young man – J. T. Upson & Co., Buffalo, NY

3. Small boy – Powelson, Photographer, 58 State Street, Rochester and 302 Main Street, Buffalo

4. Baby or Toddler – C. B. Melendy, Photographer, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

5. Young woman – W. Knowlton’s, Photograph Gallery, W. P. Chase, Operator, 13 & 15 Lake Street, Elmira, NY

6. Young man – identified as P. J. Ward, Horseheads, NY (handwritten on back)

7. Middle-aged man – W. Knowlton’s, Photograph Gallery, W. P. Chase, Operator, 13 & 15 Lake Street, Elmira, NY

8. Baby or Toddler – C. W. Boepple, Photographer, 2011 South Peach Street, Between 20 and 21 Streets, Erie, PA

9. Baby – no photographer or name

10. Young boy identified as Perle, 5-1/2 yrs. – F. Sheets, Photographer, No. 43 Main Street, Wellsville, Ohio

11. Young boy – F. Sheets, Photographer, Main Street, Wellsville, Ohio

12. Middle-aged woman – Upson & Simson, 356 Main Street, Buffalo, NY

13. Young girl – no ID or photographer

14. Young girl – J. T. Upson, Buffalo, NY

15. Young girl – Powelson & Co., Opera House Gallery, Detroit

16. Baby identified as Mary (handwritten on back)

17. Elderly woman – W. W. Hawk, Photographer, Excelsior Rooms, Conneaut, OH

18. Middle-aged man – W. W. Hawk’s Photographic Gallery, Conneaut, O.

19. Middle-aged man – The Douglass Gallery, 230 Main Street, Buffalo, NY

20. Middle-aged woman – Powelson, Photographer, 58 State Street, Rochester and 302 Main Street, Buffalo

21. Young boy – identified as Carlton and Carl, 3 yrs. – F. Sheets, Photographer, No. 43 Main Street, Wellsville, Ohio

22. Young or middle-aged woman -- Mrs. H. – F. Sheets, Photographer, No. 43 Main Street, Wellsville, Ohio

23. Young woman – identified (handwritten on back) Ida M. Hathaway, Horseheads, NY (Hoover, Photo), Class ‘76

24. Young woman – identified (handwritten on back) Addie J. Hathaway, Horseheads, NY (Hoover Photo), Class 76

25. Middle-aged man – L. B. Melven (photographer), Westfield, NY

26. Young or middle-aged woman – J. T. Upson (photographer), Buffalo, NY

27. Unidentified house –

28. Elderly man – J. T. Upson (photographer), Buffalo, NY

29. Elderly woman – Abbott & Tinsley, 150 State Street, Chicago

30. Middle-aged man – C. A. Douglass & Co., (Late Powelson’s) 230 Main Street, Buffalo, NY

31. Young or middle-aged man -- J. T. Upson, Buffalo, NY

32. Young boy – J. P. Vail, Palmyra, NY

33. Middle-aged man – J. T. Upson, Buffalo, NY

34. Young or middle-aged man – Charles D. Fredricks & Co., “Spécialité,” 587 Broadway, NY

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Mr. Freeman's Pictures

By Douglas H. Shepard

The Darwin R. Barker Historical Museum has an extensive collection of photographs covering from the 1840s to the present. The collection was featured in the Museum's "Photographers of Fredonia" exhibit in the early 21^st century, and it includes local scenes, individuals, and groups. In the last category are a set of seven group photos of young boys and girls in what are probably classes used for practice teachers at the Fredonia Normal School. Someone has labeled the photos, "Mr. Freeman's pictures of classes 1883-1890," and for each has provided a typed identification key for most of the pupils.

Mr. Freeman was Andrew Y. Freeman, who joined the Fredonia Normal School faculty in the Fall of 1880. It is not clear if he was the photographer — he is in the first photo of 1883 — or just arranged to have the photos taken. Whoever provided the identifications, also assigned dates — some of them conjectural — for each photo. They are I=1883, II=1884, III=1885, IV=1886, V=1887, VI= 1888, VII=1889. The names are given below in alphabetical order and the group photo number is added. The names are given exactly as in the original, including names in parentheses. A few additional comments are in square brackets.

Frank Davis (Adams) I

Hattie Adams VI

Daisy Annis I

Minnie Annis VII

Frank Ball I

Louis Ball II

Will Barker IV

Minnie Bartholomew II

Frances Beckwith IV

Jessie Beckwith II

Violetta (Lettie) Beckwith I

Charlie Benjamin V

Cora Benton II

Fred Bickers VII

Birta Blackman VII

Lesley Blackman VII

______ Blodgett [Female] V

Gertie Blood V

Belle Borojer (Boyea?) V

Lyda Bor yer (Boyea?) V

Willie Brickley VII

Kate Briggs VI

Kate Brown I

Margaret Brown IV

Ned Buck III

Lillian Burke II

Nettie Burr IV

Kate Burritt I

Ward Cadwill VII

Bird Camp II

Sarah Canty V

Lilla Cobb III

Anna Colburn II

Harry Colburn IV

Ella Cooper VI

Charlie Couch III

Bessie Crouch IV

Edith Curtis III

Marie Cushing VI

Mary Dagenais V

Walter Daniel II

Frank Davis I

Anna Delvin III

Lila Doolittle VII

Lulu Douglas IV

Orton Douglas V

Kate Dunkley IV

Mammie Dunning V

Nina Durfre I

Eddie Easton V

Minnie Easton III

Will Edmonds IV

Homer Ellis V

Grace Ensign (?) V

Eddie Foster II

Emily Foster VI

Gnna Foster IV

John Foster II

Mable Foster V

Gene Fraser III

Mr.Freeman I

Ella Gates V

Jennie Glenn V

Florence Grant IV

Arthur Guest II

Theodore Hamilton II

Emma Hart V

Jan Harti VI

Katie Hendee I

Luttie (?) Higgins I

Charlie Hopkins IV

Lollie Houser III

Mary Houser II

Maud Hughes V

(Anna?) Mary Hull I

Frank Irwin II

Alice Kennedy I

Ida Kesner III

James Lake III

Bob Landers III

Charlie Landers IV

Will Lester IV

Raymond Lewis VII

John Luke VII

Carrie Lynn V

Roy Marsh VII

Kittie Martin V

Parthina Martin III

Grace McClanathan VI

Kate McDonald II

Grace McKinstry III

Helen McPherson II

Herbert (Bert) Miner I

John Mixer VI

Frank Moir III

George Morgan VI

Mary Morgan VI

Jessie Morian V

Harry Newton III

James Normand V

Ernest Palmer II

Nelson Palmer V

Waldo Parker II

Louis Paschke IV

Flora Pemberton V

Mable Pemberton VI

Ruth Perrin V

Alvan Perry V

Jessie Plater V

Grace Porrel (?) V

Alice Putnam II

Charlotte Putnam IV

Albert Richardson VII

Matie Robert III, IV

Theodore Roberts II

Bessie Rodenough VI

Norman Roose V

Nettie Slone V

Alice Smith II

Louise Smith II

Louis Starr VI

Bessie Stevens II

Ned Stevens V

_____ Straight [Male] III

Lillian Straight VII

Fannie Sweet I

Albert Tambling IV

Dolly Tambling IV

Clinton Tarbox IV

Flora Tarr II

Jessie Tarr VI

Diane Tate II

Nora Tate I

Ira Terrill III

Sarah Terrill II

Harry Thayer I

Belle Tiffany VI

Fannie Topliffe V

Anna Tremaine II,V

Monti Tyler V

Jessie VanLeuren V

Minnie Wallace VI

Nellie Warren V

Jennie Weaver V

Charlie Webster( (?) VII

Anna Wheelock I

Wm. White II

Carrie Wiggen V

Louise Wilcox I

Katie Wiley V

Belle Wilson III

Jennie Wilson VII

Mary Wilson II

_____ Woods [Female] V

Blanche Woods VII

Will Woods III

Harry Zehnder VI

The Barker Historical Museum Building

By Douglas H. Shepard, 2013

Leverett Barker, no relation to Hezekiah, came to Fredonia in 1809. He was a tanner by trade and built a small home and a tannery behind it at 23 East Main Street. In 1811 he married one of Hezekiah’s daughters, Desire Barker. They had eight children, one of whom was Darwin R. Barker.

In 1821 Leverett built the first brick home in the village, a stone corbel is marked “May 1821.” No architect is known. The house originally had stepped gables at front and rear, which were removed to bring the building up to date in the 1850s. Inside, there were the entry hall and stairs to the second floor. To the left of the hall were a small parlor and behind it two rooms. Later additions were the east wing, a frame rear portion and probably a kitchen/pantry area. Upstairs there were two rooms leading off the hall at the head of the stairs.

An apprentice to Leverett Barker, Rosell Greene, married the Barkers’ daughter Eliza. Although Darwin Barker and Rosell Greene and their families also lived in Versailles, NY, the Barkers and then the Greenes lived in the home for many years before and after their time in Versailles. In 1882, Darwin R. Barker began the process of buying it from the other heirs and then donating it for a Fredonia Library building.

Once the Library was in its permanent home, a small Historical Collection began. It was first housed in the downstairs parlor, then in the upstairs meeting room, which had been made by taking out the partition walls from the earlier bedrooms. The collection gradually grew, and when the new Library addition was built in 1984, the Historical Museum expanded into the Leverett Barker home.