Autograph Book 1878

 

Parthenia Parr Calhoon Autograph Book 1878 (Collection of Frances and John Finley)

Parthenia Parr Calhoon Autograph Book 1878 (Collection of Frances and John Finley)

 This Autograph Book from the collection of Frances and John Finley finds Parthenia Calhoon Parr at Dubuque, IA on 20 May 1878.  Apparently while aboard the str Red Wing on the Mississippi River in May 1878, Miss Parthenia collected the signatures of the many of the steamer officers and  the passengers.   I do not know how she arrived in Dubuque nor where she went after her trip on the str Red Wing.   According to Way’s Packet Directory, the Red Wing was a side wheel packet built in Brownsville, PA in 1870 and finished in Pittsburgh.  It was constructed for the Keokuk Northern Line and plied the Mississippi between St Louis and St Paul.  It was captained by WT Hight.

 

Parthenia P Calhoon  Signature (Collection of Frances and John Finley)

Parthenia P Calhoon Signature (Collection of Frances and John Finley)

 

The first signature in the Autograph Book is Capt Wm T Hight, Str Redwing, No 1003 Soonand Avenue, Saint Louis, MO, May 20-78.  His signature matches Capt Way’s information.

 

Capt Wm T Hight Signature (Collection of Frances and John Finley)

Capt Wm T Hight Signature (Collection of Frances and John Finley)

The second signature belonged to S Grennill who I assume was also an officer of the str Red Wing.  His position has not yet been determined.

 

S Grennill Signature (Collcetion of Frances and John Finley)

S Grennill Signature (Collcetion of Frances and John Finley)

The third signature belonged to Thomas Frank Calhoon who was also an officer of the Red Wing and her older brother.  I believe he was a steward.  Thomas F Calhoon lived in Alexandria, MO and I assume Miss Parthenia traveled from Georgetown, PA to visit. 

 

Thomas Franklin Calhoon Signature (Collection of Frances and John Finley)

Thomas Franklin Calhoon Signature (Collection of Frances and John Finley)

The Calhoons probably had some interest in the Keokuk Northern Packet Line because brother William Albert Calhoon wrote to Miss Parthenia from La Crosse on 1 Oct 1880 on Keokuk Northern Packet Line letter head.  Within that letter William Albert wrote that Joe left La Crosse for St Louis.  Joseph Mc Calhoon was a clerk on the Northern Packet Line according to an obituary of his fiancé,  Miss Annie Moore of Palmyra, MO.  Three brothers worked for the same packet line.  More work is required to solve this puzzle. 

 

Obit Annie Moore (Frances and John Finley Collection)

Obit Annie Moore (Frances and John Finley Collection)

Half 1st cousin, Dory C Poe (Theodore Cochran Poe), also signed the book on 9 Aug, 1878.  I assume he filled in a blank page in Georgetown after the completion of the trip.

 

Theodore Cochran Poe Signature (Collection of Frances and John Finley)

Theodore Cochran Poe Signature (Collection of Frances and John Finley)

More than twenty-five passengers from various states (New Jersey, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, etc) signed the book and most added a few words of inspiration or wisdom.  [1]

 

References.


[1] Parthenia Parr Calhoon, Autograph Book 1878.

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