Dedpepl: Grandma's Autograph Book

This autograph book belonged to Lou Emma (Speer) Gurley, the daughter of Charles & Anna Eliza (Runyon) Speer. She was born Dec. 31, 1865 in Jeffersontown, Kentucky and died Dec. 6, 1957 in Fairfield, Illinois. Lou married James Robert Gurley Dec. 28, 1892 at his brother Louis' home in Glenarm, Illinois. Louis Gurley was married to Lou's aunt Fannie (Runyon) Gurley.

The dated entries in the book indicate that she received or purchased it about 1888 when she would have been 23. It indicates that she went to visit relatives in Texas and later visited relatives in central Illinois in 1891 which is probably how she and her aunt Fannie met the Gurley family.

The pages are all "out" of the book and I have no idea if the order they are currently in is the order they were originally in.

You can see the faint outline of the word Album on the front cover.

The inside front cover upside down. Wayne City Ills. 3 yrs old By Harold Erkman. Harold was Lou's grandson born June 23, 1916 in Wayne City, Illinois. He died Feb. 11, 1944 in Italy during World War II. Harold was the son of Henry & Edna (Gurley) Erkman.

Miss Lue: Remember me earlier Remember me later Remember me at the Golden gate R.E.R. I don't know who this was.

This page is very difficult to read. Mizpah Farthing (?) Hope Compliments of V. B. C., Aug. 19, 1891, Love, Charity

Add to your faith, virtue and to virtue, knowledge and to knowledge, temperance.

And to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, Charity.

E.L.S. Minnie Carlock

My Dear Lou

In heaven's serene and endless rest, Secure from care and pain. There in the mansions of the blest We'll surely meet again. Yes, meet to part no more, Grandma. May 30th 1892.

This would have to be Lou's grandma Nancy Louisa (Young) Runyon who was born June 24, 1827 in Shelby Co., Kentucky, died March or April 1900. Nancy married James Runyon as his second wife on September 23, 1844 in Shelby Co., Kentucky. She was 64 when she wrote in Lou's book.

Dearest Loula

Few there are who Cherish friendship, Fresh unchanging Pure and true, Few there are who give sincerely, Such as I now offer you will you take his simple gift and it ever Joy impart tis at least an Earnest offering Prompted by a loving Heart. Your Friend R.P. Cochran.

May many friends thy fair face see Whose friendship and sincerity's May prove as true as Heaven is fair(?), And meet your faultless soul up there (?) Your Christian friend

Darling Friend

May your pathway through life be happy & peaceful and may there just be enough clouds on your horizon to make a beautiful mural (?) is the wish of your friend

I can't make out he signature

Miss Lula E. Speer

When you are sitting all a-lone, Reflecting on the past, Remember you have a friend, Who's friendship will forever last,

Your true friend, Alice Gurley

Feb. 14, 1891

Pawnee, Sangamon Co., Illinois

Alice Gurley was Lou's sister-in-law. Alice was born Aug. 25, 1869 Wayne Co., Illinois and died Nov. 30, 1929 in Springfield, Illinois. She was the daughter of Leonard Cagle & Susanna (Morehead) Gurley. Alice married Joe Perrine Jan. 10, 1893 in Sangamon County, Illinois.

May 29 - Compliments of T.W. Sweney(?)

Possibly a suitor of Lou's. See entry below referring to Tom Sweeney who lived down the pike.

May 29, 1888

Lula Speer

Remember well and bare in mind A trusty friend is hard to find. And when you find one good and true, Change not the old one for the new.

Farness (?), Branch, Texas

I think this person's name is Farness of Branch, Texas

My dear friend Lou

Few and short, Be the days of thy life, Till thou shalt become Some good man's wife. Your friend J.H.A.

Dear Lou,

There is no good things that I could fail to wish you, with fondest affection and sincerest hope that we may spend many happy hours together is the wish of your loving Auntie Fannie Gurley

Glenarm, Illinois, Aug. 13, 1892.

Fannie Elston (Runyon) Gurley born April 27, 1861, d. 1943 Wayne County, Illinois. She was the daughter of James & Nancy (Young) Runyon. Kid sister of Lou's mother Anna (Runyon) Speer., she and Lou were only 4 years apart in age. Fannie married Louis Gurley Jan. 30, 1890 in Oldham County, Kentucky. They lived for a time in Glenarm, Sangamon County, Illinois. Lou married James Gurley in their home.

Miss Lula:-

Dear Friend:-

May you always remain the same, unchanged in all except your name. Your friend. Lunnie/Lewie (?) C/O (?) Aug. 24, 1891

Dearest Lula

As you are full of fun And want to love some one For you I know not who to tell, Who would love you & how well. Unless, Swinney you will like. Who lives on the right of the pike. This Mr. Head will not like. But wishes you to live on the right of the pike, With Tom we will call his name. Minnie will be left, you to him will be the same (?). Two cows & one horse shall be given to you, If you to Tom Swinney will be true.

Your loving Aunt Mollie

Probably Mary L. (Runyon) Lowry born Dec. 30, 1852 Crestwood, Kentucky, d. Sept. 15, 1939 Louisville, KY. She was the daughter of James & Nancy (Young) Runyon and sister of Lou's mother Anna. Mary married James Lowry in 1871 and had a daughter named Minnie who may be the Minnie mentioned above.

It's possible that it is Mary Matilda (Speer) Hampton born April 16, 1845 in Oldham Co., KY, died March 20, 1932 in Louisville, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Marquis D. & Susan (Hinkle) Speer and sister of Lou's father Charles. Mollie married Absalom Hampton in 1870. The couple had no children.

Allen Tex Nov. 28 - [18]91

To Dear Lula Speer

Long may you live, Happie may you be, When you get married, Come and see me.

From your benevolent brother B

Lou didn't have a brother with the initial B. It could be a brother-in-law possibly Walter Evans Berry who married her sister Daisy. They lived in Texas.

Miss Lula

That's it.

Dear Lulu -

Fill thou each hour with what will last, Buy up the moments as they go, The life above when this is past Is the ripe fruit of this below.

Your true friend,

Minnie Carlock

Bethany Institute March 17, 1891

A Bethany Institute was founded in 1890 in Virginia. I don't know if it's the same.

May - 10 - 1929

Jan - 14 - 1817

110

1929

1891

Dear Lou

There are ---- ---- friend

This has partially been erased.

May 29, [18]92 (?)

Compliments of J.C. Brown

Aunt Lue

When you get old, and can not see, put on your specks and think of me,

Your nephew, Chas. M. Gurley

Feb. 9, 1894

Charles M. Gurley born 1874 in Illinois, d. unknown, son Daniel & Julia (Mifflin) Gurley. Daniel was James Robert Gurley's older half-brother. Charles married Lena Wilson in Montgomery Co., IL in 1900. I don't know what happened to them.