Scottish Presbyterian Church of Saint Andrew,
 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. c. 1860

On December 25, 1820, 194 years ago, my Third Great Grand parents James Howie & Jean Ross were married by Rev. Robert Easton in the Scottish Presbyterian Church of Saint Andrew, in Montréal, Québec, Canada. The United States had not yet formed. In fact Spain owned most of the South West which included Texas. They had immigrated from Scotland to the British Colony of Lower Canada, and were under the rule of King George III. James Monroe was the President of the United States, and the White House as we know it today had just been built after the British had burned it to the ground in 1814. Stores in New York City had just begun advertising Christmas Shopping for the very first time that December. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Marriage certificate of James Howie & Jean Ross 25 December 1820.

150 Year Journey of a Children's Book

     This week I was cleaning out my library of some books, I no longer had any interest.  I took them to my local used bookstore, which I frequent often to trade them in on something new.  I love going to used bookstores, finding many hours quickly pass by as I peruse the shelves. On this occasion, I found myself on the aisle of books for young adults. In among the spineless, and cloth torn, well read older books was a treasure, a book well taken care of and wrapped in a clear celluloid plastic book dust cover to protect it.  This quickly caught my eye, and I eased the small little red book from the shelf.   The price was right, just $7.00.  Then I noticed the title and author:  “Ungle Ben” by: Oliver Optic.

    As you can see the typographical error right on the front cover of the book.  The title is actually "Uncle Ben."  I knew this was the fifth book of the series: “Riverdale Stories.”  On the inside, cover was a stamp: from the library of Dr. C. J. Hamme.  The title page also contained that it was presented to Mary’s Sunday school as a donation for a book sale.  Presented by: E. C. Smyser.  The book sale was won by Fairy E. Smyser June 12, 1898 for 150 tickets.  In parenthesis, it says that she is the mother of (Ralph Hamme).   Therefore, that brings us back to the library of Dr. C. J. Hamme.  Upon further genealogical sleuthing, I found that Dr. C. J. Hamme was Dr. Curtis John Hamme (1884 – 1957).  His spouse was Fairy E. ‘Smyser’ Hamme (1886 –1959).  Their son was Ralph Eugene Hamme (1912 – 2002).  E. C. Smyser was Edward Calvin Smyser (1863 – 1943). 

    

Photo Created by: Sherlocks Cousin.

Record added: Sep 30, 2012

Find A Grave Memorial# 98019276.

While the rest is my pure speculation, and deduction, the dates appear to support this.  Since I know the book was published in 1862, and I can see from the headstone, that Edward Calvin Smyser was born in 1863 it was probably his first book.  

His daughter Fairy obtained the book when she was 12 years old, and then at some point passed it on to her son Ralph Eugene Hamme.  Dr. Ralph Hamme had two daughters.  The book then ended up in the possession of his daughter Gail M. Kay who just recently passed away here in Austin Texas March 03, 2013.  For three generations this 150-year-old book was taken care of very well by this family.

     I was planning on today’s blog post to reflect on the life of my second cousin William Taylor Adams – (Oliver Optic), author, for who I now am the proud holder of one of his first books pictured above.  However, the journey, and prior owners of this book were much more interesting.
     I am not related to the families of: Smyser, Hamme, or Kay, but I chose to end this blog, and leave you with the recent obituary of Gail ‘Hamme’ Kay.  Whose Great Grand Father Edward Calvin Smyser possibly was the first owner of the book “Ungle Ben” by: Oliver Optic.  I will now cherish it in my library hopefully until 2062 when the book will be 200 years old.