Montana Military Autograph Albums from the Western Frontier, Identified to Col. William Gerlach's Daughter, Ca 1880s 

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Jun 12, 2015 - Jun 13, 2015

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• Lot Description
  Lot of 2 late 19th-century autograph albums, both identified to Julia Gerlach, the daughter of the German-born Colonel William Gerlach who fought in the Civil War and eventually rose to the command of Fort Snelling, MN. Born in 1875, Julia was 9-19 years old while collecting autographs of friends and acquaintances during her time spent in Montana and Minnesota. The autograph books combined contain over 130 signatures, some with entertaining inscriptions. Signatures are in no particular order in the books; below they are listed grouped by location.
  
  These autograph books span from 1883-1894, during William Gerlach’s time in the US Army 3rd Infantry. The Third Infantry arrived at Fort Missoula in the autumn of 1877 and remained for over 10 years. The “Old Guard” built a telegraph line, surveyed local geography, policed the Flathead Indian Reservation, and escorted Native American hunting parties to the diminishing buffalo herds east of the Rockies. The regiment participated in the last significant [Ghost Dance] campaign against the Sioux and their allies. They were called upon to follow the returning followers of Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph after his unsuccessful flight to Canada. These operations all received local appreciation, and by 1888, Fort Missoula achieved a measure of post-frontier permanency.
  
  In the spring of 1888, the headquarters and several companies of the 3rd Infantry were transferred to Fort Snelling, MN. Being only occasionally required to send a company to quell a civil disturbance in the area, the mission of the regiment was modified to revert to an old and honored one for regulars. In summer camps set up to train National Guard troops, Old Guardsmen found themselves as drillmasters, marksmanship instructors, and demonstration troops.
  
  First Album, Octavo, 8.25 x 6.75 in. Hardcover, burgundy leather with gilt lettering and edging. Spine missing. Binding shaken. Some pages and signatures of pages detached. Some page have been torn out. Toning. Rubbing and scuffing. Edge wear with some chipping. Fair condition. Inscription on front endpaper dated Christmas 1883. Amongst signatures is a note by Julia, No. of watch 12322. C. Faiver Perrin, Locle. Julia Gerlach.
  
  Fort Missoula, Montana
  Omar Bundy – August 15, 1885 - a U.S. Army general who participated in the Indian Wars campaigns against Crow and Sioux Indians and the Spanish-American War in Cuba, fought in the Philippine Insurrection and the Moro Expedition, and commanded a regiment on the Mexican border. After serving in France during World War I, he was made a Commander of the French Legion of Honor.
  J. H. Gageby, Capt. 3 Infty. – Aug. 1, 1885 - One of the 109 Union officers that took part in the Libby Prison Tunnel Escape during the American Civil War
  Melville C. Wilkinson, U.S. Army – May 29, 1885 - Aide to General Howard from April 1871 to August 1878. He won a brevet at the battle of Clearwater. Killed in a fight with the Chippewa at Leech Lake, Minnesota, on October 5, 1898, Wilkinson was the last soldier slain by hostile Indians on the continental United States.
  Geo. W. Adair, Captain and Assistant Surgeon, U.S. Army - December 31, 1883 - Possibly George Washington Adair (1823–1899) a real-estate developer in post Civil War Atlanta.
  Charles S. Gerlach – Jan. 31, 1888
  William H. Gerlach – Sept. 20, 1886
  Freddie Louis Gerlach – Jan 31, 1886
  Tillie F. Gageby
  Mrs. G. W. Adair
  W. C. Garten, Capt. 3rd Infantry – Jan. 27, 1886
  Richard Zahn, Cincinnati, O. – December 12, 1885
  Miss Schofield, Chicago, Ill. – Aug 17, 1885
  Helen Hatheway
  Geo. Gibson, Lieut. Col. 3rd Infantry – New Years Day, 1884
  Mrs. George Gibson – January 1, 1884
  Eliza L. Page – Oct. 14, 1885
  Sophie Page – 1885
  John H. Page, Capt. 3rd Infantry
  Master Charles Bartlett – Feb. 28, 1887
  R. McCormick – Jan 14, 1884
  John McCormick
  Erza Young Smith – Aug. 8, 1887
  E. O. Smith – Aug. 6, 1887
  Jemma B. Thies
  Ella Jordan – March 20, 1885
  Marion Bradford Butler – Oct. 10, 1885
  W. G. Buttle, 1st Lieut. 3rd Infantry – Oct. 9, 1885
  Josie P. Hale – Aug. 14, 1885
  P. P. Hale – Aug. 14, 1885
  Jo. Hale, Capt. 3rd Infantry – July 25, 1887
  Ezra Woodruff, Asst. Surgeon, USA – Aug 15, 1887
  Mrs. Ezra Woodruff – Aug 15, 1887
  Mrs. F. F. Heldt – Sept. 1, 1887
  Fannie Heldt – Sept. 1, 1887
  Birdie R. Heldt – Sept. 1, 1887
  William Grey – September 27, 1886
  Mrs. G. B. Braiton – Jan. 1888
  Bessie Braiton – Jan. 13, 1888
  Francis N. Braiton – January 13, 1888
  Gertrude B. Wilkinson – Aug. 1885
  Gertrude Evangeline Wilkinson – June 1885
  Lizzie Blake [Whitehall, Montana] – March 7, 1888
  Geo. Bell Jr., 1st Li. 3rd Inf. – Aug 16, 1885
  Miss Ransom – Jan. 1, 1884
  May Adair Jordan – March 20, 1885
  
  Montana College/Deer Lodge, Montana
  Theo. Brantly [Theodore M. Brantley] – April 29, 1888 - the longest-serving Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court, serving for 23 years (1899–1922). Born near Lebanon, Tennessee. He came from a political family in Tennessee—two of his mother's brothers were elected governor of Tennessee (Neill S. Brown in 1847, John C. Brown in 1871). Brantley was educated at Southwestern Presbyterian University in Clarksville, Tennessee and the law school of Cumberland University in Lebanon, graduating in 1881. After practicing law for several years, Brantly became a professor of Ancient Languages, first at Illinois College and then at the College of Montana in Deer Lodge. After returning to the practice of law for several years, Brantley was elected District Judge in the 3rd Judicial District of Montana in 1892 and then Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court in the November 1898 elections. He remained Chief Justice until resigning for reasons of health shortly before his death in 1922, in Helena, Montana.
  Alexander Leggat, Col. of Mont. Deer Lodge – May 5, 1888 - was a Butte, Montana mining engineer, hotel owner, and collector of western Americana. His papers and correspondence are in Montana State University’s Special Collections, Collection 781.
  W. M. Cobleigh – May 1, 1888 - Possibly William Merriam Cobleigh who started teaching chemistry at Agricultural College of the State of Montana [later Montana State University] in 1894, then was dean of the College of Engineering and acting president 1942-43.
  Robt. A. McArthur
  Elizabeth K. Steel
  Guy W. Stapleton – May 5, 1888
  Willie Hall – May 6, 1888
  Mary Mitchell – May 1, 1888
  Emery Saville
  Tommie Wood – May 5, 1888
  Walter I. Shay
  Gussie Quaintance – April 1988
  Fred M. Ferrell – May 5, 1888
  Etta Stapleton – May 5, 1888
  Martha E. Jones – May 5, 1888
  Linnie M. Batterton – Apr. 27, 1888
  Lois Reah – Apr. 30, 1888
  J. M. Self W. B. Burkett Albert Gamer – May 5, 1888 
  James Jack – May 1, 1888 
  Frank W. Traphagem – May 1, 1888 
  Jennie Stephens – May 1, 1888 
  G. C. Levengood – May 7, 1888 
  James F. Greene – May 5, 1888 [pencil note, Died June 25, 1888] 
  Ina Stoner – May 5, 1888 
  E. H. Ellenbecker – May 1, 1888 
  Emma Magdalena Gamer – May 5, 1888 
  Josephine Frances Powers – May 1, 1888
  “The Gang” – April 22, 1888 
  Della L. Herndon 
  Raena A. Pierce 
  Carrie M. Wordell
  Annie A. Theodore
  
  Fort Snelling, Minnesota
  William H. Gerlach – Jan. 4, 1890 / Nov. 20, 1888
  Charles S. Gerlach – March 30, 1890 / January 8, 1892
  Master Fred Gerlach
  Follett Bradley – Dec. 25, 1899 - Flew in the Wright Brothers famous biplane at Fort Riley, Kansas, in 1912. Participant in Pulitzer Air Races, 1922; he was successively Commander, 3rd Bombardment Wing and III Bombardment Command, 1941-1942; Commanding General, First Air Force, March-July 1942; Minister to Russia, August-December 1942; Air Inspector, Headquarters, U.S. Army Air Force Headquarters, 1943.
  “Le Roi Ayres” – Nov. 20, 1888
  
  Other or Unknown location
  Amede Le May – May 5, 1888 
  Chase W. Kennedy William L. Handler – June 22, 1884 
  Miss Mary Fitzpatrick Frank P. Avery M. H. Ewing – Jan 14, 1884 
  J. W. Hawray, Capt. 3 Infy – July 25, 1887 
  Geo. E. Head Janie W. Kartleth – Dec. 1883 
  I. B. C. Mi Shaw “China man cook” Watt. Eckels Harriett Bradley – Dec. 25, 1899 
  W. M. Jack, Jr. [ink stamp, followed by pencil note] Died April 19, 1888 
  C. B. Eckelson, St. Paul, Minn. 
  Kate H. Evans, Willow Glen, MT 
  Chin Hang
  
  Second Album, Octavo, 8.25 x 6.75 inches. Spine and boards missing. All edges gilt. Binding shaken. Some pages and signatures of pages detached. Toning. Edge wear with some chipping. Poor condition. Inscription on front endpaper dated October 13, 1884 in Missoula, Mont.
  
  Fort Shaw, Montana
  John R. Brooke, Brig. Gen’l – April 25, 1888 - a major general in the United States Army during both the American Civil War and the Spanish American War. He served as a military Governor of Puerto Rico and Governor of Cuba.
  H. P. McCain [Henry Pinckney] – May 16, 1888 - Served as a second lieutenant in the 3rd Infantry at Fort Shaw, Montana. He eventually went on to serve as Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1914 to 1918.
  Mary Steams Brooke – April 25, 1888 
  Frank B. McCoy, 1st Lieut. 3rd U.S. Infty. – May 15, 1888 
  Ellie May McCoy – May 13, 1888 
  James T. Dean, U.S. Army David S. Snively, U.S. Army – May 16, 1888 
  Geo. F. Wilson – May 15, 1888 
  Will D. Shepherd – May 16, 1888 
  William F. Burgy – May 16, 1888 
  Wm. C. Neary – May 16, 1888 
  F. Geo. Heldt – May 15, 1888 
  Mollie Heldt – May 16, 1888 
  Fannie G. Heldt [possibly Frances G. Heldt] – May 16, 1888 
  Birdie Heldt [possibly Florence R. Heldt] – May 16, 1888 
  Evelyn Elderkin Wilson – May, 1888 
  W. E. P. French, 1st Lieut. 3rd U.S. Infantry – May 12, 1888 
   
  Fort Snelling, Minnesota
  Charles S. Gerlach – Sept. 12, 1888 / June 28, 1891 / January 6, 1892 / January 8, 1894 Fredrick Gerlach – Sept. 13, 1888 
  Lillian J. Brownson – Nov. 6, 1888 
  L. W. Cooke, 1st Lieut. 3rd Infty. 
  Emma B. Cooke – July 24, 1888 
  Lorenzo I. Cooke Tom Grant – Nov. 8, 1888 
  Frances Mason – July 5, 1888 
  Emma V. Brock – Nov. 27, 1888 
  George Parkinson Bellew – Nov. 9, 1888 
  Joe Bellew – Sept. 12, 1888 
  John Robert Hannay – June 27, 1888 
  Bessie Hannay – June 27, 1888 
  H. Daisy G. Hannay – June 27, 1888 
  Fritz Schenk [possibly Frederick Frank Schenk] – May 31, 1888
  
  Saint Mary’s Hall, Faribault, Minn.
  Nellie Fogarty – Nov. 4th, 1889 
  Blanche L. Todd Blanche Bishop – Nov. 3, 1889
  
  Unknown Location
  Walter Henry Rodney

  Condition

  First Album, Octavo, 8.25 x 6.75 in. Hardcover, burgundy leather with gilt lettering and edging. Spine missing. Binding shaken. Some pages and signatures of pages detached. Some page have been torn out. Toning. Rubbing and scuffing. Edge wear with some chipping. Fair condition. Inscription on front endpaper dated Christmas 1883. Amongst signatures is a note by Julia, No. of watch 12322. C. Faiver Perrin, Locle. Julia Gerlach.
   
  Second Album, Octavo, 8.25 x 6.75 inches. Spine and boards missing. All edges gilt. Binding shaken. Some pages and signatures of pages detached. Toning. Edge wear with some chipping. Poor condition. Inscription on front endpaper dated October 13, 1884 in Missoula, Mont. 
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