Herbert Wayne "Herb" Abbey was born January 29, 1921, in Missoula, Missoula Co., MT, and died February 20, 1991, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT, at age 70. Buried in Philipsburg Cemetery, Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT. He is the son of Samuel Benton Abbey of South Byron, Byron Twp., Fond du Lac Co., WI, and Edna May Morgan of Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT.

Leona Mae Lawrence was born June 4, 1923, in Missoula, Missoula Co., MT, and died October 19, 2009, at age 87. She is the daughter of Clarence Frank "Chester" Lawrence of Pierce, Kewaunee Co., WI, and Genevieve "Jennie" Liskey of Stevens Point, Portage Co., WI. His father is Henry Bassett Lawrence and mother is Abigail Agnette "Nettie" Roatch or Zennitie A. "Nettie" Roach. Her father is Frank Liskey and mother is Frances McKloske. Genevieve Minster (divorced) with parents of Liskey and McKloskey married Alexander Alfred Bisson (born December 19, 1899, in Montana) on August 24, 1936, in Missoula, MT. Alexander died March 3, 1980, in Frenchtown, Missoula Co., MT (age 80). Genevieve (Liskey) (Lawrence) (Minster) (Bisson) Tiemeyer died February 28, 1997, in Ventura Co., CA. Buried in Ivy Lawn Cemetery, Ventura, Ventura Co., CA. She was married July 5, 1949, in Fresno Co., CA, to Fredrick Louis "Fred" Tiemeyer: Born February 28, 1907, in Manhattan, New York City, NY; Died November 25, 1985, in Fresno, Fresno Co., CA (age 78). Genevieve and Fred were divorced October 7, 1959, in Ventura Co., CA. Final Divorce Judgment October 13, 1960, in Ventura Co., CA.

Herbert Wayne "Herb" Abbey (age 24), a bachelor, and Leona Mae Lawrence (age 22), a maiden, were married August 30, 1945, in Missoula, Missoula Co., MT.

Herbert Wayne "Herb" Abbey and Leona Mae (Lawrence) Abbey had no children.

Herbert Wayne "Herb" Abbey and Leona Mae (Lawrence) Abbey were divorced June 10, 1949, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT.

Clarence Henry Lawrence (Born February 1875 in Ellsworth, WI), with parents of Henry Bassett Lawrence and Zennitie Roach, married June 20, 1906, in Aaron, Burnett Co., WI, to Rosetta "Rosie" Ailport born July 1887 in Wisconsin, (with parents of Levi M. Ailport and Mary Gay).

Clarence Henry Lawrence was born February 1875 in Wisconsin and died August 6, 1950, in Wisconsin at age 75. He was married to Mabel E. Unknown (born 1879; died Unknown). Married January 10, 1894, to Jessie Elsie Peas (born 1871 in Wisconsin; died June 13, 1957, in Unknown, at age 86. Buried in Dickson Cemetery, Lynxville, Crawford Co., WI.

Jennie R. Jesmore (born June 1879 in Wisconsin) is a married Post Mistress and living in 1920 in Potomac, Missoula Co., MT. Grace L. Jesmore (born about 1902 in Minnesota) and L. Genevieve Jesmore (born about 1904 in Wisconsin) live with her.

Leona's possible relative, Lafe Lawrence (age 39) born in Hartland, Pierce Co., WI, with parents Henry Lawrence and Nettie Roach) married August 13, 1921, in Superior, Mineral Co., MT, to Frances Liskey (age 34) born in Pennsylvania with father of Albert McKloskey and mother of Aggie Martin.

Clarence F. Lawrence of Pierce, Kewaunee Co., WI (age 40), and Genevieve "Jennie" Liskey of Stevens Point, Portage Co., WI (age 17), were married July 5, 1921, in Superior Twp., Mineral Co., MT. His father is Henry Bassett Lawrence and mother is Abigail Agnette "Nettie" Roatch or Zennitie A. "Nettie" Roach. Her father is Frank Liskey and mother is Francis McKloske.

Genevieve Minster (divorced) with parents of Liskey and McKloskey married Alexander Alfred Bisson (born December 19, 1899, in Frenchtown Twp., Missoula Co., MT) on August 24, 1936, in Missoula, MT. Alexander died March 3, 1980, in Frenchtown Twp., Missoula Co., MT (age 79).

Herbert Wayne "Herb" Abbey then married Shirley Marie "Shammie" Superneau.

Shirley Marie "Shammie" Superneau was born June 26, 1929, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT, and died January 30, 2011, in Laurel, Yellowstone Co., MT, at age 81. Buried in Philipsburg Cemetery, Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT. She is the daughter of William Frederick "Fred" Superneau of Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT, and Anna Louise Luthje of Montana.

Herbert Wayne "Herb" Abbey (age 28), a divorcee, and Shirley Marie "Shammie" Superneau (age 20), a maiden, were married June 26, 1949, in Anaconda, Deer Lodge Co., MT.

Herbert Wayne "Herb" Abbey and Shirley Marie "Shammie" (Superneau) Abbey had six children:

1. Kathryn Luwauyne "Kathy" Abbey: Born March 15, 1950, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT.
2. Lenore Marie Abbey: Born November 7, 1952, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT. Married June 26, 1981, in Washington Co., OR, to James Harwood Rylander: Born October 3, 1949, in Portsmouth, NH.
3. Sharon Margaret Abbey: Born September 25, 1954, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT. Married March 24, 1979, in Eugene, Lane Co., OR, to Rodney Lee "Rod" Burch: Born 1955 in Eugene, Lane Co., OR. Rodney was first married July 7, 1974, in Reno, Washoe Co., NV, to Peggy Jo Keep: Born May 8, 1956, in Eugene, Lane Co., OR. 1/14/2000 Montana
4. Stuart Morgan Abbey: Born May 27, 1959, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT; Died May 4, 1965, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT (age 5). Buried in Philipsburg Cemetery, Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT.
5. Allison Jennine Abbey: Born April 15, 1960, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT. Married October 10, 1981, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT, to Richard Carl "Rich" Cash: Born August 10, 1947, in Longview, WA; Died July 14, 2015, at Billings Clinic, Billings, Yellowstone Co., MT (age 67). Richard was first married September 9, 1967, in Missoula, Missoula Co., MT, to Valerie Jean Mercer: Born February 16, 1848, in Montana.. Divorced July 19, 1978, in Billings, Yellowstone Co., MT. They had 2 children.
6. Karen Lynn Abbey: Born September 15, 1963, Granite County Memorial Hospital, Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT. Married December 22, 1980, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT, to James Thomas "Jim" O'Loughlin: Born November 11, 1958, in Choteau, Teton Co., MT.

Leona Mae (Lawrence) Abbey then married Robert D. Inglett.

Robert D. Inglett was born about 1954, in Unknown.

Robert D. Inglett and Leona Mae (Lawrence) Abbey were married November 7, 1971, in San Bernardino Co., CA.

Robert D. Inglett and Leona Mae (Lawrence) (Abbey) Inglett had Unknown children.

Robert D. Inglett and Leona Mae (Lawrence) (Abbey) Inglett were divorced February, 1974, in San Bernardino Co., CA.

Leona Mae (Lawrence) (Abbey) Inglett then married Edward Paul Wentworth Jr.

Edward Paul Wentworth Jr. was born May 14, 1947, in Cranston, Providence Co., RI, and died May 5, 1988, in Sacramento Co., CA, at age 38.

Edward Paul Wentworth Jr. and Leona Mae (Lawrence) (Abbey) Inglett were married March 8, 1975, in San Bernardino Co., CA.

Edward Paul Wentworth Jr. and Leona Mae (Lawrence) (Abbey) (Inglett) Wentworth had no children.

Edward Paul Wentworth Jr. and Leona Mae (Lawrence) (Abbey) Wentworth were divorced September, 1976, in San Bernardino Co., CA.

TIMELINE

Samuel Bolton "Sam" Abbey was born August 16, 1892, in South Byron, Byron Twp., Fond du Lac Co., WI.

Edna May Morgan was born April 22, 1895, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT.

The 1900 U. S. Census taken on June 6, 1900, shows C. W. Abbey (age 38) is a laborer living in Milladore Twp., Wood Co., WI. With him are his wife of 17 years, Cora Abbey (age 33), along with five of their six children (all six living at the time): Maud (age 14); Samual Abbey (age 7); Phebe Abbey (age 5); Ida Abbey (age 3); and Orin Abbey (age 9/12). Claire Abbey is not at home on that date.

The 1900 U. S. Census taken on June 1, 1900, shows Harry Morgan (age 32) born January 1868 in Montana to Montana-born parents and married for 15 years is a day laborer renting his home in South Philipsburg Pct., Granite Co., MT. Living with him is his wife, Opha E. Morgan (age 29) born March 1871 in Nebraska to Kentucky and Illinois-born parents who has 5 of the 7 children born to her still living. All 5 children are at home, born in Montana to Montana-born parents: Henry C. Morgan (age 13) born March 1887; Mary D. Morgan (age 11) born October 1888; Rosa R. Morgan (age 9) born August 1890; Edna L. Morgan (age 5) born April 1895; and Harry Morgan (age 1/12) born April 1900.

The 1910 U. S. Census taken April 19, 1910, shows Francis C. Lawrence (age 40) born in Montana, is living in 8th Ward, City of Butte, Silver Bow Co., MT. Living with him are:

Herbert Wayne "Herb" Abbey was born January 29, 1921, in Missoula, Missoula Co., MT.

Clarence F. Lawrence of the Town of Pierce, Kewanee Co., WI (age 40), and Genevieve "Jennie" Liskey of Stevens Point, Portage Co., WI (age 17), were married July 5, 1921, in Superior Twp., Mineral Co., MT.

Leona Mae Lawrence was born June 4, 1923, in Missoula, Missoula Co., MT.

Shirley Marie "Shammie" Superneau was born June 26, 1929, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT.

The 1930 U. S. Census taken on April 10, 1930, shows Samuel B. Abbey (age 36) born in Wisconsin to United States-born parents and first married at age 21 is a Metal Miner renting his home for $15/month and is living on Sutter Street, 2nd Ward, City of Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT. Living with him is his wife, Edna M. Abbey (age 34) born in Montana to Montana and Nebraska-born parents and first married at age 19. Also living there are his children, both born in Montana to Wisconsin and Montana-born parents: Katheryn M. Abbey (age 14); and Herbert W. Abbey (age 9).

The 1930 U. S. Census taken on April 11, 1930, shows Fred W. Superneau (age 27) born in Montana to French Canadian and Montana-born parents and first married at age 24 is Running a Car in a Metal Mine and is renting his home for $18/month and is living on North Montgomery Street, 2nd Ward, City of Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT. Living with him is his wife, Anna L. Superneau (age 24) born in Montana to German-born parents and first married at age 21. Also living there: his daughter, Shirley M. Superneau (age 9/12) in Montana to Montana-born parents; and his unmarried sister-in-law, Catherine Luthje (age 18) born in Montana to German-born parents.

The 1930 U. S. Census taken on April 3, 1930, shows C. Leonard Lawrence (age 28) born in Illinois to Illinois-born parents and first married at age 23 is a Farmer and a Mail Carrier who is renting his home and is living in the Village of Knowlton, Custer Co., MT. Living with him is his wife, Emma M. Lawrence (age 28) born in Iowa to Iowa-born parents and first married at age 23. Also living there are his four children, all born in Montana to Illinois and Iowa-born parents: Franklin D. Lawrence (age 8); Helen Marie Lawrence (age 4-10/12); Beverly Irene Lawrence (age 2-3/12); and Doris May Lawrence (age 9/12).

The 1940 U. S. Census taken on April 3, 1940, shows Leona Laurence (age 16) born in Montana, and 5 years ago was living in Missoula, Missoula Co., MT, and with 7 years of School, is an unmarried Lodge, and is living at the House of Good Shepherd, west of Helena, Lewis and Clark Co., MT. This location is a reform school.

The 1940 U. S. Census taken on April 6, 1940, shows Alexander Bisson (age 40) born in Montana with 8 years of School and 5 years ago was living in the Same House is a Farm Operator who owns his Farm worth $2,000 and is living in Frenchtown, Missoula Co., MT. Living with him is his wife, Gennvieve Bisson (age 35) born in Wisconsin and with 2 years of High School and 5 years ago was living in Missoula, Missoula Co., MT. Also living there are: his unmarried step-daughter, Leona Mae Lawrence (age 16) born in Montana and with 7 years of School and 5 years ago was living in Portland, OR; and his unmarried brother, Alcid Bisson (age 44) born in Montana with 1 year of High School and 5 years ago was living in the Same House, a Farm Operator.

Leigh Larson note: Franklin Delois Lawrence was born May 8, 1921 in Ismay, MT, and died October 21, 1988, in Concord, Contra Costa Co., CA, at age 67. Married to Joan Montgomery: Born May 10, 1929, in England; Died December 9, 1977, in Manchester, England (age 48).

On December 23, 1941, Herbert W. Abbey was unmarried and was living in Lincoln, Lewis and Clark Co., MT, when he entered the Air Corps.

Herbert Wayne "Herb" Abbey (age 24), a bachelor, and Leona Mae Lawrence (age 22), a maiden, were married August 30, 1945, in Missoula, Missoula Co., MT.

Shirley Superneau was in the 1947 graduating class of Granite County High School, of which there were 14 members.

Herbert Wayne "Herb" Abbey received a divorce from Leona Mae (Lawrence) Abbey June 7, 1949, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT, on grounds of Desertion.

Herbert Wayne "Herb" Abbey (age 28), a divorcee, and Shirley Marie "Shammie" Superneau (age 20), a maiden, were married June 26, 1949, in Anaconda, Deer Lodge Co., MT.

 The 1950 U. S. Census taken on April 7, 1950, shows Herbert W. Abbey (age 29) born in Montana, is a married Automobile Mechanic at a Garage, and is living at his house in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT. Living with him are: his wife, Shirley M. Abbey (age 34) born in Montana to United States-born parents, and with 2 years of College; and his daughter, Kathryn L. Abbey (age 0, March) born in Montana

William Frederick Superneau died January 22, 1963, in an Anaconda Hospital, MT, at age 60. Buried in Philipsburg Cemetery, Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT.

Stuart Morgan Abbey died May 4, 1965, at his residence, Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT, at age 5. Buried in Philipsburg Cemetery, Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT.

James Thomas "Jim" O'Loughlin and Karen Lynn Abbey were married December 22, 1980, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT.

Richard Carl "Rich" Cash and Allison Jeannine Abbey were married October 10, 1981, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT.

Herbert Wayne "Herb" Abbey died February 20, 1991, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT, at age 70. Buried in Philipsburg Cemetery, Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT.

Shirley Marie "Shammie" (Superneau) Abbey died January 30, 2011, in Laurel, Yellowstone Co., MT, at age 81. Buried in Philipsburg Cemetery, Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT.

Eleanor W. Brooks was born September 25, 1922, in Philipsburg, Granite Co., MT, and died December 31, 2002, in Bellevue, King Co., WA, at age 80. (Walter Brooks and Mrs. Leonard W. Bowen b. 1915 d. 10/31/1994 Missoula, of Hamilton, MT,  were her siblings) was born Unknown in Unknown and died Unknown at age Unknown. She was the daughter of Walter Hughes Brooks of Petosi, MO, and Irma Francis Hostetter of Spring Valley, MN.

Virginia Rose Brooks married Leonard W. Bowen

Eleanor then married Unknown Griffith.

Father: William Maxwell Abbey (b. March 8, 1826, in New York City, NY d. 1897)
Mother: Margery Ann Kiple
Wife: Mary Gertrude Mead (painter, b. 1851, m. 1890, d. 1931)

Grandfather: Roswell Abbe (1789 - 1858) came from Amherst MA. and did not settle in Philadelphia until 1831.

Great Grandfather: Samuel Abbe (August 17, 1759, in Chatham, Middlesex Co., CT - 1841) was from Chatham, CT. 

GG Grandfather: Samuel Abbe: 1726 - 1806 in Chatham, CT

GGG Grandfather: Benjamin Abbe: June 4, 1694, in Salem, MA - 1765 in Middleton, CT

GGGG Grandfather: Samuel Abbe (1646 in Wenham, M -

and GGGG Grandmother, Mary Knowlton

CHAPTER I

BOYHOOD AND YOUTH

1852-1868 Aged 1-16

Roswell Abbey (Abbey's Paternal Grandfather) William Maxwell Abbey Huguenot Descent Abbey's Maternal Ancestors A Wiltshire Family Black and White at Two Years Old Schools in Philadelphia First Instruction in Art " Oliver Optic's " Our Boys and Girls Will H. Low and his Boy Colleague

EDWIN AUSTIN ABBEY was born at 315 Race Street, Philadelphia, on April ist, 1852. The house still stands, but it has been altered within. His father, William Maxwell Abbey (1826-1897), was a Philadelphian of English and French extraction, who, after engaging in various forms of business, had settled down to brokerage and commission agency. He was the fifth child of Roswell Abbey (1789-1858), a typefounder, who spent much of his spare time on the invention of new mechanism not only for printing but for larger engineering purposes. Roswell Abbey was the first to apply electrotyping to the production of the matrices used in type-founding, and he devoted years in an attempt to perfect an engine driven by compressed gas an explosion during one of his experiments causing the injury that led to his death. From Roswell Abbey, beyond doubt, came much of his grandson Edwin's practical adaptivity and his swift, decisive manipulative gifts. Writing of his grandfather in later life Abbey, who admired him immensely, says that he was an unworldly man, a constant dupe of the crafty, and that he left a fine library.

Roswell Abbey, a New Englander by birth, came from Amherst, Massachusetts, and did not settle in Philadelphia, where he was greatly respected, until 1831, to leave it again only for two years, in 1844-46. His father, Samuel Abbey (1755 or 1760-1841), was from Chatham, Connecticut, but also had associations with Philadelphia, for he served there for awhile in Captain Coach's Company of Colonel Burr Bradley 's Battalion of the Connecticut Line. On retiring from the army Samuel Abbey settled first at Amherst , Massachusetts, then at Canandaigua, N.Y., and finally at Milo, Yates County, N.Y.

THE ABBEY DESCENT

Farther back than this Samuel Abbey we cannot go , with any certainty , on the paternal side; but it was believed in the family that his right name was Abbaye, which he had changed to Abbey , and that he was descended from Huguenot emigres who came to America from England. Abbey the artist, the subject of the present book, while proud of this French strain, from time to time was interested in efforts that were made to link up his family also with Abbeys in England; but he could arrive at nothing very definite. Among his papers l find correspondence on the subject, and a copy of the will of William de Abbey, citizen of York, which was drawn upon July 15th, 1334.

So much for the paternal line. Abbey's mother was Margery Ann Kiple (born November i yth , 1825, in Buckingham, died April 15th, 1880), daughter of Jacob Kiple(1800-1889), of Buckingham, Buck Co., Pennsylvania, the son of Jacob Kiple or Kypel (d . 1824) , who in turn was the son of a Jacob Kypel (d. 1797), of Freiburg, Baden.
This, the earliest member of the Kiple family of whom anything is known, emigrated from Germany to America in 1760, and settled in Hunterdon, New Jersey. Jacob Kiple married, on January 3rd, 1823, Jane Clancy, who was born in Chester Co., Pennsylvania, on July 2nd, 1802, and died in Philadelphia on January 17th, 1889. She
was the daughter of John Clancy and Margery Ferguson, both of Irish descent.*

Margery Ann Kiple was married to William Maxwell Abbey in 1848, and they had three children: Edwin Austin, born, as I have stated, April 1st, 1852; William Burling, born December 17th, 1854, and Jane Kiple, born April 16th, 1858. Of these only the last, who became a confirmed invalid, survives. William Burling Abbey died in 1917, only a few months after his only son, Edwin Austin Abbey the second, named after his uncle, was killed at the battle of Vimy Ridge in France, where he is buried. Although an American, he had enlisted with the Canadian forces in October, 1915, long before America joined in, and was gazetted a Lieutenant.*
 

* " My grandmother " (Mr. J. E. Kelly thus quotes a remark made to him by Abbey) " was one of the young girls who greeted Washington and strewed flowers in his path when he journeyed to New York to be inaugurated as first President." As this was in 1787, Abbey must have meant great-grandmother, but we cannot know which one (Was indicated, maternal or paternal.

2

On his mother's side Abbey was remotely of German and Irish descent. Any failure to derive his father's family from England was made good by the unequivocal English blood of his paternal grandmother's line. This lady, the wife of Roswell Abbey, was Elizabeth Truslow (1790-1863)^6 daughter of John Truslow ,of Durham, Connecticut, whose family hailed from Avebury in Wiltshire. In Abbey's veins, therefore, ran English, French, German, and Irish blood.

Almost immediately after Edwin or Ned, as he was called all his life by those with whom he was most intimate was born, the family moved to Ellicott's Mill, Maryland, where Mr. Abbey had heard of a business opening; but they were back in Philadelphia after a year. They lived then at 609 North 5th Street, a house which, the street having been since renumbered, must now be sought at either 971 or 973; and afterwards moved into 816 North 6th Street, where they remained for some three years. Later there was another move, to 321 Vine Street, and in 1865 to 830 North 6th Street, Abbey's last and longest Philadelphian home, and the house from which, as we shall see, he set forth to earn his living in New York.

A letter to him, in 1901, from a lady who remembered him as a very small child and wished, in his later triumphant days, to felicitate with him on his success, tells of very early artistic efforts. "If I also were an artist," she wrote, "I would draw you a picture of a two-year-old baby sitting in a high chair with pencil and paper, drawing omnibuses. On the opposite side of the room a lady embroidering; close beside the baby a little girl attentively watching the baby artist, ever ready to obey the demand of 'More paper, Emma, 'and to hunt and sharpen lost pencils. The baby was your self, the lady was your mother, and the little girl was I." To delineate omnibuses at two is to exceed the precocity even of that other Philadelphian painter (who was to become not only R. A. but P. R. A.), Benjamin West, who, it will be remembered, as a small boy did not wait for the attentions of any Emma, but himself pulled hair from the cat's tail to make a brush.

*In 1918 a collection of letters written byE. A. Abbey the second, to his parents, from
camp and from the Flanders and French fronts, was published by the Houghton Mifflin
Co., under the title : An American Soldier.



CHILDHOOD

The only other incident of Abbey's childhood that I can recover is one of which he himself used often to tell. Having contracted a habit of dealing more daintily with his food than his mother thought well for a little boy, he was admonished by her, before accompanying her on a visit to some relatives , to remember his manners, and in
their house, at any rate, on no account to pick and choose. Nor did he. A glass of milk being given him with, all unknown to the giver, a large fly struggling in it, he was for postponing the refreshment; but on a nudge from his mother, who also had not seen what her son was only too conscious of, he dutifully drank it down , fly and all.

The first school which Abbey and his brother attended was at the south-east corner of Green and Dillwyn Streets , kept by Mrs. Elizabeth Hall. That was between 1859, when Ned was seven, and 1862. The two boys then moved on to the Randolph and the Jefferson, two of Philadelphia's public schools, and in 1864 to Henry Gregory's at 1108 Harbel Street. Gregory, who afterwards became Vice-President of Girard College, was assisted by his son, till lately a Professor at the University of Leipsic; by De BennevilleK. Ludwig, who became principal of the Rittenhouse Academy; and by the late Gerald F. Dale, who died as a missionary in India.

In a letter written in 1907 to Mr. G. H. Putnam, in relation to some misleading statements which had found their way into print, and to which we shall come later, Abbey wrote thus of these early days: "My mother was a very well-read woman, who, early in my life, as long as my memory goes back , did what she could to develop and guide my tastes primarily my literary tastes. She carefully preserved my childish essays in drawing, but this predilection of mine amounted to nothing until I was fifteen or sixteen years of age. My father, who was then engaged in an agency for yellow pine tim

4

THE FATHER AND MOTHER OF E. A. ABBEY.

FROM A DAGUERREOTYPE.



PHILADELPHIA HOMES

 

Abbey, Edwin Austin
Born: April 1, 1852, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died: August 1, 1911, in London, England
Vocations: Illustrator, Painter
Geographic Connection to Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Philadelphia County; Harrisburg, Dauphin County

Keywords: American Society of Architects; The Apotheosis of Pennsylvania; Boston Public Library; Harper’s Weekly; Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; The Quest for the Holy Grail; Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and the Lady Anne; Royal Academy in London; Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colour; University of Pennsylvania

Abstract: Edwin Austin Abbey was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1852. By the age of 14, he started to study art and shortly thereafter attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In 1870 Harper’s Weekly employed him as an illustrator. He was eventually commissioned to paint murals for the rotunda in the Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. These murals include The Apotheosis of Pennsylvania, Reading of the Declaration of Independence, and Penn’s Treaty with the Indians. Abbey completed the murals in 1908 and died in 1911 in London, England.

Biography:

Born Edwin Austin Abbey in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 1, 1852, to William Maxwell Abbey and Margery Ann Abbey, Edwin quickly became learned in art. At the early age of 14 he started to study under a fellow Philadelphian, Isaac L. Williams, as a portrait and landscape painter. He studied there for two years before getting an apprentice draftsman position, as per the wishes of his father, with the publishing firm Van Ingen & Snyder. At the same time he took night classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, his first formal arts school; this also turned out to be his last.

At the age of 19 (1870), Abbey had his first drawing published in Harper’s Weekly, titled The Puritans’ First Thanksgiving. Shortly thereafter he was hired by Harper & Brothers publishing company based out of New York City as an illustrator. By 1878, he had fallen into the graces of those in charge of Harper’s and was sent to England to research Robert Herrick’s poetry in order to compose illustrations for them. While there, he spent time in Stratford-on-Avon where he gained an appreciation for Shakespeare, something that would prove to be beneficial later in his career. For the next several years Abbey toured Europe studying different styles of painting.

Throughout the rest of his career, Abbey would spend time traveling back and forth between his house in England and New York, where he had ties to the Harper’s Publishing Company. In 1883 he was elected to the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colour, an honor he would not have received without studying in Europe. In 1885, Abbey exhibited his first drawing at the Royal Academy in London. Two years later Abbey started to illustrate the comedies of Shakespeare for Harper’s. In 1889 Abbey won a first class medal from the Paris Exhibition for his drawings from Old Songs. By 1892, Abbey started to travel, gathering research for what could be considered his most important works, The Quest for the Holy Grail Murals in Boston. In order to do this, he traveled all over Germany. Abbey was able to complete the first half of The Quest by 1895, the same year he was elected as an honorary member of American Society of Architects and as an Associate of the Royal Water Colour Society.

In the next few years Abbey exhibited many of his works from his Shakespeare series in the Royal Academy. Also during this time, he was awarded the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Gold Medal of Honor for his distinguished career. In 1901 the second half of The Quest is completed and installed in the Boston Library. The following year he was awarded an honorary LL.D. by The University of Pennsylvania, as well as being appointed the official court painter of the King’s coronation in Westminister Abbey by Edward VII. Abbey also accepted a commission to decorate the new capitol building for Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, this same year. The decorations were displayed in London prior to being installed in the rotunda in Harrisburg in 1908. Three years later, in 1911, after several months of sickness, Abbey succumbed to illness in London. He died on August 1, 1911, at the age of 59.

Abbey’s murals in the Capitol Building in Harrisburg show different aspects of life that are important to the state, including steelworkers, The Declaration of Independence, and many historical figures. These include historical figures such as Benjamin Franklin, William Penn, and Daniel Boone.

Abbey was first known for his illustrations, although he was a prominent water color painter as well. His most notable illustrations were for the Shakespearean plays that were included in Harper’s Weekly. He later used his illustrations as inspiration for his water color paintings such as May Day Morning. His illustrations for the Shakespearean comedies also poured over into his works with oil. Several of his paintings came from this, the most known being Hamlet, The Queen in Hamlet, and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and the Lady Anne.

Works:

1. The Quest for the Holy Grail (1901)
2. Dirge of the Three Queens (1895)
3. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and the Lady Anne (1896)
4. Hamlet Play Scene (1897)
5. Near Easthampson (1878)
6. The Round Table of King Arthur (1891-1895)
7. The Oath of Knighthood (1891-1895)
8. The Queen in Hamlet
9. Anne Hutchinson on Trial (no exact date ? late 1800’s)
10. Appearing in the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, (all murals were hung in 1908 unless noted below)
11. The Apotheosis of Pennsylvania
12. Reading of the Declaration of Independence
13. Penn’s Treaty with the Indians
14. The Camp of the American Army at Valley Forge (1911, completed by apprentice after his death)
15. Passage of the Hours
16. Men at an Anvil

Sources:

1. Edwin Austin Abbey (1852-1911). New Haven: Carl Purington Rollins Office of the Yale University Printing Service, 1973.
2. Lucas, E.V. Edwin Austin Abbey: Royal Academician. Vol. 1 & 2. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1921.
3. Waring, Courtney M. “?The Quest for the Holy Grail’ Murals by Edwin Austin Abbey.” Diss. Penn State U, 1999. University Park.
4. Walace, Natasha. “John Singer Sergeant’s Edwin Austin Abbey.” John Singer Sergeant’s Virtual Gallery. 11 Jan. 2005. 8 Feb. 2006. <http://www.jssgallery.org/Paintings/Mugs/Edwin_Austin_Abbey.htm>.

For More Information:

On the murals in the Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, please visit the Pennsylvania State Legislature’s website on the murals at: <http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/VC/visitor_info/brown/apotheosis.htm>.

This biography was prepared by Matthew Ashton, Spring 2006

Katherine Lott

Katherine Mary Lott, 53, of Baker City, died Nov. 3, 2005, after a very courageous and long battle with cervical cancer.

Her memorial service was Sunday at the Eagles Lodge.

Kathy was born on Sept. 28, 1952, to Ervin and Virginia Burch at North Platte, Neb.

She married John Leon Lott Sr. on Dec. 4, 1971, at Springfield. Together they had three children: Christina, Brian and John Jr.

Kathy lived all over Oregon, including 10 years on the McKenzie River and the last eight years in Baker City, where she finally owned her own home.

She was a longtime member of the American Legion, where she was chaplain for a number of years. She also was a member of the Eagles Lodge.

Kathy was a real social bug. She loved everybody she met. She had many friends, and they were all very important to her. But the real love of her life was her grandchildren, who brought her lots of joy.

Kathy had many kinds of jobs, and her favorite was being a caregiver. She loved camping, fishing, traveling and her barbecue parties. She loved music, bus trips to Winnemucca, Thursday night music at the Legion and karaoke.

Her nickname was "Laughalot" � she laughed out loud and a lot. Kathy had a huge love for life, and she lived life to its fullest right to the very end.

She was a loving mother, wife, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She said there are no goodbyes, but we'll meet again someday.

Survivors include her children, Christina Blankenship and her husband, Kevin, of Baker City, Brian Lott and John Lott Jr., both of Ontario; grandchildren, Arron Sheridan, Eric Sheridan, Morgan, Breanna and Skylar Blankenship; siblings, Carol Free and her husband, Al, of Baker City, Ervin Burch and his wife, Kay, of Missouri, Shelly Howell and her husband, Denny, of Florence, Doug Burch and his wife, Tina, of North Platte, Neb., and Sheila Peel and her husband, Mike, of Seattle; nephews, Adam Larson, Christopher Larson and his wife, Heather, and Timothy Larson and his wife, Beccha, all of Florence, Kristian Burch and his wife, Jamie, of Portland, Jacob Peel of Seattle, and Chad, Chase and Colton Ficek of Florence; nieces, Brandi and Misti Burch of Missouri, Amber and Kimberly Martin of Seattle and Nicole and Gabriel Burch of Nebraska; numerous great-nieces and nephews and one great-great nephew who was born Nov. 1, who she waited for; many aunts and uncles, her loving grandmother, Eleanor Hartman; numerous cousins; stepfather, Keith Halladay; stepmother, Fran Burch; and her special partner, Jay Chandler.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Lott Sr.; her mother, Virginia Halladay; her father, Ervin Burch Sr.; and a brother-in-law, John Ficek.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion or Gray's West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814, for cremation costs