Willis Samuel Thompson
          (1865 - )
          
          Sources: city directories, US census, Kansas census, newspaper items
          as noted, contributor LP
          
          1856 Oct 20 or 1858 Oct
          Ohio, state records, US census, Willis Samuel Thompson is born to
          James R Thompson and Malana Thompson; sources do not all agree
          1880 Jun 11
          Calhoun, MO, US census Willis S Thompson as artist; living with
          family
          1885 Jun 25
          Nevada, MO, state records, Willis S Thompson and Mary Bernice
          Dilman are married
          The
          1885 History of Fannin County, Texas
          by W.A. Carter states Will S. Thompson "cast his lot with the people
          of Fannin County in July 1885, having just married one of Illinois'
          daughters to share his fortunes in the south-west."
          1888 May
          Texas, 1900 census records, daughter Florence Thompson is born
          
        
      
        1890 Jul
          Texas, 1900 census records, daughter Irma Thompson is born
          1897 Apr
          Missouri, 1900 census records daughter Wilma Thompson is born
          1900 Jun 07
          Nevada, MO, US census, Willis S Thompson as “Magnetic Healer”
          
          1903
          Iola, KS, city directory, Willis Thompson as photographer at 207 s
          Washington; res 423 s Washington; wife as M Bernice Thompson 
          1905
          Iola, KS, city directory, Will S Thompson as photographer with
          Thompson and Hutchinson, frames and supplies; with Charles G
          Hutchinson; 
          1905 May 29
          Iola (KS) Daily Record, news story gives home address as 207 S Oak,
          Iola, KS
          1906
          Iola, KS, city directory, Will S Thompson as photographer at 209 S
          Washington Av; res 207 S Oak; (wife Mary B and daughter Florence
          Thompson listed also at same address)
          1906 May 02
          Iola (KS) Daily Record, small ad for Thompson photographer at 209 s
          Washington in Iola, KS
          
        
      
        1908
          Iola, KS, city directory, W S Thompson as photographer at 209 S
          Washington St (Iola KS is just 59 miles from Nevada, MO)
          1908 Aug 31
          Iola, KS, Daily Record news item says Mrs W S Thompson and daughter
          Wilma have gone to Nevada, MO for a family reunion 
          1910 Apr 21
          Iola, KS, US census Will S Thompson as photographer; res n Chestnut
          av
          1912
          Iola, KS, city directory, AND Coffeyville, KS, city directory, W S
          Thompson NOT listed
          1912 Jan 05
          Yates Center (KS) Woodson County Advocate, news item says Irma
          Thompson is visiting her parents Mr and Mrs W S Thompson
          1912 May 31
          Yates Center (KS) Woodson County Advocate, news item says Irma
          Thompson has married Walter C Jones in Yates Center, KS
          1918
          Coffeyville, KS, city directory, “W S M” Thompson as assistant for F S
          Johnson, photographer, 818 ½ Walnut; res same
        
      
        1920 Jan 02
          Coffeyville, KS, US census, William Thompson as photographer; wife as
          Bernice, res 718 So Maple
          1920 Dec 30
          Coffeyville (KS) Daily Journal news item says William S Thompson has
          moved to Colorado Springs, CO, to operate studio there; also mentions
          Thompson’s association with F S Johnson the photographer; (studio
          probably at 818 1/2 Walnut) 
          1921
          Colorado Springs, CO, city directory William S Thompson as
          photographer at Studio Grand, 21 ½ N Tejon; wife Mary B also listed;
          res 5 Willamette
          1925
          Coffeyville, KS, city directory, William “F” Thompson as photographer
          at 818 ½ So Walnut; res same; this is probably W S Thompson; The
          studio address is the same as in 1918 and 1920;
          1928
          Coffeyville, KS, city directory, William “F” Thompson as photographer
          for L J Benefiel; res 818 ½ So Walnut; this is probably W S Thompson;
          The studio address is the same as in 1918 and 1920;
        
      
        1930 
          Coffeyville, KS, city directory, W S Thompson NOT listed
          1930 Apr 07
          Lancaster, Fairfield, OH, US census, William J Thompson as
          photographer; this is not the same Thompson
          1933 May 21
          Iola (KS) Daily Register death notice says Willis Samuel Thompson dies
          at age 76; address is 716 s Cottonwood
          
          Although the documentation is still a bit sketchy, it is fairly
          certain that the photographer Thompson of Bonham, TX, is the same as
          photographer Thompson of Nevada, MO and Iola, KS. For instance,
          although two of Thompson’s three daughters were born in Texas, no
          documentation has been found so far showing it was BONHAM, Texas.
          
          As it looks now Thompson was in Texas, 1885, 1888 and 1890. By 1897,
          he is back in Missouri. After that, starting about 1903, he stays
          mostly in Iola, KS. There is a short stay in Colorado Springs, CO, but
          then he returns to Iola, KS.
          
          Then there is always the possibility that there was more than one
          photographer Thompson. More research pending.
        
      
06 Feb 1906

Iola (KS) Daily Record -
02 May 1906

Gas City (KS) Herald -
14 Jul 1908

Iola (KS) Daily Record -
31 Aug 1908

 photographer: Thompson
        photographer: ThompsonBonham, TX (really poor scan)
example from Creative Commons
(note same prop in photo at left)
 photographer: Will S Thompson
      photographer: Will S ThompsonBonham, TX - Nevada, MO
example from:
James W. Slack and wife Aletha Fox Slack
(Owner dated 1889)

        credited to Thompson by owner
          Cameron, MO
          Cameron, MO is about 150 miles from Nevada, MO
          example from auction site
          Judging from other examples found, W S Thompson usually had an
          identifying imprint on any cards from his studio.
        
      

photographer: Will S Thompson
No. 10 Post Office Row, Bonham, TX
example from Malinda Allison on Flickr

photographer J R Thompson
Bonham, TX
example from auction site
(Any connection to W S Thompson is unknown at this time.)
        
                The card at the right is probably by H B Thompson who operated in Garnett, KS.
          Garnett, KS, is 80 miles from Elmdale, KS.  Imprint does not resemble any imprint by W S Thompson found so far. 
 More research pending.
        
      
Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. Listed here are all the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY. This is a work in progress. For a look at the original postings go to LOST GALLERY.
New examples and additional information are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made. All submissions should be free of glare and shadows. Do not crop. Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.
        
          Some examples on this page have been enhanced or restored for clarity
          and presentation here.
          
          This page is free for educational and research purposes only but, as
          always, if the original owner of any of these examples objects to the
          use on this page, just let me know and they will be immediately
          removed.
      
 





















 

No comments:
Post a Comment