William Oscar Bibel

William Oscar Bibel

Photographer
W. O. Bibel, Chenoa
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of card at left
(Note the date at the top.)

William Oscar Bibel
(May 1866 - 16 Oct 1933)

W. O. Bibel had a relatively short career in photography, from about 1886 to 1891. His time in Chenoa, IL was even shorter as noted by a small newspaper item from the Bloomington Pantagraph, 21 Oct 1887 that he had closed his Chenoa studio.

Bloomington Pantagraph 21 Oct 1887

See also this
interesting story on Charlie Bibel.
It seems he was also a trombonist.
Charles is also mentioned in the photographer list of the
NEW YORK CITY library

After 1891 he was a railroad fireman, cigar shop proprietor, a street car repairman and a gardener for the city park.

His brother Charles Adolph Bibel was also in the photography business but only for a very short time.

The Bibel family (originally Schwitalskey) was a colorful and apparently hot headed group. In 1880, W. O. Bibel’s mother Margaret and another brother Louis G. were arrested and jailed for attempting to murder his father Louis J. Bibel (Schwitalskey), a shoemaker.
The newspaper accounts of the attempt and the subsequent trial are quite humorous. See the article below and don't miss the last paragraph. It's not something you might read in the newspaper today.


This cabinet card from Chenoa, IL, must have been finished in that short time between 1886 and 1887. (Note the card is owner dated 1887)

Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph - - 08 Mar 1880

Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph - 31 Mar 1880

(Again, can you imagine seeing something like this in the newspaper today?)

Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph - 25 Sep 1880

Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph - 01 Apr 1881

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name.
ONLY Cabinet Card photographers found in
LOST GALLERY
are reviewed here.

This is a work always in progress.

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