Cabinet Card Photographers: February 2018

photographer John Bryant Cofield
Hawkinsville, GA

John Bryant Cofield
(3 Sep 1841 - 26 Jan 1916)

John’s father, son and grandson were all photographers making it four generations of photographers.

There were no city directories available for Hawkinsville, GA, but the US census shows he was a farmer in 1870. The US census shows him as photographer from 1880 through 1910.

One genealogical narrative account found on-line says J B Cofield started with a gallery in Perry, GA, before opening his studio in Hawkinsville where he was working in 1880. He apparently remains in Hawkinsville until his death in 1916.

Another account says that he traveled through Georgia photographing the people of the region while he kept a studio in Hawkinsville for fifty years.

The cabinet cards here must have been done after his move to Hawkinsville, sometime before 1880 and his death in 1916. The style of the deckled edge card on the far left would most likely be from 1886 - 1900. The general style of the baby portrait cabinet card would indicate 1885 to 1895.

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.

photographer Seibert
Lake Fork, O
(Blind Stamp)

Bennett F Seibert
(1865 - 1915)

Cabinet card has blind stamp logo at bottom, front, “Seibert, Lake Fork, O”

1865 May 17
Lakefork, OH, Bennett F Seibert is born to Cyrus Seibert and Sophronia Finley
1878 to about 1883
there are some news items in Los Angeles, CA, about a B F Seibert in some real estate and banking transactions but no connection has been made yet to the photographer Seibert of Mansville, OH
1883
Topeka, KS, city directory NOT listed
1885
Topeka, KS city directory as Collier and Seibert (publishers); res 62 Kansas av
1885 Jan 08
Topeka (KS) Daily Capital item B F Seibert mention as working for the newspaper Topeka Daily Mail
1885 Jan 10
Topeka (KS) Daily Mail news item Seibert becomes associate publisher at newspaper
1887
Topeka, KS city directory NOT listed

1894, 1895
Mansfield, OH, city directory Siebert NOT listed
1893 to 1896
Seibert has not been located for these years
1896
Mansfield, OH, city directory not available
1897
Mansfield, OH, city directory as photographer at 16 n Diamond; res 124 Rowland av
1899
Mansfield, OH, city directory as portrait artist at 16 ½ n Diamond with Carl F Segesman, photographer, same address
1900
Mansfield, OH, US census as artist; res 124 Roland
1901
Mansfield, OH, city directory as portrait artist at Dickson Bldg; res 124 Rowland
1901 Apr 29
Mansfield (OH) News Journal item B F Seibert joins post office staff in Mansfield
1902
Mansfield, OH, city directory as clerk for Post Office; res 124 Rowland
1904
Mansfield, OH, city directory as proprietor of “Cartoon Advertising” 16 ½ w 4th; res 124 Rowland

1904 Feb 27
Mansfield (OH) News Journal news item Seibert resigns Post Office
1906 Mar 26
Mansfield (OH) News Journal news item says Seibert is moving from Rowland av to a farm north of city
1906
Mansfield, OH, city directory as portrait artist and cartoonist, May Bldg s Park; res Shelby Trolley Line
1906 Sep 13
Mansfiels, (OH) News Journal small ad for Money o loan by B F Seibert, 28 ½ s Park
1908
Mansfield, OH, city directory as artists at 26 1/2 s Park; and with Siebert and Ackerman (Phillip) a loan business also at 26 ½ Park
1910 Apr 21
Mansfield, OH, US census as architect; city directory NOT listed
1910 May 19
Mansfield OH, News Journal news item says Bennett F Seibert was granted a patent on a hydraulic casket lift for use in mausoleums
1911 May 15
New Philadelphia (OH) Daily Times news item says that Seibert was granted patent for an adjustable concrete form

1911 May 17
Mansfield (OH) News Journal news item about Seibert’s Birthday and employment
1912
Mansfield, OH, city directory as architect at 9 ½ n Main; res Shelby Trolley Line
1915
Mansfield, OH, city directory as architect at 19 e 3rd; res Shelby trolley line
1915 Sep 17
Mansfield, OH, FindAGrave site Seibert died of heart attack at age 50

He seems to have been quite flexible in his choice of work and actually could have had photography as a sideline at most any time between about 1885 and 1906. It appears he was most active in photography from about 1897 to April of 1901 and then again from 1904 to about 1906.