Monday, February 7, 2022

Plummer of West Virginia

photographer: Plummer's
1138 Main Street, Wheeling, WV
example from LOST GALLERY
reverse of card at left

Francis William Plummer
( 1857 - 1948 )

1864
Wheeling, WV, city directory Francis W Plummer as photographer h s s Centre b 6th and 7th
1865
Wheeling, WV, city directory NO Plummer listed; A C Partridge is at 117 Main
1867
Wheeling, WV, city directory, F W Plummer as photographer at 117 Main
1868
Wheeling, WV, city directory, William W Plummer as photographer at 117 Main
1872
Wheeling, WV, city directory, Francis W Plummer as photographer at 117 Main (note name change)
1882
Wheeling, WV, city directory, F W Plummer as photographer at 1128 w Main; W W Plummer as photographer; both res at west end of Virginia

1884, 1886
Wheeling, WV, city directory, F W Plummer and W W Plummer as photogrpahers at 138 Main; res west end Virginia
(note: 1128 and 138 are probably misprints) 1888
Wheeling, WV, city directory, F W Plummer and WW Plummer as photographers at 1138 Main, res 149 Virginia (Note address change 138 to 1138)
1890, 1891, 1892
Wheeling, WV, city directory, William W Plummer as photographer at 1138 Main; F W Plummer as photographer; James Plummer as retoucher for F W Plummer; Richard H Plummer as photo printer; All res 149 Virginia
1894
Wheeling, WV, city directory, W W Plummer and Richard H Plummer as Plummer Bros, photographers at 1138 Main; res 67 Ohio and 149 Virgiinia

(continued in next row)

1896
Wheeling, WV, city directory, W W Plummer as mngr Plummers Photograph Gallery, 1138 Main; R H Plummer as photographer, Jas C Plummer as retoucher
1898
Wheeling, WV, city directory, W W Plummer as mngr, Plummer’s Photograph Gallery, 1138 Main, R H Plummer as photographer, Jas C Plummer as photographer
1901
Wheeling, WV, city directory, William W Plummer as manager of Plummer’s Photography, 1138 Main; James C Plummer as photographer; all res 149 Virginia
1903, 1904
Wheeling, WV, city directory, William W Plummer as manager of Plummer’s Photography, 1138 Main; res 149 Virginia
1905
Wheeling, WV, city directory, William W Plummer as manager of Plummer’s Photography, 1138 Main res. same; James C Plummer as photographer, res 2202 Main; Charles C Plummer as photographer; res 96 24th
1907
Wheeling, WV, city directory, Plummer’s Photography, Miss Edna Mays, Propr, 1138 Main; James C Plummer as photographer

1909
Wheeling, WV, city directory, William W Plummer as Produce Stall at 35 5th WD Market, res 2210 ½ Market; James C Plummer as photographer bds 2202 Main
1911
Wheeling, WV, city directory, NO Plummer Photography listed
1913
Wheeling, WV, city directory, NO Plummer Photography listed, W W Plummer, Produce Stall at 17 Fifth
1915
Wheeling, WV, city directory, James C Plummer as photographer; studio unknown; Wm W Plummer as fruit stand; NO Plummer Photograph Studio listed
1917
Wheeling, WV, city directory, NO Plummer listed as photographer, James C Plummer is now a clk at West Virginia Printing co : W “H” Plummer has Fruit Stall at 15-17 Fifth
1919, 1921
Wheeling, WV, city directory, James C Plummer is listed as photographer; res 2230 Market; NO Plummer Photography studio listed
1948 Aug 15
Wheeling OH, state records, W W Plummer dies at age 91

It appears that W W Plummer retired from the photography business about 1906. Actually there may have been as many as three Plummers in the photograph business; Francis William Plummer, William Willis Plummer and James C Plummer.

And thanks to a helpful commenter, we know that William Willis Plummer (1857-1948) and (James C. Plummer) 1869-1936 were brothers. Their father was Francis W. Plummer (1840-1894.)

The studio continues on until about 1915, managed by Miss Edna Mays and/or James C Plummer (relationship unknown).

Location recap: (two studios found)
117 Main – 1865-1872
1138 Main – 1873-1907

Wheeling (WV) Daily Register -
19 Nov 1873 (small display ads such as this ran twice a week some years. This one shows about when the studio moved.)
photographer: Plummer's
Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
photographer: Plummer's
Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
reverse of card at left
photographer: Plummer's
Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
reverse of card at left
photographer: Plummer's
1138 Main Street, Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
photographer: Plummer's
1138 Main Street, Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
photographer: Plummer
Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
photographer: Plummer
Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
reverse of card at left
photographer: Plummer
Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
reverse of card at left
photographer: Plummer's
1138 Main Street, Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
photographer: Plummer's
1138 Main Street, Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
photographer: Plummer's
1138 Main Street, Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
photographer: Plummer's
1138 Main Street, Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
photographer: Plummer's
1138 Main Street, Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
reverse of card at left
photographer: Plummer's
1138 Main Street, Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site
reverse of card at left
(poor scan)
photographer: Plummer's
1138 Main Street,
Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site (this is a cdv)
photographer: Plummer's
1138 Main Street,
Wheeling, West Virginia
example from auction site (this is a cdv)

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. All the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY are listed there.

This is a work always in progress.

Additional information and new examples 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.

Email to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page.

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.

10 comments:

  1. I have several old family photos from plummers. Would love to post them somewhere??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would be happy to add them to his page. Make note of the scanning recommendations just above and send the scans to the address in the profile at the bottom of this page.

      Delete
  2. My Great Grandparents wedding photo was taken here in 1879.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a treasure! Thanks for your comment!

      Delete
  3. I’m just discovering this site. I buy photos in antique shops to reunite with family. I’m in California but find photos from all over the U.S and love cabinet cards. I’m currently researching a Plummers W.Virginia photo- green border. Let me know if I can be of any help to this. I scan and save all my found photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment! It's always a pleasure to hear from a fellow collector who understands the value of these antiques. New examples are always welcome!

      Delete
  4. I have photos of my Great and Grandfather taken by Plummer circa 1885. What a treasure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your comment. Yes, "treasure" is the right word.

      Delete
  5. RE: Francis William Plummer, William Willis Plummer and James C Plummer. William Willis Plummer (1857-1948) and (James C. Plummer) 1869-1936 were brothers. Their father was Francis W. Plummer (1840-1894.) James C. was my husband's great-grandfather.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I have made the correction. Any input is appreciated!

      Delete

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