Photographer:
Houser's South Side Gallery
Huntington, Ind
(see enhances blind stamp below)
This cabinet card must have been finished by George Houser and the
“South Side Gallery” between 1890 and 1896.
This is a rather long and detailed timeline that involves two
brothers, George and Reuben Houser as photographers. It shows how they
worked together and separately in the photography business.
Reuben Houser was in the photography business in Indiana from about
1875 to 1913.
George Houser stayed in the photography business in Indiana from about
1880 until his death in 1932.
In 1880 according to the US census, George, at 17 assisted
Reuben, at 28, in Westville, IN. By June of 1890 they are the
“Houser Brothers” working in Michigan City, IN.
In September 1890 George opens his own studio over “Whitlock
and Son Southside Grocery” and by November
1890 the Huntington Daily Democrat refers to it as Houser’s
“South Side Gallery”. The title continues in ads and news items until
December of 1896 when he leases out the gallery in Huntington,
IN, to Herman H. Drover. Then, midst a divorce suit with wife Ada, he
moves back to Michigan City to again work for his brother, Reuben.
In 1897 George travels to Arkansas to scout for a new location
but instead finds a new wife, Mary Catherine Bennett. In
1898 he sells his Huntington gallery to Drover and goes to work
for another photographer named Reeves in Huntington. In
1900 George is working as photographer in Union, IN.
In 1900, Reuben Houser is working in Michigan City, IN. In
1905 he is at 113 e Fifth. Note this may be a printing error as
in 1910 his studio is shown at 115 e Fifth. Then in
1913 Reuben moves to Seattle, WA, to become a miner and later a
watchman. He never returns to photography. Reuben dies in
1929.
By 1913 George is back in Michigan City, IN, at 115 e Fifth
Street (Reuben’s old place). In 1920 George is in Warsaw, IN,
he and wife Mary working as a team. They live at 739 e Main. The
1930 US census is the same except wife Mary is shown as no
occupation. George dies in 1932.
Reuben Clarence Houser
(9 Mar 1851 - 14 Feb 1929)
George Elsworth Houser
(16 May 1863 - 11 Feb 1932)
1851 Mar 09
Reuben born in Ohio
1860
Union, IN, US census Reuben as farm labor in Union, Wells County,
IN
1863
George born in Indiana
1870
Union, IN, US census Reuben (age 18) as “works on farm”
1875
Montgomery, MI, Ruben C. Houser marries Mary M. Clancy
1880
Westlake, IN, US Census Rueben (age 28) as photo artist in Westville,
La Porte, IN, with brother George (17) living at the same address and
shown as “works in photography”
1890
Michigan City, IN, city directory as photographer Reuben C. Houser
with his brother George E. Houser as Houser Brothers
1890 Jun 20
Daily (Huntington, IN) Democrat Reuben Houser mention from Houser
Brothers Artistic Photographers
1890 Sep 27
Daily (Huntington, IN) Democrat news mention R. C. Houser of Michigan
City, IN. to open studio in Huntington, IN, over Whitelock & Son
Southside Grocery
1890 Nov 12
Daily (Huntington, IN) Democrat blurb Reuben Houser as photographer
gallery over Whitelock grocery
1890 Nov 15
Daily (Huntington, IN) Democrat blurb (George) Houser’s Southside
Gallery
1891 Jun 13
Daily Democrat (Huntington, IN) blurb people visit George Houser, the
“Southside photographer”
1891 Sep 18
Huntington (IN) Weekly blurb George E. Houser, popular South side
photographer
1892 Jul 26
Daily (Huntington, IN) Democrat George Houser, south side photographer
buys lot on Salamonie av to erect residence
1892 Aug 01
Daily (Huntington, IN) Democrat, R C Houser of Michigan City, IN,
visits brother George, the south side photographer
1892 Nov 2
Daily (Huntington, IN) Democrat, small ad for Houser “south of
river”
1893 Oct, Nov, Dec
Huntington (IN) Weekly Herald display ads for G. E. Houser Southside
photographer
1894 Jan through Jun
Huntington (IN) Weekly Herald display ads for G. E. Houser Southside
photographer
1896 Feb 07
George E Houser files for divorce from Ada B. Piatt
1896 Dec 07
Huntington (IN) Daily Democrat George Houser, South Side photographer
leases gallery to
Herman H Drover; to move to Michigan City to work for brother Rueben C
Houser
1897 Mar 05
Huntington (IN) Weekly Herald news George moves to Arkansas to open
new gallery
1897 Nov 01
Huntington (IN) Daily News Democrat George Houser sells Huntington
South Side Gallery to Harmon Drover
1898 Nov 26
Huntington (IN) Daily News Democrat George marries Mary Catherine
Bennett in Warsaw, IN
1900
Michigan City, IN, US census Reuben as photographer at 115 E Market;
res same
1905
Michigan City, IN, city directory Reuben as phtgrphr; 113 E 5th;
brother George not listed
1910 Apr 27
Michigan City, IN, US census Reuben as photographer at 115 e 5th;
(note that George Houser has not been found in the 1910 US census)
1910 Aug 22
Huntington (IN) Daily News blurb George Houser (South Side
photographer) returns to Warsaw, IN
1910 Nov 23
Fort Wayne, IN, Journal Gazette George’s son Edwin Houser marries
Daisy Lewis. George E. living in Warsaw, IN, wife Ada B living in
Huntington, IN
1911 Oct 24
Warsaw, IN, George’s son Glenn marries Amelia B. Klaffei; George E.
living in Warsaw, IN, wife Ada B living in Fort Wayne, IN
1912
Seattle, WA, city directory Reuben Houser NOT listed; his move from
Michigan City, IN, to Seattle, WA, must have been after this date
1913 and 1915
Michigan City, IN, city directory George E Houser as photographer at
115 e 5th
1913 - 1916
Seattle, WA, city directory Reuben Houser as Miner w/ wife Mary M
1914 - 1916
Michigan City, IN, city directory George E Houser NOT listed
1917 - 1928
Seattle, WA, city directory Ruben Houser as Watchman w/wife Mary M
1920 Jan 09
Warsaw, IN, US census George Houser as photographer with wife Mary at
739 E Main, Warsaw, Kosciusko, IN; wife Mary listed as photographer
also
1920 Jan 15
Seattle, WA, Reuben Houser as watchman
1929 Feb 14
Seattle, WA, state records Ruben Houser dies at age 77 in
1930 Apr 15
Warsaw, IN, US census George Houser as photographer with wife Mary at
739 E Main; wife Mary listed as photographer assistant
1932 Feb 11
Warsaw, IN, George Houser dies at age 68
Huntington (IN) Daily Democrat - 01 Aug 1892
Huntington (IN) Weekly Herald - 26 Sep 1893
Enhanced detail of cabinet card at the top
Huntington (IN) Daily Democrat 07 Dec 1896
This photograph mount is labeled "Swiss Card", probably one of the many shapes and sizes that were tried after the popularity of the cabinet card began to dim. This card was probably finished between 1900 and 1912 while Ruben Howser was still in Michigan City, IN.
photographer: Houser 115 E Market Street, Michigan City, IN
example from the William L Clemments Library
Michigan City, IN
example from auction site
Michigan City, IN
example from auction site
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.
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additional information will help narrow the time that these precious
antiques were made.
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