Benjamin Peters Skewis

Photographer:
Skewis
Windom, Minn.

Benjamin Peters Skewis
(6 Feb 1860 - 1 Feb 1846)

B J Skewis and his wife Ammie/Alma lived in Canada a short time in 1905-1906. In the absence of documentary evidence, some personal events are included in this timeline to show the photographer’s location.

1860
Benjamin Peters Skewis is born to Edward Skewis and Catherine Lean
1880
Apple River, IL as laborer (at 20)
1884
marriage to Ammie/Alma (there are many variations in the spelling of this name)
1884 Oct 31
Panora, IA, state records, twins Arthur and Archie Skewis are born
1887 Apr 09
Minnesota, state records, daughter Clyde Florence is born
1890 May 08
Windom, MN, state records, son Percy V Skewis is born
1892 Oct 17
Windom, MN, state records daughter Leone Myrl Skewis is born
1900 Jun 14
Windom, MN, US census, as photographer
1903 Jul 14
Cottonwood County, MN, county records, son John Bennett Skewis is born
1905 Jun 06
Windom, MN, Minnesota Territorial and State census, as photographer

1905
Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Emigrates to Canada
1906
Saskatchewan, Canada, census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta no occupation shown, shows emigrating to Canada in 1905
1907 Aug 17
Saskatoon-Star Phoenix item mentions Skewis Studio in Windon, MN
1910 Apr 25
Windom, MN, US census as photographer; res 4th av
1913 Nov 06
Saskatoon Star Phoenix ad shows Skewis Studio is in Canada Building
1918 Apr 05
Salem (OR) Daily Capital item mentions Mrs Skewis is headed for Alberta, Canada
1919
border crossing records of 1928 Jul 28, mentions Skewis has visited Canada this year
1919 Jul 10
Hannah (Alberta Can) Herald mentions B P Skewis studio
(see newspaper clipping below)
1920 Jan 02
Salem, OR, US census as photographer; res 1697 Chimeketa st
1920 Jun 10
Dallas (OR) Capital Journal mentions Skewis has operated a studio in Dallas, OR 1924
Salem OR, city directory B P Skewis NOT listed
1928
Salem, OR, city directory as photographer; res 960 n 20th
1928 July 31
Canadian border crossing, as photographer

1929 Jun 29
Immigration border crossing document, working as farmer in Saskatchewan, Canada
1928 Nov 27
Salem (OR) Statesman Journal item says Mrs Skewis is selling a house in Salem, OR
1930
Salem, OR, city directory, no occupation listed; res 960 n 20th; also the name does not appear in the business section photography categories
1930 Apr 10
Albany, OR, US Census, as photographer; res 1224 e 7th; it is unknown why the res address does not match the years before and after this census
1932
Salem, OR, city directory no occupation shown; res 960 n 20th
1934
Salem, OR, city directory as Kodak Finishing at 164 n Broadway; res 960 n 20th (wife Alma B)
1935
Salem, OR, city directory as Kodak finisher at 164 n Liberty; res 960 n 20th (wife Alma B)
1936 Mar 03
Marion, OR, wife Alma dies of septicemia (shown as Ammie)
1940 Apr 01
Yuba City, CA, US census no occupation shown; living with daughter Clyde and her husband
1946
B P Skewis dies in Yuba City, CA, at age 85

Since it is imprinted Windom, MN, the cabinet card at the left would have been finished between about 1885 and 1910.

Saskatoon Star-Phoenix -
17 Aug 1907

Alberta Daily Star - 03 Apr 1913

Saskatoon Star Phoenix -
06 Nov 1913

Salem (OR) Daily Capital Journal -
05 Apr 1918

Hannah, Alberta Herald - 10 Jul 1919

Dallas (OR) Captal Journal -
10 Jun 1920

Salem OR Statesman Journal -
27 Nov 1928

The Skewis Studio in Windom, MN, circa 1895
(Photo courtesy of Ektarama on Flickr, the great grandson of Benjamin P Skewis)

Enlargement of sign

photographer: Skewis
location not legible - poor scan
example from auction site

photographer: Skewis
222 W Fifth St
270 1/2 Vine St. Cincinnati, Oh
510 Madison Av, Covington, KY
example from auction site

photographer: B P Skewis
Windom, MN
example from MN Digital Library

photographer: B P Skewis
Windom, MN
example from pinterest

photographer: B P Skewis
Windom, MN
example from auction site

photographer: B P Skewis
Windom, MN
example from auction site

photographer: B P Skewis
Jackson, MN
example from Richland County History (Probably finished when Skewis was based in Windom, MN, from about 1890 to about 1905.)

reverse of CDV at the left

photographer: B P Skewis
Windom, MN
CDV 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.

Aditional information and new examples are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made.

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