Elbert Otis Daggett

Photographer
E. O. Daggett
Elm Street
Billings, Missouri

Elbert Otis Daggett
(25 May 1869 - 26 Mar 1946)

It’s a bit of an assumption but there must have been only one person named E. O. Daggett living in the south-west corner of Missouri between 1860 and 1910. That stated, although several records were found for Elbert Otis Daggett, nothing ever confirms that he was a photographer. In the 1910 US census, he is recorded as being an insurance adjustor and all other records found say he was a farmer.

There was a family of Daggetts living in and around New York State but there is no indication that any of them travelled west. In the family was a “photographist” Edmund Daggett found in the 1870 Nunda, NY, city directory, but it appears unlikely he might have traveled to Billings, MO, at any time. He is also noted in the 1875 New York state census as “Artist” with a son G. E. Daggett. No E. O. Daggett in their tree. Edmund Daggett died in 1890.

So if Elbert Otis Daggett is the right person, it must be concluded that he was a photographer for only a short time, probably between 1900 and 1920, when he was open to being something other than a farmer.

Caution: at this time, this is all speculative.

Timeline from US census, city directories and state records

1869 May 25
Galesburg, IL, Elbert Otis Daggett is born to Nealy Daggett and Laura J Russell
1870 Jul 12
Kelly, IL, US census Elbert O Daggett as one year old living with parents
1880 Jun 05
Columbus, MO, US census Elbert Daggett as student living with parents
1894
According to 1900 US census, Elbert Daggett and Delila W Simmerman are married

1897 Dec 13
Columbus, MO, state records, son Nealy Otis Daggett is born
1900 Jun 29
Columbus, MO, US census, Elbert O Daggett as farmer
1905 Dec 23
Lexington (MO) Intelligencer, Elbert Daggett mentioned in real estate transfer in Odessa, MO
1907 Jan 12
Lexington (MO) Intelligencer, Elbert O Daggett mentioned in real estate transfer in Odessa, MO
1907 Jun 28
Marshall (MO) Republican, mention of Mr and Mrs E O Daggett from Odessa
1910 Apr 22
Odessa, MO, US census, Elbert O Daggett as real estate and insurance agent; wife Lyla and son Nealy O listed
1920 Jan 12
Clay, MO, US census Elbert O Daggett as farmer with “Own farm”; wife Lila

1930 Apr 14
Clay, MO, US census O Elbert Daggett as farmer, general farming; wife Lila
1931 Apr 23
Clay, MO, state records wife Delila W Simmerman dies at age 61
1934
Independence, MO, city directory Daggett NOT listed
1935 Jun 02
Jackson, MO, state records, Elbert O Daggett marries Sarah Ellen Sumner
1935
From 1940 US census, Elbert O Daggett residence is “rural” Lafayette, MO
1936
Independence, MO, city directory Daggett NOT listed
1937
Independence, MO, city directory unavailalbe
1937 Dec 26
Sedalia (MO) Democrat, mentions Mrs E O Daggett of Indepence, MO
1938
Independence, MO, city directory Daggett as farmer; res 312 n Main
1939
Independence, MO, city directory unavailable

1939 Nov 09
Sedalia (MO) Democrat, mentions Mrs E O Daggett of Independence, MO, attending a reunion in Sedalia, MO
1940
Independence, MO, city directory Elbert O Daggett and wife Sarah E; res 312 n Main
1940 Apr 01
Independence, MO, US census, Elbert O Daggett as no occupation shown; wife, Sarah E; res 312 n Main
1941
Independence, MO, city directory unavailable
1942
Independence, MO, city directory E O Dagget and wife Ellen; no occupation shown; res 801 Main
1943 to 1945
Independence, MO, city directory unavailable
1946
Independence, MO, city directory E O Daggett and wife Ellen; no occupation shown; res 801 n Main
1946 Mar 26
Independence, MO, state records, Elbert Otis Daggett dies of heart failure at age 78

No evidence was found that Elbert Otis Daggett was ever a photographer or in Billings, MO.

Lexington (MO) Intelligencer - 23 Dec 1905


Lexington (MO) Intelligencer - 12 Jan 1907



Sedalia (MO) Democrat - 26 Dec 1937

Sedalia (MO) Democrat - 09 Nov 1939

Billings, Missouri, had a population of 464 in 1890, hardly large enough to support a full time photographer. It is actually part of the Springfield, MO, metropolitan area in the southwest corner of the state.

A transcript of a
1901 Gazetteer of Muskogee county, Indian Territory, mentions a photographer named E O Daggett. No connection has been made.

A newspaper list of Missouri Agency Appointments shows E O Daggett appointed to the Fire Association of Odessa, MO.
(See next row) No connection has been made.

A list of churches in the Missouri Presbyterian Synod shows E O Daggett as the minister of a congregation of 212 in Odessa, MO. (See next row) No connection has been made.

Insurance agent, Farmer, Preacher? But never a photographer. Is this the right E O Daggett?
No official records found connect him to photography. How many E O Daggett's could there be in Missouri in the late 19th century?

1901 Report of the Boards

National Underwriter - 30 Nov 1905

photographer: E O Daggett
Billings, MO
example from RNM05 on Flickr
"Enoch Monroe Hays born in 1872"
(If the subject is about 20
the date of the photograph would be about 1892.)

photographer: E O Daggett
Billings, MO
example from Ancestry.com

Note that "MO" stands for Missouri not Montana. It is easy to assume that this would be the Billings that is in Montana. See the example at the top which has the state spelled out.

Looking at other Daggetts that were photographers:
Caspar Louis Daggett (24 Jan 1879 - ), Seymour WI; from a draft card
Milton Daggett (1848-) Charlstown, MA; from the 1920 US census
Elmer O Daggett (1848-1910) b Michigan; Muskogee; Creek nation IT; from the 1900 US census
Edmund Daggett (1828-) b NY; Nunda Station, NY; from US census & Sampson Davenport NY State Business Directory
Floyd Daggett ( - ) Kansas City MO; from city directory

There were at least six photographers in about the right time period, named Daggett. Of these, there is one other Daggett that could have been in Billings, MO, at about the right time: Elmer O Daggett.

Timeline for Elmer O Daggett
(1848 - 1910)

1849
Michigan, US census, Elmer O Daggett is born to Luther Sandford Daggett and Harriet M Daggett
1850 Aug 15
Quincy, MI, US census, Elmer O Daggett, at one year
1875 May 01
Livonia, MN, Minnesota Territorial census, no occupation shown, apparently living with Orville Bayley family

1880 Jun 09
Glenderado, MN, US census Elmer Daggett as farmer
1882 Mar 12
Minnesota, state records, son Merton Elmer Daggett is born
1884 Sep 18
Minnesota, state records, son Clyde Otis Dagger is born
1885 Sep 18
Palmer MN, territorial census, Elmer O Daggett no occupation shown
1890 Apr
Missouri, state records, daughter Irma M Daggett is born
1892 Oct
Missouri, state records, daughter Hazel L Daggett is born
1895 Jun
Missouri, state records, daughter Minnie W Daggett is born
1900 Jun 15
Muscogee, Creek Nation, Indian Territory, Elmer O Daggett as photographer
1910
Sometime before 1910 Elmer O Daggett dies, exact date is unknown

Elmer's three daughters were born in Missouri, 1890, 1892 and 1895. Then by 1900 he is in Oklahoma.
So Elmer O Daggett COULD have been in Billings, MO, between about 1890 and 1900.

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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