Henry A Wenzel

Photographer: Wenzel
Plain City Ohio
example from LOST GALLERY finished between 1895 and 1916

There is a splendid accounting of Wenzel, the photographer, at The Plain City Historical Society.

Henry A. Wenzel
(11 Jan 1863 - 4 Dec 1925)

Data from US census and Ohio city directories and narrative from Shirley Ann Gher from Plain City Historical Society;(Note: sources do not agree on all facts and/or dates)

1863 Jan 11
Columbus, OH, Henry Wenzel is born to Henry W and Frederica Wenzel
1879
Columbus, OH, city directory Henry Wenzel at age 16 works as apprentice for the G C Urlin studio
1880-1887
Columbus, OH, city directory, Henry Wenzel works as photographer or apprentice for the studio of G C Urlin; Urlin partners with John Pheifer briefly during that period; also, Henry Wenzel works with Lorenzo N Baker for a brief period in 1886 (sources do not agree on when Baker worked with Wenzel, but it was sometime between 1886 and 1895)
1887
Columbus, OH, state records, Henry Wenzel and Nellie C Wilson are married
1889-1894
Columbus, OH, city directory, Henry Wenzel as photographer with Goble and Wenzel; studio at 262 ½ S High St

1895
Columbus, OH, city directory, Henry Wenzel has brief partnership with Baker Gallery, High & State; making two day trips to Plain City, OH
1895
Plain City, OH, Historical Society, Henry Wenzel opens permanent studio
1900
Plain City, OH, US census, Henry Wenzel as photographer
1906
Plain City, OH, Historical Society, finished new house on West Main St.
1910
Plain City, OH, US census Henry Wenzel as photographer
1912
Plain City, OH, Henry Wenzel photographs tornado damage
1913-1916
Plain City, OH, city directory, Henry Wenzel as photographer
1917-1924
Springfield, OH, US census & city directories Henry Wenzel works for Robbins & Myers (Electric Motors)
1925 Dec 24
Columbus, OH, state records, Henry Wenzel dies age 62

An example of a card from Baker's Studio while it was operated by ALfred C Thurston and H Thurston. Note the photographers names are added with a rubber stamp.

Baker's Art Gallery
Columbus, OH
from History in Photos Blog

photographer: Wenzel
Plain City, OH
from Plain City Historical Society
Wenzel was in Plain City from 1895 to 1916

photographer: Wenzel
Plain City, Ohio
example from auction site
Wenzel was in Plain City from 1895 to 1916

Wenzel worked as apprentice for Urlin and Pfeifer for about 8 years, 1879-1887

photographer: Urlin and Pfeifer
Mammoth Art Palace, Columbus, OH
example source unknown

photographer: Urlin and Pfeifer
Mamouth Art Gallery, Columbus, OH
example from auction site

Examples at the right are from the Pfeifer Studio. John A Pfeifer studio was located at 228 and/or 232 S High Street between 1883 and 1887. The only time the city directory listed BOTH addresses was 1886 and 1887.

photographer Pfeifer
Columbus, OH
example from auction site

photographer Pfeifer
Columbus, OH
example from auction site

photographer: Gobel and Wenzel
Columbus, OH
example from auction site
(1889-1894)

photographer Goebel and Wenzel
Columbus, OH
from about 1889 to 1894

photographer: Goebel and Wenzel
114 1/2 So High Street, Columbus, OH
example from auction site

more examples from the Urlin Galleries

photographer: Urlin and Becker
Cleveland, OH
example from auction site purchase

photographer: Urlin and Becker
Cleveland, OH
example from auction site purchase

photographer: Urlin and Becker
Cleveland, OH
example from auction site

reverse of all three cards at left

photographer: G C Urlin
Mammoth Art Gallery, Columbus, OH
example from auction site

The connection here is not know yet. Obviously, Becker and the Wilshire Building are the same. But was "Pifer" the same as "Pfiefer"?

Well, NO. It wasn't. The Pifer in this partnership was George N Pifer. The partnership lasted 1892 through 1897. The studio was apparently closed as no other photographer is listed at that address.

A small review is HERE

photographer: Pifer and Becker
Wilshire Building, Cleveland, OH
example from auction site

Reverse of card at left

photographer: Pifer and Becker
Wilshire Building, Cleveland, OH
example from auction site

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.