J M Johnson

Photographer: ?. M. Johnson
Columbus, Kansas

The first initial is incomplete on this cabinet card and unfortunately there were a lot of photographers named Johnson in the cabinet card era, so research on this photographer has little place to start.

There was a Frank M. Johnson working in Hutchinson, KS, in 1923 and there was an R. M. Johnson, photographer in Cherryvale, KS, in 1901.

According to an 1881 Gazetteer , there was a photographer named L. M. Johnson who worked in Columbus, MO, an unincorporated township that at the time had only about 2000 residents and is nowhere near Columbus, KS.

There was also an L. M. Johnson working as a photographer’s helper for S. J. Morrow in Yankton, Dakota Territory, in 1880.

Update Sept 2017:
From Ancestry.com comes an example with photographer’s imprint intact. It documents J M Johnson of Columbus, KS. More research pending.

The card is in poor condition but there is a deckle edge visible, so it is probably from around 1890 or after.

Columbus (KS) Weekly Advocate - 08 Dec 1892

The above clipping comes from a Columbus, KS newspaper, adds a bit of connection or perhaps more mystery about the whereabouts of J. M. Johnson. See the OSCAR HAINES listing for details.

The example below is from a Holmes family tree on Ancestry.com which has been dated by the owners at 1897.

Photographer: J M Johnson
South Side Square
Columbus, KS

photographer: J M Johnson
South Side Square, Columbus, KS
example from auction site

photographer: J M Johnson
South Side Square, Columbus, KS
example from auction site

photographer: Johnson
cdv example from LOST GALLERY

It is not known if the examle at the right is the by J M Johnon.

The only connection seems to be that the imprinted name is done in a similar font and the location is close geographically.

photographer: Johnson
cor twelfth and Grand, Kansas City, MO
example from Invaluable

photographer: Johnson
Cherryvale, KS
example from auction site

At the right is another Johnson cabinet card. The font is similar to the card at the top. Cherryvale, KS, is only about fifty miles from Columbus, KS.

Is this the same Johnson?

Another Johnson.

This one is from Garnett, KS.

The imprint is different in this example.

Garnett is just under a hunded miles from Columbus.

Many of these little towns were connected by rail lines.

photographer: Johnson
Garnet, KS
example from Ancestry.com

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.