James C Verner

Photographer: Harman & Verner
Cor. 4th & Washington Ave. Bay City, Mich.

George A Harman and James C Verner worked together for several years at four addresses at least. The timeline here will attempt to trace their careers separate and together.

Harman and Verner employed several photographers and studio assistants during their partnership including John Shepherd (1896), Laura Phelps (1881-1886), Maude Hawley (1889 & 1896), Ethel Carter (1879, 1881, 1887 & 1889), Mary D. Elmore (1887), Peter J. Golden (1879 & 1881), George S. Alexander (1909-1910)

Sources include city directories, gazetteers, US census and “Directory of Early Michigan Photographers” by David V. Tinder. Note sources do not always agree on dates of events. In these cases, both dates are included. The timeline will seem contradictory or conflicted at times but there is no way to tell which source is correct.

George A. Harman (6 Apr 1854 - 17 Aug 1912)
James Clarke Verner (7 Jun 1858 - 1 Nov 1912)
1854 Apr 6
George A. Harman born in England

1858 Jun 07
(or 01 depending on source) James Verner born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (from Find-A-Grave website)
1870
US census for 1900 shows this date for Verner immigration into US from Montreal, Canada
1875
US census for 1910 shows this date for Verner immigration into US from Montreal, Canada
1875
“established 1875” imprinted on some Harman & Verner cabinet cards
1875 - 1881
Bay City, MI, city directory as Harman & Verner in the McEwan Block at 212 Water st north (from Directory of Early Michigan Photographers)
1877
Bay City, MI, city directory Verner (age 19) partners with Harman in studio at 212 Water
1881
Bay City, MI, city directory Harman & Verner as photographers at 212 n Water, Verner bds at Campbell House
1881
Harman marries Ida May Lloyd
1882
James Verner marries Amelia according to the 1900 and the 1920 US census

1882 - 1889
Bay City, MI, city directory as Harman & Verner at 910 Water st north (from Directory of Early Michigan Phtgraphers)
1883
Bay City ,MI, city directory Harman and Verner as photographers at 910 Water; Verner bds Campbell House
1884
Bay City, MI, city directory Harman and Verner as photographers at 910 Water; Verner bds Campbell House
1884 - 1889
Bay City, MI, city directory as Harman & Verner at 914 Water st North (from Directory of Early Michigan Phtgraphers)
1886
Bay City, MI, city directory Harman and Verner as photographers at 914 Water; Verner res 502 Jackson
1887
Bay City, MI, city directory Harman and Verner as photographers at 914 Water; Verner bde at Campbell House (Verner spelled with a W in the residential pages
1889
Bay City, MI, city directory as Harman and Verner at 4th and Washington; Verner bds Campbell House

Continued on the next row ...

1889 - 1909
Bay City, MI, city directory and/or gazetteer as Harman & Verner at the se corner of 4th and Washington av (from Directory of Early Michigan Photographers)
1890
Bay City, MI, city directory, as Harman and Verner, 4th and Washington; Verner bds at Rousch House
1891
Bay City, MI, city directory, as Harman and Verner, 4th and Washington; Verner bds at Rousch House
1893
Bay City, MI, city directory, as Harman and Verner, 4th and Washington; Verner bds at Rousch House
1894
Michigan State census; Verner bds at Rousch House
1895
Bay City, MI, city directory, as Harman and Verner, 4th and Washington; Verner bds at Rousch House
1897
Harman and Verner now selling photographic supplies
1899 - 1911
Bay City, MI, city directory and/or gazetteer as Harman & Verner at 924 Washington av (from Directory of Early Michigan Photographers)

1900
US census Verner as photographer in Bay City, MI; boarding at 1102 Center
1901
Bay City, MI, city directory, as Harman and Verner, at 924 Washington; Verner
1904
Bay City, MI, city directory as Harman and Verner, at 924 Washington, Verner bds at 1501 Center as Werner
1905
Bay City, MI, city directory as Harman and Verner at 4th and Washington
1908
Bay City, MI, city directory as Harman and Verner at 4th and Washington; Verner bds at 701 Center
1909
Bay City, MI, city directory as Harman and Verner at 4th and Washington; Verner bds at 701 Center
1910
Bay City, MI, city directory as Harman and Verner
1910
Apr 19 US census Verner as photographer in Bay City, MI
1912 May 17
George A. Harman dies of arterial sclerosis at age 58 in Gerrish, MI
1912 Nov 01
James C. Verner dies of heart disease at age “54 years, 4 months, 24 days” (from Find-A- Grave website) in Bay City, MI

1916
Amelia Verner marries Arthur Colvin a grain elevator operator
1936 fEB 27
Amelia Verner-Colvin dies in Bay City, MI, age 70

After the death of George A. Harman, his wife Ida L Harman continues in business at 924 Washington as “photographers, dealers in etchings and paintings, Kodaks, supplies and finishing.”

In 1912, after the death of her husband James, Amelia carries on work at the studio at 800 Center.

Amelia eventually takes on a new partner, George S. Alexander from 1914 to 1919. Alexander had worked for the Verner-Harman studio in the years 1909 and 1910. Widow Amelia marries Arthur Colvin about 1916 but continues to manage the studio. Amelia then apparently retires from active business because by 1920 Alexander partners with Butterfield and operates in the studio at the 800 Center location.

This cabinet card would have been finished sometime between 1889 and 1911.

photographer: Harper and Verner
cor 4th and Washington, Fort Wayne, IN
example from contributor:
Melissa Hicks
melissa_hicks66@yahoo.com

reverse of card at left

photographer: Harman and Verner
Bay City, MI
example from auction site

photographer: Harman and Verner
Bay City, MI
example from John Rochon on Flickr

photographer: Harman and Verner
Bay City, MI
example from Beverly on Flickr

photographer: Harman and Verner
Bay City, MI
example from Pastmaster7X7 on Flickr

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.

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