Photographer:
Bower
Slater, Mo.
1889
Merrick Boyden Bower (3 Dec 1832 - 7 Nov 1913) was a photographer along with at least two of his sons at one time or another. Keep in mind also that this was a very large family. A brother Henry C. Bower was a photographer in Kansas City for a time and any of several cousins and grandchildren could also have been photographers. The best scenario however is that in the cabinet card era, Merrick Boyden Bower was the most likely candidate.
There is little doubt about the date of this photograph as 1887 is imprinted on the face of the card along with the name and city. Slater, MO, was only about 70 miles from Kansas City where M. D. Bower lived from 1870 on.
In case there are examples of photographs from Bower that are not imprinted with a date here is a timeline showing important events in his life and where he was at the time.
1832 Dec 03
born in Union City, PA
1850
living at Tazewell, IL age 18
There is little doubt about the date of this photograph as 1887 is imprinted on the face of the card along with the name and city. Slater, MO, was only about 70 miles from Kansas City where M. D. Bower lived from 1870 on.
In case there are examples of photographs from Bower that are not imprinted with a date here is a timeline showing important events in his life and where he was at the time.
1832 Dec 03
born in Union City, PA
1850
living at Tazewell, IL age 18
1858 May 21
marriage to Virginia E. Thompson
1859 Sep 09
birth of son William Leslie in Kansas City, MO
1860 Jun 17
as farmer in Tazewell, IL
1863 Jul 01
as farmer in Malone, IL
1865 Jun 07
as farmer in Potosi, KS
1870 Jul 18
as photographer working with Williams Simmons at a Stereotype Gallery
1871 Feb 07
marries Rosanna Catherine Bird in Clay, MO
1874 - 1875
as photographer at own studio 1215 Grand; res 1314 Grand, Kansas City, MO; brother Henry C. Bower listed as photographer at same address
1876
as photographer at Bower Brothers studio 546 Main, Kansas City, MO with Henry C. Bower
1878
as photographer working at another studio; son Henry C. Bower has studio at 1222 Union av WK
marriage to Virginia E. Thompson
1859 Sep 09
birth of son William Leslie in Kansas City, MO
1860 Jun 17
as farmer in Tazewell, IL
1863 Jul 01
as farmer in Malone, IL
1865 Jun 07
as farmer in Potosi, KS
1870 Jul 18
as photographer working with Williams Simmons at a Stereotype Gallery
1871 Feb 07
marries Rosanna Catherine Bird in Clay, MO
1874 - 1875
as photographer at own studio 1215 Grand; res 1314 Grand, Kansas City, MO; brother Henry C. Bower listed as photographer at same address
1876
as photographer at Bower Brothers studio 546 Main, Kansas City, MO with Henry C. Bower
1878
as photographer working at another studio; son Henry C. Bower has studio at 1222 Union av WK
1879
as photographer working at another studio (probably J Ploetz, 618 Main)
1880 - 1881
as photographer for J Ploetz 618 Main Kansas City, MO
1889
as photographer working at unknown studio
1890 Oct 27
Kansas City (MO) Star, news item shows Merick Studio lost in fire
1898
brother Henry C. Bower moves to Deer Creek, CO; he later lives in Colorado Springs, CO and Los Angeles, CA and seems never to return to Kansas City, MO
1900
as photographer at unknown studio
1910
as photographer living with son James O. Bower
1913
Nov 07 Bower dies of pneumonia at age 80
As you can see Merrick worked for another studio most of the time. He could, as many photographers of the time, take days off and work in rented rooms in neighboring towns for a week.
as photographer working at another studio (probably J Ploetz, 618 Main)
1880 - 1881
as photographer for J Ploetz 618 Main Kansas City, MO
1889
as photographer working at unknown studio
1890 Oct 27
Kansas City (MO) Star, news item shows Merick Studio lost in fire
1898
brother Henry C. Bower moves to Deer Creek, CO; he later lives in Colorado Springs, CO and Los Angeles, CA and seems never to return to Kansas City, MO
1900
as photographer at unknown studio
1910
as photographer living with son James O. Bower
1913
Nov 07 Bower dies of pneumonia at age 80
As you can see Merrick worked for another studio most of the time. He could, as many photographers of the time, take days off and work in rented rooms in neighboring towns for a week.
Kansas City (MO) Star - 27 Oct 1890
Kansas City (MO) Journal - 10 Jun 1890
Kansas City (MO) Globe - 12 Nov 1813
Kansas City (MO) Globe - 12 Nov 1813
photographer: Bower
Slater, MO
example from auction site
dated 1887
photographer: Bower
Adrian, MO
No connection to Merrick Bower has been made yet
example from auction site
photographer: Bower
Liverpool, OH and Williamsburg, WV
No connection to Merrick Bower has been made yet
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.
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, they will be immediately removed.
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