Ross Smith Wheeler

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
(Reverse is blank.)
example from LOST GALLERY

Ross Smith Wheeler
(3 Apr 1859 - 25 Sep 1902)

Sources; US census, Genealogical and Biographical History of Keokuk County, IA

1859
born in Sandy Creek, West Virginia
1872
moves to Iowa, age 13
1877
begins studying photography at West Liberty, IA and area
1878
opens first studio in West Liberty, IA
1880
US census as artist at West Branch, Cedar, IA

1881 Oct - 1898
operates studio in What Cheer, IA
1898
elected county auditor of Keokuk County, IA
1900
US census as county auditor, Sigourney, Keokuk, Iowa
1902
dies at age 43 in Sigourney, Iowa

This cabinet card would have been finished between about 1881 and 1898.

Ross Smith Wheeler was the brother of William R Wheeler who worked in Wiliamsburg, IA, just 35 miles from WhatCheer, IA

A Genealogical and Biographical History of Keokuk County, Iowa

Photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
(this photo is slightly enhanced, reverse is blank)
This one was found in Hays, KS.
example from LOST GALLERY

Embossed on front: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of cabinet card at the left
(found in Salina, KS)

Wheeler
What Cheer, Iowa
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of the cabinet card on the left
(found in Salina, KS)

Wheeler
What Cheer, Iowa
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of the cabinet card on the left
(found in Salina, KS)

Wheeler
What Cheer, Iowa
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of the cabinet card on the left
(found in Salina, KS)

photographer: Ross Smith Wheeler
What Cheer, Iowa
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of the cabinet card on the left
(found in Salina, KS)

embossed on front: Wheeler RSW
What Cheer, IA
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of the cabinet card on the left
(found in Salina, KS)

The photograph at the right is not exactly a traditional Cabinet Card but is a slightly smaller format that gained some popularity toward the turn of the 19th century.

This example was contributed by the family of William Birdsall Bullers and Great Granddaughters of John Lewis “Pop” Bullers

This example was contributed by the family of William Birdsall Bullers and Great Granddaughters of John Lewis “Pop” Bullers

This example was contributed by the family of William Birdsall Bullers and Great Granddaughters of John Lewis “Pop” Bullers

example from auction site

photographer: Ross Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from Flickr member Ken

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from auction site

reverse of the card at left

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from auction site

reverse of the card at left

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from auction site

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from auction site

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from auction site

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from auction site

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from auction site

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from auction site

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from Ancestry.com

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from Ancestry.com

These items from contributor R Miller

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from contributor R Miller

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from contributor R Miller

potographer: Wheeler's New Photograph Studio
Opposite Post Office, What Cheer, IA
(example from contributor R Miller)
Note: the backdrop is the same as the third example on this page

reverse of card at left

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from contributor R Miller
(No, this is technically not a cabinet card
but is a good example of later style mountings)

photographer: R S Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from contributor R Miller

reverse of card at left

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from contributor R Miller
Photographer dated 1897

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from contributor R Miller

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from contributor R Miller

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from contributor R Miller

photographer: Wheeler
What Cheer, IA
example from contributor R Miller

photographer: Wheeler
Nokomis, IL
example from pinterest
(No connection has been made to Wheeler of Iowa)

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.