William Henry Castor

Photographer: Castor Brothers
Carthage, MO

William Henry Castor
(12 Aug 1854 - 25 Sep 1936)

William H. Castor was a full time photographer. He changed cities three or more times in his career. He was joined temporarily by one of his brothers from about 1892 to 1900 but no records have been found to say exactly how long this lasted. Newspaper items show he worked in Carthage, MO, in the year of 1899 and the 1900 US census also places him in Carthage. Then by 1901 he is in Denver, CO

1855 Aug 12
New York, NY, US census, state documents William Henry Castor is born to James Asa Castor and Ruth McAllister
1856 or 1857
Castor family moves to Ontario, Canada, as the 1871 Canada census shows his sister Sarah was born there in 1857. His younger siblings John, Harvey, Godfrey and Ira were also born there.
1871
Collingwood, Ontario, Canadian census, Wm Henry Castor, age 16, living with parents

1880
Kansas City, MO, US census, W H Castor as waiter in a hotel
1886
Carthage, MO, state records, William Henry Castor Marries Estella Gertrude Hedrick
1892 Jun 06
Carthage, MO, state records, Robert Castor (brother) is listed as photographer on his son’s (Chester) birth certificate
1898 May 13
Carthage, MO, Silver Review small ads for Castor Brothers studio
1899 Aug 25
St Louis Post Dispatch small news item says Castor Bros received honorable mention at Photographer’s Convention
1900
Carthage, MO, US census Wm H Castor as photographer; res 809 Print st; Note: brothers Ira and Rufus are working as bricklayers in Denver, CO
1901 - 1902
Denver, CO, city directory William H Castor as photographer at 30-33 McClelland blk; res 1131 15th

1903 - 1915
Denver, CO, city directory William H Castor as photographer at 210-213, 1131 15th
1916
Denver, CO, city directory William H Castor as manager or proprietor of When Studio, 1131 15th
1917 - 1918
Denver, CO, city directory William H Castor as proprietor of When Studio, 302 Barth blk
1919
Denver, CO, city directory William H Castor as proprietor of When Studio, 405 Barth blk
1920 - 1925
Denver, CO, city directory William H Castor as proprietor of When Studio, 809 16th st
1925
Denver, CO, city directory William H Castor as proprietor When Studio 405 809 16th; wife Gertrude M. also listed
1927-1928
Oakland, CA, city directory William H Castor as photographer working with Eugene DeForrest at 1744 Telegraph, wife as Gertrude M
(See Eugene DeForrest review below.)

1930
Oakland, CA, city directory Wm H Castor as photographer with DeForrest and Castor; res 1622 Harrison
1930 Apr 08
Oakland, CA, US census William Castor as photographer (independent); res 1500 Harrison (number is probably 1622 but 1500 listed in error)
1934
San Francisco, CA, Wm H Castor as photographer; res 25 Taylor
1936 Sep 25
San Francisco, CA, William H Castor at age 82 of Cerebral Thrombosis

Of William’s 8 brothers, only Robert would be the possible brother in “Castor Bros.” and he was in Carthage for sure in 1892. The 1900 US census shows Robert has moved to Marshall, OK and William Henry in Carthage, MO, but he was in Denver by 1901.

The card at the top would have been finished between 1892 and 1900 when both brothers were living in Carthage, MO. The color and style of the card would indicate a date closer to 1900.

photographer Castor Brothers
Carthage, MO
contributed by W Castor

photographer Castor Brothers
Carthage, MO
contributed by W Castor

photographer: Castor Brothers
Carthage, MO
Example from Dawn Forrest Power
(This example has been enhanced
for presentation here.)

Eugene Deforrest
(1902-1982)

1902 May 02
Connorsville, IN, Eugene DeForrest is born to Albert Eugene DeForrest and Gertrude M Milton
1926
Oakland, CA, city directory, Eugene DeForrest NOT listed
San Francisco, CA, city directory E. DeForrest; res 411 O’Farrell (probably not the photographer)
1927
Oakland, CA, city directory, Eugene DeForrest as photographer; res 1744 Broadway, room 203; res same
1928 (1929 NOT available)
Oakland, CA, city directory, Eugene DeForrest as photographer with DeForrest and Castor at 1744 Broadway; res 3301 Telegraph
1930
Oakland, CA, city directory, Eugene DeForrest (W H Castor) photog, 1744 Broadway, room 215
and
Oakland, CA, city directory, Wm H Castor as photographer, DeForrest and Castor; wife Gertrud M; res 1622 Harrison

1930 Apr 20
San Francisco, CA, US census, Eugene DeForrest as commercial photographer; res 335 Stockton, lodger
1930 Oct 03
Gridley (CA) Herald, Walton-Randolph wedding announcement mentions Eugene DeForrest of San Francisco as best man
1933 (no 1931, 1932 avalable)
Oakland, CA, city directory, Eugene DeForrest NOT listed
1935
San Francisco, CA, 1940 US census, says that Eugene DeForrest lived in San Francisco
1940
Los Angeles, CA, city directory, Eugene DeForrest NOT listed
1940 Apr 26
Los Angeles, CA, US census, Eugene DeForrest as photographer (industry illegible); res 120 N Hampton
1941
Los Angeles, CA, City directory, Eugene DeForrest NOT listed
1938 through 1948
Phoenix, AZ, city directory Eugene DeForrest NOT listed

1950 Apr 12
Contra Costa, CA, US census. Eugene DeForrest as newspaper reporter; with wife Lois, son Eugene P; res 5 right, Oak Park Lane (Right birth location but wrong birth date)
(Possibly NOT the photographer but name and wife’s name match)
1951 Jun 20
Walnut Creek, AZ, from obituary in Arizona Republic 26 Jun 1951 Lois P DeForrest dies at age 34; obituary mentions she was “former Phoenician” (Phoenix);
1982 Apr 19
Temple, Bell County, TX, reference Texas Death Certificate: Eugene Deforrest born 02 May 1902, Father’s name Albert Eugene Deforrest, mother’s name Gertrude M Milton, Occupation: "Newspaper", burial to be at Colma, Cal;
FindAGrave, Eugene DeForrest dies at age 79; this site also says he is buried at Colma, San Mateo County , CA;

It appears that Eugene DeForrest was in the photography business from 1927 to about 1940. This was well after the cabinet card era so actual cabinet card examples with his imprint will be scarce.

Arizona Republic - 26 Jun 1951

Carthage, MO, Silver Review - 13 May 1898


Carthage, MO, Silver Review - 13 May 1898
St Louis (MO) Post Dispatch - 25 Aug 1899

photographer: Castor Bros
Carthago, MO
(That's what it says. Carthago. Obviously a misprint)
Example from McKinnon on Flickr

photographer: Castor Bros
Carthage, MO
example from auction site
(note similar props in card at left)

photographer: Castor Bros
Carthage MO
example from auction site
(really poor copy)

reverse of card at left

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.

This is a work always in progress.

Additional information and New examples 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.
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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.