W W Smith
corner of Sunbury and Second streets
Minersville, PA
reverse of cabinet card at the left
In the late 19th century and general location, there were at least seven people named W W Smith, a railroad brakeman, a school director, an undertaker, a doctor, an attorney/senator, a carpenter and a man on trial for murder. The newspapers are not always clear about which of these is which.
Another photograph is credited to a W W Smith (1832 - 22 Jan 1892) who had studios in Lykens and Williamstown, both of which are towns located in norther Dauphin County, PA. This is probably not the same photographer as the Willard Ward Smith on the example card here.
It appears that the photographer Willard Ward Smith lived and worked mostly in Oswego, NY, and later in State College, PA.
Timeline
1860 Jun 10
Willard Ward Smith is born in Oswego, NY
1880 Jun 10
Mexico, NY, W W Smith marries Harriet Estella Hamilton
1881
Mexico, NY, Son Charles Hamilton Smith is born
1888
Oswego, NY, city directory as photographer at 182 w 1st; res 69 e Cayuga
1892 - 1893
Oswego, NY, city directory as photographer at 182 w 1st
1900 Jun 07
State College, PA, US census as photographer; res 212 College av; note that Mary E Daniels, photographer is boarding at this residence
1901 Feb 15
State College, PA, son Guy Malcolm Smith is born
1906 Jan 12
Harrisburg (PA) Telegraph news item from Belafonte (a suburb of State College) college students lodged at the home of W W Smith, photographer
1910
State College, PA, US census as photographer; res 212 College
1920
State College, PA, US census as photographer; res 410 w Fairmont
1936 May 27
Willard Ward Smith dies in State College, Center County, PA, of chronic myocarditis at 45 years. His death certificate mentions that he had been retired for 10 years.
Smith, the photographer, operated a boarding house for college students in the last years after about 1925. To confuse matters more, W W Smith the undertaker and furniture salesman also took in boarders, but he died around 1900..
No documents have been found that indicate when photographer Smith was in Minersville, PA. It is possible however that he never actually lived there and just kept a studio there while living in State College, PA, less than a hundred miles west. In the late 19th century, the towns were quite likely connected by rail as they are today.
The cabinet card here was probably done between 1900 and 1926.
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.
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