William Oscar Cromwell

photographer: O Cromwell
Lakeview, Oregon

reverse of the card at the left

William Oscar Cromwell
(1838 - 1929)

W Oscar Cromwell moved with his parents and family to northern California during the gold rush of 1849. He worked as a miner and general laborer before turning to photography about 1879. He continued on with photography in Shasta County and Tehama County, CA, until his death in 1929, although at 81 and 84 he considered himself as “retired”.

Timeline sources: California voter registration, city directories, US census,

1838 Mar
Montgomery, MD, William Oscar Cromwell is born to William J Cromwell and Jarada, Adna Getzendanner
1844-1845
St Louis, MO, two sisters are born
1850
Union, CA, US census, Family has moved to California during the gold rush
1868
Uniontown, El Dorado County, CA, voter registration, Oliver Cromwell works as miner

1870
Empire, Ormsby County, NV, US census as laborer
1879
Union Town, El Dorado County, CA, city directory as miner
1879 Apr 12
Millville, Shasta, CA, voter registration, as photographer
1880
Millville, Shasta County, CA, US census and voter registration as photographer; on census “photographers” is lined out and “merchant” written in
1896
Millville, Shasta County, CA, voter registration, as photographer
1900
Harrison Gulch, Shasta, CA, US census as photographer
1904
Knob, Shasta County, CA, voter registration as no occupation shown
1906
Red Bluff, Tehama County, CA, voter registration as photographer

1908
Kennett, Shasta County, CA, voter registration as photographer
1910
Kennett, Shasta County, CA, US census as photographer
1914 - 1916
Kennett, Shasta County, CA, voter registration as photographer
1920 Jan 12
Red Bluff, Tehama, CA, US census as retired
1922
Red Bluff, Tehama County, CA, voter registration as retired
1924
Red Bluff, Tehama County, CA, voter registration as photographer
1929 Apr 28
Red Bluff, Tehama, CA, W Oscar Cromwell dies

A dam was built on the Sacramento River between 1935 and 1945. The resulting lake inundated the mining town of Kennett, CA, and several others.

Since O Cromwell worked in the area of Shasta and Tehama counties, in the northern edge of California he could have set up shop in the town of Lakeview, Oregon at any time. No documents have been found to show exactly when, but it was probably between 1880 and 1910.

Lakeview, OR, is about 150 miles from where Kennett, CA was.

Reno (NV) Gazette Journal - 06 Dec 1882

Millville, CA, is about 140 miles from Reno, NV

Petaluma (CA) Argus Courier - 26 Dec 1916

Georgetown, CA, Unknown newspaper and date

Shows that Cromwell did travel and had a tent studio. Georgetown, CA, is about 150 miles from where Kennett, CA, was.

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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.