Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Bror Gustaf Grondal



Photographer: Grondal & Praytor
Round Rock, Texas

Bror Gustaf Grondal
(1855 - 1948)

Timeline Sources: US census, Smokey Valley Historical Association bio,
There are some conflicting accounts of Grondal’s life so this timeline is based mostly on what can be documented.

1855 Jan 11
Vesterous, Sweden, birth of B G Grondal
1869
Grondal immigrates to US at age 14 to work in the fruit groves
1870-1885
Grondal works on fruit groves, saw mills, ships, wharves and finally apprentices with a photographer in St. Paul, MN before deciding to move to warmer climate
1887
Round Rock, TX, Grondal and Sarah Noyd marry and go into photography together
(See S Noyd example below)
1887 May 20
Lindsborg (KS) News news item says Grondal Gallery is nearly ready to open
1889 May
Round Rock, TX, son Bsor Leonard Grondal is born (1889-1974) (Was it a 600 mile trip for Sarah Noyd, about 8 months pregnant or had she stayed behind in 1887 when Grondal went to Lindsborg to set up shop?)

1889 Jun and Jul
Georgetown/Round Rock, TX, based on newspaper items (see next entry for 02 Aug 1889)
1889 Aug 02
Lindsborg (KS) News Record item says that Grondal has returned from Texas; ads in the Lindsborg Swedish newspaper “Framat” indicate that Grondal was still in Lindsborg, KS, up through May 1889 so it might be assumed that he was in Georgetown/Round Rock, TX, during June and July of 1889.
1891 Apr 04
Lindsborg, McPherson Co, KS, daughter Ruth is born
1893-1898
Four more children to Grondal in Kansas
1900 Jun 06
Lindsborg, McPherson Co, KS, US census Grondal as photographer
1900 to 1946
Grondal maintained a studio in Lindsborg, KS, 411 Main Street
1948 Sep 14
Lindsborg, McPherson Co, KS, state records, B. G. Grondal dies at age 93

Comparing this and the timeline of
William Bluford Praytor,
it can be guessed that the partnership of Grondal and Praytor had to be briefly between 1887 and 1891.

Good bio tree on Bror at Geni.Com
And at
Genealogy Bank

Lindsborg (KS) News Record - 20 May 1887

Lindsborg (KS) News Record - 30 Dec 1887

Lindsborg (KS) News Record - 02 Aug 1889

The card at the right is done by
S Noyd of Round Rock, TX.

Bror Grondal and Sara Noyd were married in May 1887 and moved to Lindsborg, KS, so this card would have been finished before that date.

photographer: S Noyd
Round Rock, TX
example from auction site

McPherson (KS) Daily Republican - 04 Sep 1893

McPherson (KS) Daily Republican - 16 Oct 1893

The Lindsborg (KS) Record - 28 Jun 1901

The Lindsborg (KS) Record - 05 Oct 1910


The Lindsborg (KS) Record - 21 Apr 1905

Lawrence (KS) Daily World - 03 Oct 1907





photographer: Grondal
Lindsborg, KS
example from auction site

blind stamp (embossed) says
"Grondal, Lindsborg, Kans"
example from Kansas State Historical Society

photographer: Grondal
Lindsborg, KS
Example from Kansas State Historical Society
photographer: B Grondol>br/> Lindsborg, KS
example from auction site

photographer: B G Grondal
Lincoln, KS
example from auction site

Grondal and Praytor
Round Rock, Texas
Example from "Round Rock" by Bob Brinkman

Grondal, Lindsborg, KS
Example from contributor Ann Lind

Grondal, Round Rock, TX
Example from contributor Ann Lind

photographer: Grondal
Lindsborg, KS
example from KSHS
photographer: Grondal
Lindsborg, KS
example from KSHS

Here is an example of a photograph know as a "View". These were popular local sites, famous people and other interesting subjects. Theye were sold in the lobby of the studio like picture post cards.

Note that the two separate productions were on differently imprinted cards.

photographer: Grondal
Lindsborg, KS
example from auctioin site
photographer: Grondal
Lindsborg, KS
example from auction site
photographer: Grondal
Lindsborg, KS
example from auction site

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.

Aditional 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.
Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.

Email to the address found in the profile at the bottom of this page.

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.

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