Rush V Downey

photographer: R V Downey
Mendota, IL
probably finished around 1898
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of card at the left

Rush V Downey
(Sep 1869 - )

1869 Sep
US and Iowa state census, Rush V Downey is born
1880 Jun 01
Bloomington, IL, US census, Rush V Downey age 11 living with mother and stepfather Richard Fenwick, who is a photographer
1889
Bloomington, IL, city directory, Rush V Downey as photographer for R Fenwick; res 811 n East
1891
Bloomington, IL, city directory, Rush V Downey as photographer; not in business pages
1893
Bloomington, IL, city directory, Rush V Downey NOT listed
1895
Bloomington, IL, city directory, Rush V Downey as travel agent; res over 408 Main
1897
Bloomington, IL, city directory, Rush V Downey is NOT listed

1898
Peru, IL, city directory, Rush V Downey as photographer; boards at 513 5th st
1899 Jan 02
Bloomington IL, Pantagraph news item mentions R V Downey of Cedar Rapids, IA, is working on a new photographic paper that promises to revolutionize the business
1899 Aug 07
Bloomington, IL, Pantagraph news item says Rush Downey plans to manufacture his new photograph paper in Bloomington
1900 Feb 28
Bloomington, IL, Pantagraph news item says that Richard Fenwick has sold his gallery at 402 n Main; he plans to open another gallery with his grandson Rush Downey on North Center st
1900 May 14
Bloomington, IL Pantagraph news item says R V Downey and Ida L Downey are granted divorce
1900 Jun 05
Bloomington, IL, US census, Rush V Downey as Photo Paper manufacturer
1901
Bloomington, IL, city directory not available.

1901
Dallas, TX, city directory, Russ V Downey NOT listed
1902
Dallas, TX, city directory, Russell V Downey as photographer at 312 Cockrell Bldg; res 114 Masten
1903
Dallas, TX, city directory, R V Downey NOT listed
1904 May 17
Decatur, IL Daily Review news item says R V Downey from Bloomington plans to open a studio in Decatur, IL, for making outside work entirely
1905
Dallas, TX, city directory, R V Downey NOT listed
1906
Dallas, TX, city directory, Russell V Downey as photographer for Fishburn Illustration Co; rms 465 Ross
1907
Dallas, TX, city directory, R V Downey as photographer at 305 Cranfill bldg.

1908
Dallas, TX, city directory, Russell V Downey as photographer; bds 284 Main
1909
Dallas, TX, city directory, R V Downey NOT listed
1910 May 03
Dallas, TX, US census, Rush V Downey as photographer; living in rooming house at 214 Main
1911
Cedar Rapids, IA, city directory R V Downey NOT listed
Dallas, TX, city directory, R V Downey NOT listed
1912
Cedar Rapids, IA, city directory, R V Downey, no occupation shown; rms 228 A av
1915
Cedar Rapids, IA, state census Rush V Downey as bookkeeper; age 45
1917, 1922
Cedar Rapids, IA, city directory, R V Downey NOT listed

Records are very thin for R V Downey. Included here are some entries to show where he was NOT, in order to help speculate where he actually might have been. He did move around a bit between Iowa and Texas. It appears he had his own studio for only a short time in Iowa and maybe for a bit in Texas. There were no records found to place him in Mendota, IL, so it is still unknown when he was there. But, one could speculate that it was around 1898 when he was working in Peru, IL. Peru is only 16 miles from Mendota IL.

He also seems to have worked for other photographers most of the time. Cabinet cards stamped with Downey studio might be a bit rare.

Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph -
02 Jan 1899

Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph -
01 Aug 1899


Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph -
28 Feb 1900

Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph -
14 May 1900


Decatur (IL) Daily Review -
17 May 1904


Decatur (IL) Herald -
18 May 1904

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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