Cabinet Card Photographers: March 2022

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Orville B Bates

photographer O B Bates
Hampton, IA
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of card at left

Oriville B Bates was a photographer from about 1877 to his death in 1927. Unfortunately, there were no city directories available for Hampton, IA, and no newspaper item have been found, so no studio addresses are known.

According to the US census, 1860 to 1920, he lived in Hampton, IA, all his life. In every census he is listed as photographer except in 1900 he is listed as “agent”. Further, it is not known if he operated his own studio the entire time.

There were two other men named Orvill B Bates about the same years. One lived in New York and the other in Virginia. Also the wife of the New York Orville Bates was named Mary.

Orville Bigelow Bates
(1854-1927)

1854 Feb 03
Howard, IL, state records, Orville B Bates is born to Almond Bates and Sophia Campbell
1860 Aug 09
Howard, IL, US census, Orville Bates is 9 years old

1870 Jun 10
Durand, IL, US census, Orville Bates is 16 years old
1880 Jun 03
Village of Durand, IL, Orville B Bates is photographer
1880 Nov 25
Durand, IL, state records, Orville B Bates and Mary Amanda Beemer are married
1894 Mar 12
Hampton, IA, birth registration for son Milton, Orville B Bates listed as photographer
1910 Apr 21
Hampton, IA, US census, Orville Bates as photographer; res 380 South Reeve
1920 January 06
Hampton, IA, US census, Orville Bates as photographer; res 80 Main
1925
Hampton, IA, Iowa State census, Orvill Bates as resident; no occupation shown
1927 Aug 10
Hampton, IA, state records, Orville B Bates dies at age 73

Very little to go on here. No newspaper items were found save an obituary for his wife Mary.

(Mason City, IA) Globe Gazette - 10 Jan 1935

The card at the right is from the period that Bates was in Hampton, IA, from 1894 until 1927. Considering the style of the card with pre-embossed logo and indented photo area, the card was probably finished around 1900, probably before. The cabinet card format was losing favor after 1900 and their popularity declined.

Thanks to M Frank for the fine example

photographer: O B Bates
Cor Reeve and Third Sts
example from contributor M Frank

reverse of card at left

photographer: O B Bates
Cor Reeve and 3rd Streets
Hampton, Iowa
example from auction site

photographer: O B Bates
Cor Reeve and 3rd Streets
Hampton
example from auction site

photographer: O B Bates
Cor Reeve and 3rd Streets
Hampton, Iowa
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.

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.
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.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Ashmore

photographer: Ashmore
Chrisman, IL
example from LOST GALLERY

There were at least three photographers named Ashmore that could possibly be the artist for this card. Best guess is Mark Douglas Ashmore. He was born in in 1861 in Vermillion County, IL. Chrisman is in Vermillion County.

Mark Ashmore moved around a lot, later in life, but was in the area of Ashmore at least until 1887. So for the moment, the best guess for dating this card would put it finished between about 1881 and 1887. In 1910 the US census found him in San Antonio, TX, and by 1920 he was in California. He died in Arkansas.

Mark Douglas Ashmore
(1861 – 1951)

1861 May 11
Vermillion County, IL, state records, Mark Douglas Ashmore is born to Rev James Alfred Ashmore and Rebecca Jane Grimes
1880 Jun 21
Fairmont, Vermillion County, IL, US census, Mark D Ashmore, age 17, is working as farm labor
1881 Jul 13
Vermillion County, IL, state records, Mark D Ashmore and Theodosia Campbell are married
1882 Jun 09
Ash Grove, MO, state records, daughter Pansy Ashmore is born

1887 Jan
Missouri, state records, daughter Ethel Louise is born
1898 Oct 09
Lockhart, TX, state records, daughter Jonnie Douglas is born
1900 May 28
Kencall, TX, US census, wife Theodocia Ashmore and three daughters; as photographer with own studio; as Widowed (not unusual, as widowed sounded better than divorced
1900 Jun 02
Vance, Vermillion, IL, US census, Mark D Ashmore is living with his mother; listed as photographer
1901
San Antonio, TX, city directory, Mark D Ashmore as photographer; res 830 Flores; wife not listed
1905 Jul 19
Fairmont, Vermillion County, IL, Rebecca Jane Grimes, Mark Ashmore’s mother, dies at age 71
1907
San Antonio, TX, city directory, M D Ashmore as photographer; res 206 Fourth; wife as Mrs M D Ashmore;
1910
San Antonio, TX, city directory, M D Ashmore (and Theodocia E) as traveling photographer; res 828 Ave D

1910 Apr 15
San Antonio, TX, US census, Mark “B” Ashmore, wife Theodocia and daughters Ethel and Johnie are listed; occupation is photographer
1914
Arkansas, state records, daughter Margaret is born
1920 Jan 16
Anaheim, CA, US census, Mark D Ashmore as photographer; wife Dora, daughter Margaret ; res 168 West Center st
1920 Jan 21
Prairie Grove, AR, wife Theodocia E Ashmore as photographer with own studio; daughter Jonnie D
1923 Sep 18
Phoenix, AR, death certificate, wife Dora Harrison Ashmore (Wilkison) dies at age 34
1924
Arkansas? Source: posted family tree, Mark Ashmore and “Mary” are married; no supporting evidence for this
1930 Apr 12
Wynne, AR, US census, “Marion” D Ashmore and wife May; as photographer
1930
Wife May/Mary dies this year at age 47 (no supporting evidence has been found)
1951
Cross, AR, state records, Mark D Ashmore dies at age 90

photographer: Ashmore
Chrisman, IL
example from Ken on Flickr

photographer: E. Ashmore
Wellington Street, Batley
example from auction site
(Batley is a town in the UK, so this card is probably not connected to the photographer from Chrisman, IL )

reverse of card at left
This is probably NOT the same Ashmore as the example at the top

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.

Monday, March 28, 2022

Charles P Homrig

photographer: Homrig and McCutcheon
Art Studio
84 Columbia Street, Lafayette, IN
example from LOST GALLERY
(Note: imprint is very faint,
in gold, slightly embossed lettering)

It is a sad comment on someone’s life when the most informative item found about them is their obituary.

C P Homrig was missing from many city directory listings where he possibly was living. This does not necessarily mean he wasn’t there or was omitted accidently year after year, it just means he was probably living outside the city limits and didn’t rate inclusion in the year’s city directory.

There were only a few city directories available and he was not found in a census for any year although some page by page searches were made.

And the search for the McCutcheon credited in the imprint was inconclusive.

Following is all the information that could be found.

Charles P Homrig
(1858 – 1944)

1858
(From obituary) Born in Tippecanoe County
1871
Lafayette, IN, city directory, Charles P Homrig NOT listed
1873
Lafayette, IN, city directory, Charles P Homrig as photographer at 84 Columbia
1885 (next available)
Lafayette, IN, city directory, Charles P Homrig as photographer at 3rd Floor Ball’s block n e cor Fourth and Columbia, bds Globe Restaurant; bus section says 3rd floor n e cor Fourth and Columbia
1887, 1891 (next available)
Lafayette, IN, city directory, Chas P Homrig NOT listed
1894
(From obituary) Homrig moves from Lafayette, IN to Frankfort, IN

1896, 1905, 1913 and 1930
LaFayette, IN, city directory, Chas P Homrig NOT listed
1924
Frankfort, IN, city directory, Charles P Homrig as photographer at 57 s Jackson, Frankfort
1930
Frankfort, IN, city directory, Chas P Homrig NOT listed res or res
1932
Frankfort, IN, city directory, Chas P Homrig as photographer 57 ½ N Jackson Av
1937, 1940, 1942, 1944
Frankfort, IN, city directory, Chas P Homrig NOT listed
1944 Aug 1
Lafayette (IN) Journal newspaper obituary: Frankfort, IN: Charles P Homrig dies at age 86 in a nursing home. Burial at Otterbein

If you have further information about Charles, please leave a comment.

Lafayette (IN) Journal and Courier - 11 Aug 1944

photographer: C P Homig Art Gallery
84 Coluimbia Street, Lafayette, IN
example from Find-A-Grave

The cabinet card at the right is by J G Homrig. So far, NO connection has been made to Charles P Homrig.

Example is from Sixpounder on Flickr

Photographer: J G Homrig
Oak Ridge, MO
example from Sixpounder on Flickr

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.

New examples and additional information 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.

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Henry Sonnenberg

photographer: H Sonnenberg
Pittsburgh and Allegheny, PA
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of cardd at left finished probably between 1890 and 1894

Heinrich (Henry) Sonnenberg
(1851-1943)

1851 Jun 16
Monabaur Germany, Henry (Heinrich) Sonnenberg is born to George Michael Friedrich and Wilhelmina J Halmestein (Heinrich was the younger brother of Jacob Sonnenberg
1872, 1873
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, NO Sonnenberg listed
1874
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, H Sonnenberg as photographer at 117 Federal (shown as J E Sonnenberg)
1875
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, H Sonnenberg as photographer at 121 Federal
1876
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, H Somenberg (as printed) as photographer at 121 Federal
1877 through 1882
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Henry Sonnenberg as photographer at 121 Federal
1883, 1884, 1885
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, H Sonnenberg as photographer at 123 Federal, A

1896, 1897
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Henry Sonnenberg as photographer at 223 Fifth and 52 Federal
1898
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Henry Sonnenberg as photographer at 52 Federal
1899
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Henry Sonnenberg as photographer at 223 Fifth
1900, 1901
City directory NOT available
1902
Braddock, PA, city directory, Henry Sonnenberg as photographer NOT listed
1902
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Henry Sonnenberg as photographer at 28 Lacock (not listed in business pages)
1903
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Henry Sonnenberg NOT listed in residential or business pages
1904
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Henry Sonnenberg as photographer 1308 Boyle, A
NO Sonnenberg listed in business pages
This is the only time this address appears. It may simply be a misprint.

1905, 1906
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, NO Sonnenberg listed bus or res
1906
Braddock, PA, city directory Henry Sonnenberg as photographer at 80 Pennsylvania
1908, 1909
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Henry Sonnenberg NOT listed in residential or business pages
1910 May 02
Pittsburgh, PA, US census, Henry Sonnenberg as photographer
1911 to 1919
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory: Many years or pages missing; NO Henry Sonnenberg found
1919
Jacksonville, FL, city directory, Henry Sonnenberg in appliance sales

1920 Jan 20
Pittsburgh, PA, US census, Henry Sonnenberg as photographer

Note: this is the last document showing Henry Sonnenberg as a photographer. No other documents have been found that places Henry Sonnenberg and family in Pennsylvania except a curious item that says he died in Tuttle Creek, PA. All items found after January 1910, place him, and wife and children, in Jacksonville, Florida, in the appliance business.

Also, he clearly had two residences established in 1919 and 1920, one in Pittsburgh, PA, and one in Jacksonville, FL. After that, all items found place him in Jacksonville and NOT in the photography business.

photographer: H Sonnenberg
Pittsburg, PA
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.

Monday, March 21, 2022

John E Sonnenberg

photographer: J E Sonnenerg
37 Cedar Ave, Allegheny City , PA
example from LOST GALLERY

reverse of card at left
(The edge on this one did not scan well. It is a small deckled edge with a gold trim.)

Jacob “John” E Sonnenberg
(1840-1911)

1840 Jun 09
Monabaur Germany, Jacob E Sonnenberg is born to George Michael Friedrich and Wilhelmina J Halmestein
1872
New York, arriving passenger list, J E Sonnenberg arrives in US with family
1872, 1873
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, NO Sonnenberg listed
1874
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, J E Sonnenberg as photographer at 120 Ohio
1875
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, J E Sonnenberg as photographer at 112 Ohio
1876
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, J E Somenburg (as printed) as photographer at 112 Ohio
1877, 1878, 1879
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, J E Sonnenberg as photographer at 120 Ohio, A

1880
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Jacob E Sonnenberg as photographer at 120 E Ohio, A
1881, 1882
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, John E Sonnenberg as photographer at 120 Ohio, A
1883,1884
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, John E Sonnenberg as photographer at 120 Ohio, A
1885
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, John E Sonnenberg as photographer at 120 Ohio, A
1886
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, John E Sonnenberg as photographer at 120 Ohio, A
1887
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, John E Sonnenberg as photographer at 99 Fifth Av, 120 Ohio, and 67 Cedar Av
1888
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, John E Sonnenberg as photographer at 67 Cedar Av, A
1899
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, John E Sonnenberg as photographer at 67 Cedar Av, A

1890
(no image available) Jacob Sonnenberg as photographer at 67 Cedar av, A
1891
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, J E Sonnenberg as photographer at 99 Fifth, 67 Cedar and 120 Ohio
1892
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, J E Sonnenberg as photographer at 120 Ohio
1893
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, J E Sonnenberg as photographer at 67 Cedar and 136 Ohio
1894
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, J E Sonnenberg as photographer at 67 Cedar and 137 Ohio
1895
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Jacob E Sonnenberg as photographer at 67 Cedar and 136 Ohio
1896
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, J E Sonnenberg as photographer and artist at 67 Cedar
1897
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, J E Sonnenberg as photographer at 67 Cedar adn120 Ohio

1898
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Jacob E Sonnenberg as photographer at 120 Ohio; res 67 Cedar
1899
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, John Sonnenberg as photographer at 67 Cedar
1900, 1901 NOT available
1902, 1903
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, J E Sonnenberg, 908 Cedar av Allegeny
1904
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Jacob E Sonnenberg as photographer; res 908 Cedar, A
NO Sonnenberg listed in business pages
1905 (Social directory only)
1906
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, NO Sonnenberg listed bus or res
1907
Pages missing
1908, 1909
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, Jacob E Sonnenberg as photographer at 908 Cedar Av
1910 May 02
Pittsburgh, PA, US census, John E Sonnenberg as photographer

1911
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory pages missing
1911 Jan 29
Pittsburgh, PA, state records, J E Sonnenberg dies at age 70
1912
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, NO Sonnenberg listed
1913
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, J E Sonnenberg as photographer at 908 Cedar
1915 (1914 not available)
Pittsburgh, PA, city directory, NO Sonnenberg listed

Jacob (or John or J E) Sonnenberg and Henry (Heinrich or H) Sonnenberg were brothers. No record of them working together has yet been found but they kept separate studios from about 1874 to about 1904. John Sonnenberg died in 1911 and Henry died in 1943.

Henry had moved to Florida by 1920.
Henry Sonnenberg is reviewed HERE

This is a recap of the John Sonnenberg studio locations. Cabinet cards may be imprinted with these addresses.

120 Ohio – 1874
112 Ohio – 1875 and 1876 (it is possible that this is a misprint, 2 years in a row)
120 Ohio – 1877 to 1886
120 Ohio, 99 Fifth and 67 Cedar – 1887 to 1891
120 Ohio - 1892
136 Ohio and 67 Cedar – 1893, 1895
67 Cedar – 1896
120 Ohio and 67 Cedar – 1897, 1898
67 Cedar – 1899
908 Cedar – 1902 to 1910

photographer: J E Sonnenerg
136 Ohio and 37 Cedar Ave, Allegheny City , PA
example from auction site

photographer: J E Sonnenerg
Allegheny City , PA
example from auction site

New examples and additional information 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.

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Warren Rice of Ohio

photographer: Warren Rice
Warren, OH
example from auction site

Warren Rice (1876-1920)

1876 Sep
New York, NY, state records, Warren Rice is born to Lucas Rice and Mary Martin
1900
Warren, OH, US census, Warren Rice and three brothers are all photogrpahers
1902, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1910
Warren OH, city directory, Warren Rice as photographer at 13 ½ E Market
1911
Youngstown, OH, city directory Warren Rice, no occupation shown;
1914
Youngstown, OH, city directory, Warren Rice as photographer for Arc Engineering co;
1915, 1916, 1917, 1918
Youngstown, OH, city directory, Warren Rice as photographer for Youngstown Arc Eng Co;
1920
Youngstown, OH, city directory Warren Rice as photographer for Bell Federal, 213 N Phelps;
1920 Mar 23
Youngstown, OH, state records, Warren Rice dies at age 43

It looks like Warren Rice was photographer at 13 ½ E Market from 1902 to 1910 and perhaps a year before. In 1911 he and his wife moved to Youngstown and worked as a photographer but not for his own studio.

photographer: Warren Rice
Warren, OH
example from auction site

L M Rice

photographer: Rice
Warren OH
example from auction site

Luther Melville Rice
(1826-1913)

1826 Feb 12
Marlborough, MA, state records, Luther Melville Rice is born to Levi Rice and Lucinda Bigelow
1852 Jun 15
Leicester, MA, state records, Luther Rice as photographer marries Hanna M Stevens
1863 Jul 01
Marlboro, MA, Civil War Draft Registration, L M Rice as artist; Howard Richardson, photographer, on same list
1869 Aug 25
Warren, OH, Western Reserve Chronicle, item says L M Rice has photographed the First National Bank
1870 Jul 15
Warren, OH, US census Luthor M Rice as photographer; on same page with Isaac D Bliss and Chester H Stoddart, photographers, Eugene Chase, colorist

1872 Jan 03
Warren, OH, Western Reserve Chronicle, item says L M Rice and I D Bliss have dissolved partnership
1880 Jun 24
Warren, OH, US census, L M Rice as photographic artist
1880 Jul 30
Warren, OH, Astabula, OH Weekly Telegraph item says L M Rice has photographed General Garfield
1889-1890
Trumbull County, OH, directory, L M Rice as photographer at 403 E South
1900 Jun 11
Chagrin Falls, OH, US census, L M Rice as photographer
1912
Short bio on Turnbull Memory says that Rice studio was at 13 ½ East Market Street, in Warren. OH

1913 Apr 04
Chagrin Falls, OH, FindAGrave Luther M Rice dies at age 87

Not much has been found about Luther Melville Rice. He did operate out of Warren, OH, mostly. Born in 1826, he was 25 or 30 years older than most of the cabinet card era photographers in the Midwest. He worked in the early years as a daguerreotypist and was an experienced photographer by the time cabinet cards became popular around 1860.

Warren, OH, Western Reserve Chronicle -
25 Aug 1869

Warren, OH, Western Reserve Chronicle -
03 Jan 1872

Ashtabula (OH) Weekly Telegraph - 30 Jul 1880

Photographic Times and American Photographer - 1883

photographer: Rice
Warren, OH
example from auction site

photographer L M Rice
Chagrin Falls, OH
example from pinterest

photographer L M Rice
Warren, OH
example from auction site

photographer: L M Rice
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

photographer:
(credited to Rice; highly restored; reverse not available)
example from pinterest

The card at the right is from L Rice of Victoria, Texas. So far no connection has been made to L M Rice of Ohio.

Fhotographer: L Rice
Victoria, TX
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

The card at the right is from L M Rice of Bastrop, TX. This is probably the same as the above Rice working in Victoria, TX.

So far no connection has been made to L M Rice of Ohio.

photographer: L M Rice
Bastrop, TX
example from auction site

The card at the right is by a photographer Rice of Washington D C.

No connection to L M Rice has been found.

photographer: Rice
1217-1219 Penn av, Washington, DC
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

The card at the right is by photographer Warren Rice of Warren, OH.

No connection to L M Rice has been found.

A small timeline can be seen here.

photographer: Warren Rice
Warren, OH
example from auction site