Samuel McDowell Armstrong

photographer: S M Armstrong
Hockenhull Bldg, Jacksonville, IL
Monogram seems to be "S M A"

Samuel McDowell Armstrong seems the best candidate for the photographer for this card. He is the only photographer Armstrong found in the general area. No documentation has been found that proves this Samuel Armstrong ever worked in Jacksonville, IL, but Chicago, IL was less than four hours away by rail in those days.

Samuel McDowell Armstrong
(1849-1923)

1849 Oct 01
Pennsylvania, state records, Samuel McDowell Armstrong is born to David H Armstrong and Leticia Melville
1868
Washington, IA, from bio sketch, Samuel Armstrong learns the photography trade at the gallery of Austin Kracaw
1870 Jun 29
Washington, IA, US census, Samuel Armstrong (age 20) as photographer; living with parents
1873
Washington, IA, from bio sketch, Samuel Armstrong purchases half interest in Austin Kracaw gallery

1873 Dec 10
Washington, IA, state records, Samuel Armstrong and Alice Yearick are married
1874
Washington, IA, from bio sketch, Samuel Armstrong sells interest in Kracaw Gallery and moves to Springfield, MO
1875
Springfield, MO, from bio sketch, Samuel Armstrong sells gallery in Springfield and moves to Fairfield, IA
1976
Fairfield, IA, bio sketch, after about a year in Fairfield, Samuel Armstrong returns to Washington, IA
1878
Washington, IA, bio sketch, Samuel Armstrong purchased gallery from M W Owen
1880 Jun 17
Washington, IA, US census, Samuel Armstrong as photographer; wife Alice as retoucher;
1884-1885
Washington, IA, Iowa state gazetteer, Samuel Armstrong as photographer
1888
Chicago, IL, city directory, Samuel Armstrong NOT listed

1899, 1901
Chicago, IL, city directory, Samuel M Armstrong as photographer at 186 43rd st
1900 Jun 11
Chicago, IL, US census, Samuel Armstrong as photographer; Wife Alice as photographer also ; res 186 43rd st
1902 and 1903 Business pages only
Chicago, IL, city directory, Samuel M Armstrong gallery not shown
1904 business pages only
Chicago, IL, city directory, Samuel M Armstrong as photographer at 186 43rd st
1905 business pages only
Chicago, IL, city directory, Samuel M Armstrong NOT listed
1906 business pages only
Chicago, IL, city directory, Samuel M Armstrong as photographer at 186 43rd st
1907 business pages only
Chicago, IL, city directory, Samuel M Armstrong NOT listed
1908, 1909 pages missing
1910 Apr 21
Chicago, IL, US census, Samuel Armstrong as photo paper salesman; boarding at 2126 Fremont St

1910 Business pages only
Chicago, IL, city directory, Samuel M Armstrong NOT listed
1920 Jan 07
Chicago, IL, US census, Samuel Armstrong as NO OCCUPATION; wife working as sales lady for a paper co; res 4226 Oakenwald av
1923 Dec 09
Chicago, IL, state records, Samuel M Armstrong dies at age 74

Dating this photograph can be no better than a guess. It was probably after 1888 and perhaps as late as 1907. There are some gaps in his Chicago city directory listings around 1900, so perhaps he was operating in Jacksonville, IL, then. When more evidence is found it will be added here.

Washington County, Iowa Biographical Dictionary via Ancestry.com - 1887

Chicago (IL) Tribune - 10 Dec 1923

William A Armstrong operated his gallery at 389 Broadway in Milwaukee, WI, from 1879 to 1897. He died 23 Aug 1897

photographer: William A Armstrong
389 Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
example from auction site

reverse of the card at left

photographer: J F Armstrong
South Main Street, Rockford, IL
example from auction site

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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