John Abels Thompson

photographer: J A Thompson
Elmdale, KS
example from LOST GALLERY

John Abels Thompson
1862-1928

1862 Feb 02
Various sources, John Abel Thompson is born to Asa Thompson and Emma Abels
1875 Mar 01
Howard, KS, Kansas State census, J A Thompson at age 13
1880 Jun 19
Howard, KS, US census, J A Thompson at age 18, no occupation shown
1883 July
Howard, KS, Postal Clerk roster, listed as postal clerk in Howard, KS, annual compensation 420.00
1885 Mar 01
Howard, KS, Kansas State census, J A Thompson as Bookkeeper and Postal Clerk (apparently enumerated twice, once at home and once at work
1891 Aug 21
Howard (KS) Courant, display ad for J A Thompson Furniture Sale
1894 Aug 03 – 1894 Sep 07
Howard (KS) Courant, display ad for book store Heichert Proprietor, (Successor to J A Thompson)

1896 Oct 16
Strong City (KS) Derrick, display ad for photographer J A Thompson
1897 Jan 01
Strong City (KS) Derrick, display ad for photographer J A Thompson
1898 Dec 06
Howard (KS) Courant, Display ad for J A Thompson Gallery
1898 Dec 23
Howard (KS) Courant, Bio paragraph about photographer J A Thompson; mentions learning the training with Mrs S H Waite of Emporia, KS
1899 Jan 13
Howard (KS) Courant, small ad for J A Thompson, photographer
1899 Feb 17
Howard (KS) Courant, display ad for Thompson, photographer
1899 May 05
Howard (KS) Courant, small ad for J A Thompson, photographer
1899 Aug 23
Howard (KS) Citizen, news item lists marriage of John A Thompson and Margaret Smiley in Howard, KS

1900 May 18
Moline (KS) Advance, small ad shows J A Thompson to be at Mrs Long’s Gallery in Moline 5/23/1900
1900 Jun 28
Howard, KS, US census, John A Thompson as photographer
1903 Oct 093
Howard (KS) Courant, small news item says Thompson has taken views of city during carnival
1904 Nov 02
Howard (KS) Courant, small ad for J A Thompson parade views on sale at post office
1905 Mar 01
Howard, KS, Kansas State census, J A Thompson as photographer
1910 Apr 29
Howard, KS, US census, J A Thompson as photographer
1915 Mar 01
Eureka, KS, Kansas state census, J A Thompson as photographer
1919 Mar 01
Genola, KS, Kansas state census, J A Thompson listed, no occupation shown, 2 in family

1920 Jan 13
Eureka, KS, US census, John A Thompson as photographer (on line one)
1928 Aug 02
Kansas City (MO) Times, news item says John A Thompson has died (today) at home in Lincoln, NE
1928 Aug 28
Lincoln, NE, Geneanet Community Tree Index, John A Thompson dies at age 66

To further obscure the history of John A Thompson, there was one advertisement for a photographer named J A Thompson working in Parsons, KS, in 1878, which would be when J A Thompson of Howard, KS, would be only about 16 years old.

There was also a telegraph operator in the 1885 Kansas census named John A Thompson.

There was a John A Thompson, born in Iowa, listed in Greenfield, KS, 1905 as a farmer

Howard (KS) Courant -
21 Aug 1891

Howard (KS) Courant - 03 Aug 1894

Strong City (KS) Derrick - 16 Oct 1896

Strong City (KS) Derrick - 01 Jan 1897

Howard (KS) Courant - 09 Dec 1898

Howard (KS) Courant - 23 Dec 1898

Howard (KS) Courant - 13 Jan 1899

Howard (KS) Courant - 17 Feb 1899

Moline (KS) Advance - 18 May 1900

Howard (KS) Courant - 09 Oct 1903

Howard (KS) Citizen - 02 Nov 1904

Kansas City (MO) Times - 02 Aug 1928

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.

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.

Joseph Dolifka

photographer: Joseph Dolifka
Hanover, KS
example from LOST GALLERY

Joseph Dolifka was in the photography business only a short time according to newspaper items and ads from Hanover, Kansas, newspapers.

He apparently purchased the Hanover, Kansas, studio of John Dallas Baum about May of 1901. He operated there until April of 1904, just short of three years, when he leased the studio to J M Knuffke. He then moved to Colorado City, CO, for his health. He died in February of 1905.

Cabinet cards made after 1900 are a bit of a rarity. The Cabinet Card format was losing popularity to the more "modern" formats like matted folders and easle backs.

Dolifka was probably using up old stock left him by the previous owner. As you can see by his advertisements, he favored the "Button" in his advertising.

Joseph Dolifka
1876-1905

1876 Apr 04
Various sources Joseph Dolifka is born Hungary to Joseph and Josephine Dolifka
1885
Various sources, Joseph Dolifka arrives in the United States
1895 Mar 01
Kansas State Census says Joseph Dolifka is living in Auburn, KS
1900 Jun 25
Hanoverm, KS, US census Joseph Dolifka is working as farm labor
1901 May
Hanover (KS) Democrat news item says that J D Baum has sold his studio to Joseph Dolifka
1901 Jun 28
Hanover (KS) Democrat display ad for Joseph Dolifka studio
1901 Sep 06 through Nov 01
Hanover Democrat display ad for Joseph Dolifka studio
1901 Nov 01
Hanover Democrat display ad says Dolifka has recovered from recent illness.

1901 Dec 06-13
Hanover (KS) Democrat small ad for Dolifka Gallery
1902 Jan 03
Hanover (KS) Herald small ad for Dolifka Gallery
1902 Sep 05
Hanover (KS) Democrat small ad for Dolifka, selling high grade 4x5 Camera
1902 Oct 17, Oct 31
Hanover (KS) Democrat display ad for Joseph Dolifka Studio; mentions completion of studio repairs
1903 May 29
Hanover (KS) Democrat small ad for Joe Dolifka Photo Gallery selling flood scenes
1903 Dec 18
Hanover (KS) Democrat display ad for Jos Dolifka Art Studio
1904 Apr 08
Hanover (KS) Democrat small ad says Dolifka has leased studio to J M Knuffke for the season
1904 May 27 and Jun 03
Hanover (KS) Herald display ad for J M Knuffke photo gallery
1905 Feb 17
Hanover (KS) Democrat news item says Joseph Dolifka has died at age 28, in Colorado City, CO

Hanover Democrat - 10 May 1901

Hanover Democrat and Enterprise -
28 Jun 1901

Hanover Democrat and Enterprise -
13 Sep 1901

Hanover Herald - 22 Nov 1901

Hanover Herald - 06 Dec 1901

Hanover Herald - 03 Jan 1902

Hanover Herald - 21 Feb 1902

Hanover Herald - 14 Mar 1902

Hanover Democrat-Enterprise -
13 Jun 1902

Hanover Democrat-Enterprise -
05 Sep 1902

Hanover Dempcrat-Enterprise -
17 Oct 1902

Hanover Democrat-Enterprise -
29 May 1903

Hanover Dempcrat-Enterprise -
26 Jun 1903

Hanover Democrat-Enterprise -
18 Dec 1903

Hanover Democrat-Enterprise -
08 A[r 1904

Hanover Democrat-Enterprise -
22 May 1904

Hanover Democrat-Enterprise -
03 Jun 1904

Hanover Democrat-Enterprise -
17 Feb 1905

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.

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.

William Jay Root

photographer: W. J. Root
Kimball Hall
243 Wabash Ave. Chicago

William Jay Root
(29 Dec 1854 - )

1854
Ohio, state records, William Jay Root is born to Joseph Adams Root and Cornelia Ann Gager
1876
Cleveland, OH, city directory, William J Root as photographer for W Hodges; bds at Friendly Inns
1880 Jun 15
Nashville, TN, US census William J Root as photographer
1882 Feb 25
Nashville, TN, state records, W J Root’s son Frederick Preston Root is born
1900 Jun 17
Chicago, IL, US census William Root as photographer
1902 – 1917
Chicago, IL, city directory William W J, Studio, as photographer at 726-28 Kimball Hall 243 Wabash
1918 – 1929
Chicago, IL, city directory William J Root Studio as photographer at 1610 Kimball Hall 306 Wabash
1930 Apr 05
Chicago, IL, US census William J Root as photographer at 310, 185 s Wabash

The death date is not known for W. J. Root but he seems to have still had a studio when he was 76 in 1930. The cabinet card here was probably finished between 1902 and 1918.

photographer: Root
243 Wabash, Chicago, IL
example from auction site
probably finished between 1902 and 1917

photographer" W J Root
243 Wabash, Chicago, IL
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

Emerson Ashton Root

Apparently in 1903 and 1905, the photography studio was also a bowling alley.

Note that Emerson’s brother Melville Root is also listed as photographer. He has no separate studio listing in the business pages so he was apparently working for another photographer at the time.

1903 Monmouth City Directory

The two below are by William H Root.

He was in Aledo, IL, for the US census of 1900. Records are a little sketchy before that. He was still in Monmouth, IL, for the 1880 US census.

Note the poorly trimmed and unevenly mounted photos.

photographer Root
Monmouth, IL
from the collection of KEN on Flickr

The card a the left would be by E A Root who was the one who had a studio in Monmouth. Apparently both of his brothers William Henry and Melville E worked at the studio at one time or another.

photographer: Root, William H
Aledo, IL
example from auction site

photographer: Root, William H
Aledo, IL
From the collection of Curt J on Flickr

Photographer: Root, Monmouth, IL
example from the collection of Paul Ashby


photographer: Root
Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

This photographer Root of Monmouth, IL, is not the same as William J Root of Chicago, IL. No family or business connection between the two has been found to date.

Emerson Ashton Root
(1853 - 1913)

E A Root seems to have never ventured from Monmouth, IL after moving there with his family when he was about five.

Nearly every document found relating to Emerson A Root, gives him a different birth date.

His father Henry E Root was listed in the 1870 US census as a photographer and in the 1860 US census as an Ambrotypist.

His father and both of his brothers, Melville and William H Root were photographers in one document or another, but Emerson Root seems to have been the only Root with a studio in Monmouth, IL, during the era of the cabinet card.

In the Monmouth, IL, city directories of 1903 and 1905, the photography studio was apparently also a bowling alley.

Emerson Root is documented as photographer from 1880 thru 1905. This photograph was probably done in the later part of that period.

photographer: Root
Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

photographer: Root
Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

photographer: Root
Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

photographer: Root
Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

reverse of the three cards at the left

photographer: Root
213 South Main, Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

photographer: Root
213 South Main, Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

photographer: Root
213 South Main, Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

photographer: Root
213 South Main, Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

photographer: Root
Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

photographer: Root
Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

photographer: Root
Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

photographer: Root
Monmouth, IL
example from auction site

photographer: Root
Monmoth, IL
example from auction site

reverse of card at left

James Arthur Root

Son of Emerson A Root

In 1911, James Arthur Root lived at 608 N. B Street, Monmouth, Illinois.

Birth 1-23-1882 (Monmouth)
Death 3-22-1919 (Kansas City) - Suicide (tried to slit his own throat and then lit himself on fire). They say he had mental issues.
Root was the regular photographer for the Warren County court system. Among other things he would photograph criminals for the police department.

J. A. Root was probably at the Dawson family crime scene in Monmouth on October 1st, 1911. There's a famous photograph taken in front of the house, but I'm not sure who took it. I always suspected Harry A. Dawson, another local photographer that lived and operated in Monmouth - 106 E. Broadway, Monmouth, Il.

In some, more complete versions of the photograph, you can see a "D" in the lower right corner that seems embossed, but I've heard that doesn't always denote the photographer.

Contributed by L Gabbert

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.