Thursday, June 8, 2023

Charles Burton Evans

photographer: Evans
102 E Main, Kalamazoo, MI
example from LOST GALLERY

As you might expect there were many photographers named Evans. Only one photographer named Evans was found in the right place at the right time. Charles B Evans is listed in the 1880 Kalamazoo, MI, city directory as photographer for H A Brown. H A Brown studio was at 120 WEST Main, in Kalamazoo. Note that 120 East Main is the address on this card by “Evans”.

The next available Kalamazoo city directory is from 1899 and the next earlier is 1871, so not much help.

Charles Burton Evans
(1861-1924

1861 Mar 19
Kalamazoo, MI, state records, Charles Burton Evans is born to Leonard Evans and Emeline Brown
1867, 1871
Kalamazoo, MI, city directory, NO photographer Evans listed
1870 Jul 25
Kalamazoo, MI, US census, Charles Evans at age 9

1880
Kalamazoo, MI, city directory, Henry A Brown, photographer at 102 West Main; res 447 W Vine 1880 Kalamazoo, MI, city directory, Charles B Evans, photographer for H A Brown, res 505 Wheaton
1880
Kalamazoo, MI, city directory, Cullen C Packard as photographer (Strait and Packard) at 102 East Main; res 232 Cedar
(Note that the card imprint is “Evans - 102 East Main, Kalamazoo, MI”)
(Note that although Charles B Evans is listed here in the 1880 Kalamazoo city directory, he cannot be found in the 1880 Kalamazoo US census pages)
1885 Jan 08
Mendon, MI, state records, Charles B Evans and Susan Amanda Minor are married
1891 Feb 25
The PawPaw (MI) True Northerner news item tells of swindler forging C B Evans name to checks
1894
Kalamazoo, MI, state census, Chas B Evans at age 33

(No Kalamazoo city directory available for 1895 through 1898)
1899, 1901, 1902
Kalamazoo, MI, city directory, NO Evans photographer listed
1896 (no 1897)
San Jose, CA, city directory, Charles B Evans NOT listed
1898
San Jose, CA, city directory, Charles B Evans as photographer 298 S 11th
1899
San Jose, CA, city directory, Chas B Evans NOT listed
1900
San Jose, CA, city directory, Chas B Evans as clerk for H W Conkling (groceries); res 342 s 6th
1900 Jun 04
San Jose, CA, US census, Chas B Evans as grocery salesman
1901, 1902
San Jose, CA, city directory, Chas B Evans as clerk at Home Union; res 334 s 8th
1902
San Jose, CA city directory, Chas B Evans NOT listed

1910 (first available)
Richmond, CA, city directory, Chas B Evans as real estate at 1245 5th
1910 Apr 28
Contra Costa, CA, US census, Chas B Evans as grocery merchant
1911
Richmond, CA, city directory, Chas B Evans as real estate at 1245 5th; res same
1912
Richmond, CA, city directory, Chas B Evans, real estate and furn rms, 325 5th; res same
1913, 1914
Richmond, CA, city directory, Chas B Evans and wife Susan; Real Estate, 325 5th; res 329 5th
1921
Richmond, CA, city directory, Chas B Evans as collector, and wife Susan; res 329 5th
1923
Richmond, CA, city directory, Chas B Evans and wife Susan; res 325 5th

1924 Apr 04
Dunsmuir (CA) News item mentions C B Evans as manager of the Ashland Golden Rule Store
1924 Aug 19
San Francisco, CA, state records, Chas B Evans dies at age 63

From this limited information one could speculate that Charles B Evans, after learning the trade working for Henry A Brown at 102 W Main, then took over the Strait/Packard studio at 102 E Main. But since there are no Kalamazoo city directories for those years, it is just speculation.

It can only be shown that Chas B Evans was photographer in Michigan from around 1880 to possibly 1897. Then in 1898, Chas B Evans, with wife Susan, is found in San Jose, California again as photographer. In 1900 he is in the grocery business and no record places him in photography after that.

Paw Paw (MI) True Northerner - 25 Feb 1891
San Francisco (CA) Recorder - 23 Aug 1924
Modesto (CA) Evening News - 25 Aug 1924
San Francisco (CA) Recorder - 02 Oct 1924

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.

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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.

2 comments:

  1. Any info on a photographer named Reidsema? Would have been working early 20th century

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, I don't know that one. The series here is based mostly on Cabinet Card photographers in the LOST GALLERY collection.

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