John Harris Wright

Photographer J. H. Wright
Ottawa, Kas.
(finished circa 1891)

There were several people with the name J. H. Wright in the late 19th century. Two or three of them seemed to be photographers in the mid-west at one time or another.

The right one was finally sorted out with the discovery of a newspaper article describing a marriage of “Mattie Geer” of Oswego, KS, to photographer J. H. Wright from Macon, MO, in 1899.

Macon Republican - 12 Dec 1899

Here is an interesting bit from her obituary: "Mattie lived and worked in a saloon, cleaning up for her room and board. She had to fend for herself and it was in Cherryvale, Kansas, that she met up with John Harris Wright and agreed to go with him. She married him in 1899."

There are small almost weekly advertisements in the Osawatomie, KS, newspaper, “The Graphic” that place him in Ottawa, KS, from 13 Jul 1888 to Sep 1889. Two news items from the Ottawa Daily Republic place him with a studio in Ottawa 1891 and 1892.

Osawatomie Graphic - 14 Dec 1888

Ottawa Republican - 17 Jun 1891

Ottawa Republican - 21 Jul 1892

After the marriage in 1899, he and his wife live in Macon, MO until about 1903. After a time in St. Louis, MO, the two spend the rest of their lives in towns in Ohio.

Macon Citizen - 09 Mar 1900

John Harris Wright
(24 Jun 1874 - 10 Mar 1942)

1874 Jun 24
born in Coldwater, MS
1888 Jul 13 thru 1889 Nov 30
newspaper ad photographer at 3rd & Main, Osawatomie, KS
1891 Jun 17
story in Ottawa Daily Republic about remodeled studio
1892 Jul 21
story about Wright skipping town
1899
marriage to Martha E. Gear at Oswego, KS
1900
US census as photographer in Macon, MO.
1901
son Joseph Harris Wright born in Cherryvale, KS
1903 May 30
news item in Macon Republican; Wright goes to work for Denslow’s Studio

Macon Republican - 30 May 1903

1910
US census as photographer in St. Louis, MO
1916 Sep 12
draft registration as photographer at 21 W College, Lorain, OH
1920
US census as photographer Lorain, OH
1930
US census as photographer 139 E Main, Kent, Franklin Township, OH
1935
US census as photographer at Revenna, OH
1940
US census as photographer at 617 Main, Ravenna, OH
1942
Death at 67 in Akron, OH.

This cabinet card (above left) was probably finished between 1888 and 1892, quite likely 1891.

Thanks to an alert descendant who contributed some great information and corrections to this page!

Macon Republican - 09 Mar 1900

The Balwin (KS) Ledger - 31 May 1889 The Ottawa (KS) Lever - 19 Feb 1891

Miltonvale (KS) News -
06 Mar 1891 Ottawa (KS) Daily Republic -
03 Apr 1891

Ottawa (KS) Daily Republic -
17 Jun 1891

Ottawa (KS) Lever -
25 Feb 1892 Ottawa (KS) Daily Republic -
27 Feb 1892

Ottawa (KS) Weekly Republic -
03 Mar 1892

Two great items from contributor Melinda C. Schaber. THANKS!

photographer John Harris Wright

photographer: Wright
Ottawa, KS
example from contributor

photographer: Wright
Ottawa, KS
example from auction site
(finished circa 1891)

photographer: Wright
cor Third and Main, Ottawa, KS
example from auction site
(finished circa 1889)

photographer: Wright
Ottawa, KS
example from auction site

photographer: J H Wright and Co
Palestine, TX
example from contributor

No evidence has been found to connect this card to John Harris Wright of Ottawa, Kansas.

Palestine, TX, is over 500 miles from Ottawa, KS.

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.

Cabinet cards typically have the photographer’s name and address printed on the bottom edge or the reverse of the card. 19th century photographers moved around a lot. The basic idea here is to find WHEN a photographer was WHERE, which will help date an unidentified CABINET CARD from your family album.

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.

Gustav Cramer

photographer:
Cramer
1001 south 5th
cor Chouteau Ave.
St Louis, MO

reverse of the card at the left

Gustav Adolph Cramer
(20 May 1838 - 16 Jul 1914)

Sources: mostly St Louis, MO, city directories

1838 May 20
Eschwege, Germany, Gustav Cramer is born to Emanuel and Dorthea Cramer
1859
Cramer arrives in the US works as apprentice to John A Scholten
1860
Carondelet, MO, Cramer opens first gallery but operates only for about 6 months and then enlists for three months with the Missouri Volunteers of the Civil War
1861
Carondelet, MO, After the Battle of Carthage, 5 Jul 1861, Cramer returns to find his gallery has closed
1863 May
Carondelet, MO, Cramer pays 15 dollar tax fee and registers as photographer

1864
St Louis, MO, Cramer teams with portrait painter Julius Gross and opens a gallery called Cramer and Gross
1865
St Louis, MO, city directory, 91 s Fourth as Hermann Gross; Cramer NOT listed
1866
St Louis, MO, 333 s Fifth st as Cramer and Gross, photographers
1866
St Louis, MO, city directory (T A Holland) 1264 s Fourth st, as Cramer and Gross, photographers (probably a miss-print)
1866
St Louis, MO, city directory (Missouri Version) fourth st, se cor Herman Gross only; Cramer not listed
1867 - 1869
St Louis, MO, city directory 1264 s Fifth as Cramer and Gross, as photographers

-- continued in next row --

1870 - 1875
St Louis, MO, city directory 1001 s Fifth as Cramer, Gross and Co, photographers
1876
St Louis, MO, city directory 1001 s Fifth as Cramer G, successor to Cramer, Gross and Co.
1877 - 1878
St Louis, MO, city directory 1001 s Fifth st as Cramer, Gross and Co. (again); Gustav Cramer, Julian Gross and Henry Schoo, photographers
1879
St Louis, MO, city directory NOT AVAILABLE
1880
St Louis, MO, city directory, 1001 s Fifth as Gustave Cramer, photographer; Herman Norden not listed in St Louis, MO, city directory
1881
St Louis, MO, city directory 1001 s Fifth as Gustave Cramer, photographer in business pages; res pages show Herman Norden with Cramer and Norden at 1001 s Fifth

St Louis, MO, City Directory -
1866

1882
St Louis, MO, city directory 1001 s Fifth as Gustave Cramer, photographer in business pages; res pages show Herman Norden with Cramer and Norden at 1001 s Fifth
1883
St Louis, MO, city directory 1001 s Fifth as Gustave Cramer, photographer; Norden is in res pages as Photographer and Dry Plates (note: not associated with Cramer); Business pages show Norden H as Dry Plate mfgr at 827 Chouteau av.
1884 - 1887
St Louis, MO, city directory, 1001 s Fifth as Gustave Cramer, photographer
1887
Cramer is president of the Photographer’s Association of America
1888
St Louis, MO, city directory NOT AVAILABLE
1889 - 1895
St Louis, MO, city directory, at Shenandoah ne cor Buena Vista as Cramer G Dry Plate Works

Holland and Co St Louis, MO, Business Directory - 1866

1897 - 1901
St Louis, MO, city directory Lemp Av n cor Shenandoah as Cramer G Dry Plate Co
1910
St Louis, MO, city directory 1821 Shenandoah as Cramer G Dry Plate Co
1914 Jul 16
St Louis, MO, Gustav Cramer dies at age 76

The cabinet card in this collection has only the Cramer name on the reverse. It appears the only time he worked alone at 1001 s Fifth was briefly in 1876 and then again after 1879. Although Hermann Norden is sometimes listed as a partner in the gallery, 1881 and 1882, city directories list the studio only as Cramer Photography.

There is a fine bio on Gustav Cramer at Historic Camera

And check this article that includes more information about Gustav Cramer in the
Maine Antique Digest

St Louis, Mo, City Directory -
1867, 1868, 1869

Saint Louis (MO) Post Dispatch - 05 Jul 1895

Photographer Cramer
St Louis, MO
Source unknown

photographer: Cramer
St Louis, MO
Example found on auction site

Photographer: Cramer
St Louis MO
example found on pinterest, no source shown

This is a cdv credited to
Cramer, Gross and Co of St Louis, MO
image of reverse not available
example from auction site

Six CDV examples

slightly enhanced
photographer: Gustave Cramer
1001 South Fifth
St. Louis, MO

reverse of the CDV at the left

photographer: Gustave Cramer
1001 South Fifth
St. Louis, MO

Reverse of CDV at the left

photographer: Cramer and Gross and Company
1200 and 1264 South Fifth Street
St. Louis, MO

photographer: Gustave Cramer
1001 South Fifth
St. Louis, MO

reverse of CDV at the left

photographer: Gustave Cramer
1001 South Fifth
St. Louis, MO

reverse of CDV at the left

photographer: Cramer and Gross and Company
1200 and 1264 South Fifth Street
St. Louis, MO

photographer: Cramer
St Louis, MO
example from auction site

CALIFORNIA

These examples are probably by Charles L Cramer.

This Cramer has not yet been connected to the Cramer of St Louis, MO. Research pending.

photographer: Cramer
San Francisco, CA

photographer: Cramer
402 Kearmy Street, San Francisco, CA
example from auction site

photographer: Cramer
402 Kearmy Street, San Francisco, CA
example from auction site
(This card is owner dated 1888)

photographer: Cramer
402 Kearney Street, San Francisco, CA
example from pinerest

photographer: Cramer
402 Kearney Street, San Francisco, CA
example from pinerest

photographer: Cramer
402 Kearney Street, San Francisco, CA
example from pinerest

photographer: Cramer
402 Kearney Street, San Francisco, CA
example from pinerest
(Set look familiar?)

Kansas

Cherryvale, KS, is nearly four hundred miles from St Louis, MO. No records have been found to show that Gustav Cramer ever worked beyond Saint Louis, MO.

Note that this card also advertises: Headquarters for fine pianos and organs on easy monthly payments

photographer: Cramer Brothers
over Post Office, Cherryvale, KS
example from auction site

photographer L F Cramer
Cherryvale, KS
example from auction site

photographer L F Cramer
Cherryvale, KS
example from contributor

PENNSYLVANIA

These examples are probably by A L Cramer of Pennsylvania.

This Cramer has not yet been connected to the Cramer of St Louis, MO. Research pending.

photographer: Cramer
312 Main Street, Carbondale, PA
example from auction site

photographer: Cramer
Carbondale, PA
example from auction site

photographer: Cramer
312 Main Street, Carbondale, PA
example from auction site

WISCONSIN

These examples are probably by either John Cramer or Joseph Cramer. Both worked in Wisconsin.

This Cramer has not yet been connected to the Cramer of St Louis, MO. Research pending.

photographer: Cramer
Grafton, WI
example from auction site

photographer: Cramer
Grafton, Wisconsin
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.

Cabinet cards typically have the photographer’s name and address printed on the bottom edge or the reverse of the card. 19th century photographers moved around a lot. The basic idea here is to find WHEN a photographer was WHERE, which will help date an unidentified CABINET CARD from your family album.

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.