W R Wheeler

W R Wheeler
Williamsburg, Iowa

reverse of cabinet card on the left

William Wheeler
(b abt 1866 - d?)

William R Wheeler was a brother of
Ross Smith Wheeler the photographer at What Cheer, IA.

The Cass, Iowa marriage register lists W R Wheeler as photographer, 20 Feb 1890. This is the only document found so far that confirms that W R Wheeler was a photographer.

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.

C O Nichols

photographer:
C O Nichols
Villisca, IA

As of 02 Feb 2018 nothing has been found on photographer C O Nichols.

From the Bulletin of Photography, Volume 16 - 1915:
A photograph studio in Villisca, IA, was purchased by J W Noel and M R Sullivan in 1915

From several newspaper accounts:
Photographer J W Noel, committed suicide in 1917 midst a murder trial at which he was a witness.

If C O Nichols worked as photographer in Villisca, IA, it would have to be before or after these dates.

There are no city directories available for Villisca, IA so businesses there are impossible to trace at this time.

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.

Charles Grey of Holden, MO

Photographer: C Grey
Holden, MO

Charles A Grey
(1890 - 1939)

1858 Jan
Minnesota, state records, Charles A Birdsall is born
1888 Oct 09
Bates, MO, state records, Charles A Grey and Leona Leota Duncan are married
1890 Apr 18
Harrisonville (MO) Cass County News, item says Chas Grey Is retoucher at J P Fields Gallery
1891 Jun 28
Holden (MO) Enterprise, small ad for Chas Grey “new” gallery
1892 May 19
Holden (MO) Enterprise, ad for cabinet photos at Chas Grey gallery
1893 Dec 19
Warrensburg (MO) Standard, at for cabinet cards at Chas Grey gallery
1895 Aug 30
Warrensburg (MO) Standard, mention of Chas Gray of Holden MO visit to Warrensburg

1896 Feb 04
Warrensburg (MO) Standard, news item says Charles Gray has disposed of his studio in Holden and has decided to relocate in Warrensburg, MO
1896 Feb 13
Warrensburg (MO) Standard, news item says Chas Grey and J P Fields of Harrisonville, MO, are to open a new gallery soon
1896 Jul 04
Warrensburg (MO) Standard, news item says J P Fields has purchased Charles Grey’s interest in the Warrensburg gallery; Grey plans to relocate at Coffeyville, KS
1896 Oct 30
Warrensburg (MO) Standard, news item says Chas Grey of Coffeeville, S, is visiting Warrensburg
1897 May 12
Warrensburg (MO) Star Journal, news item says Chas Grey photographer of Holden was visiting in the city
1900 Jun 11
Holden, MO, US census, Chas A Grey as photographer

1900 Jun 21
Harrisonville (MO) Cass County Democrat, item says Chas Grey, former photographer is now selling novelties
1902 Nov 28
Warrensburg (MO) Star Journal, long item describes name change from Chas Grey to Chas Birdsall
1903 Oct 08
Holden (MO) Enterprise, long ad for photographs is signed Chas Birdsall (Grey), Holden, MO
1908 Jul 28
Holden, MO, state record, Son Raymond Birdsall Is born
1910 Apr 26
Holden, Mo, US census, Charles A Birdsall as photographer; res Olive St
1920 Jan 03
Holden, MO, US census, Charles A Birdsall as photographer, res 510 So Olive
1930
Kansas City, MO, city directory, Charles A Birdsall NOT listed

1930 Apr 09
Kansas City, MO, US census, Charles A Birdsall, as salesman for clay products
1932
Kansas City, MO, city directory, Charles A Birdsall as real estate; res 2018 Quindaro
1934
Kansas City, MO, city directory, Charles A Birdsall as real estate; res: 2018 Quindaro
1935
Kansas City, MO, city directory, Chas A Birdsall NOT listed
1936
Kansas City, MO, city directory, Charles A Birdsall as “Tires” (perhaps he said “retired”)
1938
Kansas City, MO, city directory, Charles A Birdsall, no occupation shown, ; res 1221 Minn av
1939
Kansas City, MO, FIndAGrave, Charles A Birdsall dies at age 81

Sometime between 1878 and 1888, Charles A Birdsall changed his name to Chas Grey. He says it was to save the embarrassment of a teenage marriage which was dissolved. His business career was then conducted as Charles A Grey.

He continued as photographer in Holden, Harrisonville, Warrensburg and Madison, Missouri He also was located in Coffeeville and Kansas City, Kansas.

Rough recap of locations:
Jun of 1892 to Feb of 1896 – Holden, MO
Feb to July of 1896 – for a short period partners with FP Fields in Warrensburg, MO
1896 – brief period in Coffeeville, KS
1897 to 1900 – as Grey, studio now in Holden, MO
1902 to 1920 – as BIrdsall, studio in Holden, MO
1930 to 1939 – out of the photography business

Cass County (MO) News -
28 May 1891

Holden (MO) Enterprise -
28 May 1891

Holden (MO) Enterprise -
19 May 1892

Warrensburg (MO) Standard Herald -
19 Dec 1893

Warrensburg (MO) Standard Herald -
30 Aug 1895

Warrensburg (MO) Standard Herald -
04 Feb 1896

Warrensburg (MO) Star Journal -
18 Feb 1836

Warrensburg (MO) Star Journal -
04 Jul 1896

Warrensburg (MO) Standard Herald -
30 Oct 1896

Warrensburg (MO) Daily Star-Journal -
12 Aug 1897

Harrisonville (MO) County Democrat-Missourian -
21 Jun 1900

Pleasant Hill (MO) Register - 21 Nov 1902

Warrensburg (MO) Star Journal - 28 Nov 1902

Holden (MO) Enterprise -
04 Nov 1926

Warrensburg (MO) Star Journal -
02 Aug 1949

potographer: Gret
Holden, MO
example from donor

Reverse of card at left

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.

T J Echols

Photographer: T J Echols
Conway, Ark

Thomas Jefferson Echols
(1854 - 1918)

T J Echols appears to have spent nearly all his professional life in Little Rock, AR, from about 1888 to 1914. There was a short stay in Monroe, LA, in 1914 and he died in Illinois in 1918. He had at least 8 different studio locations in Little Rock, the longest stay being 301 ½ Main from 1902 to 1908.

He had branch studios in other cities in Arkansas and as far away as England as one news item shows.
Timeline sources: US census, city directories, newspaper items as noted
1854 May 05
T J Echols born in Holly Springs, MS
1884 May 20
Mansfield, LA, marries Henrietta Caroline Wynne
1888 Jun 24
Little Rock, AR, son Samuel Thomas Echols born
1890
Little Rock, AR city directory as photographer; res 1310 Louisana
1890 Apr 16
Little Rock, AR, son Harry Clyde Echols born
1890
Little Rock, AR, city directory, as photographer; res 1310 Louisiana

1891 Sep 26, 29; Oct 06, 07,
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat small item for studio at 309 e Markham st
1893 Mar 09
Little Rock, AR, son Herbert Eugene Echols born
1895 Sep
Little Rock AR, daughter Lois I Echols born
1899 Feb 11, 12, 14, 15;
Little Rock Daily Arkansas Gazette as photographer at 103 1/2 Washington av
1900 Jun 09
US census Little Rock, AR, as photographer at 103 W Washington; Little Rock, AR, city directory a photographer at 105 w Washington
1901 Apr 30, May 01, 08, 10;
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat small ad as photographer at 106 1/2 n Washington av
1902 Aug 04, 06, 08, 11, 13, 15, 18, 22, 25, 27, 29; Sep 01;
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat small ads as photographer at 301 ½ Newton av
1902, 1906, 1907,
Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer at 302 ½ Newton, av; res same
1904 Jun 04
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat item T J Echols granted permission to open cold drink stand at 121 Main st

1905 Jan 20, 23
(Little Rock) Arkansas Daily Gazette small ad for studio at 301 ½ Main
1906 Oct 25
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat item Echols to erect a tent gallery on Main
1906 Nov 14
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat item tent gallery has been removed
1907 Jul 09
(Little Rock) Daily Arkansas Gazette small item Echols asks permission to erect refreshment stand at corner of Washington and Maple
1908 Feb 16
(Little Rock) Daily Arkansas Gazette item shows residence as 301 ½ Main
1908
Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer at 105 ½ w Washington
1909 May 13
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat item Echols moving gallery to booth at Riverview Park
1910
US census Little Rock, AR, as photographer res 620 Maple; Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer at 115 ½ s Maple, res 301 ½ Main
1910
Echols is elected as Justice of the Peace in Little Rock, AR

-- Continued on next row --

1911
Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer at 200 ½ main; res rms 111 e 5th
1911 Jul 05
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat Justice T J Echols sells gallery toKime and resigns as Justice of Peace
1911 Aug 12
(Little Rock) Arkansas Democrat Bert E Kime takes over Echols studio in Mathews building
1911
(Little Rock) Daily Arkansas Gazette 6 small ads as photographer at 521 Main
1912
Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer; res 1309 State; not listed in business pages
1913
Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer, res 1309 State; not listed in business pages
1914
Little Rock, AR, city directory as photographer, res 1309 State; not listed in business pages
1914 Jan to Jun
Bulletin of Photography page 151, item T J Echols has located his studio in Monroe, LA
1914 May 28
Monroe (LA) News Star item studio furniture for sale

1918 Dec 23
T J Echols dies in Alton, IL, at age 64


When T J Echols actually had a branch studio in Conway, AR, is not known for sure. Perhaps it was in 1891 when a news item proclaims that he has “returned” to Little Rock.

But it could have been any time. Photographers were known to have temporary studios in small towns around where they lived.

Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock) - 26 Sep 1891

Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock) 11 Feb 1899


Arkansas (Little Rock)Democrat 25 Oct 1906


Arkansas Democrat - 15 Dec 1906

Arkansas Gazette - 04 Jul 1911


Arkansas Democrat - 12 Aug 1911


Bulletin of Photography - Jan-Jun 1914


Monre (LA) News Star - 28 May 1914

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.

Leroy T Butterfield

photographer: Butterfield
cor Main and Ninth
Sioux Falls, SD

Leroy Taylor Butterfield
(1852 - 1897)

Timeline sources; US census, city directories, newspaper items as shown, 19th Century Sioux Falls Through the Lens: Photographs of Leroy T. Butterfield

1852 Feb 16
Windsor County, VT, Leroy Taylor Butterfield is born to Merrick Butterfield and Eliza S Phinney
1872, 1873
Urbana, IL, Illinois Industrial University
1876
Prairie du Chien, WI, Wiconsin Family Albums, moves to this town works with photographer Farr for two years and then buys the gallery
1877
Sioux Falls, SD, Argus Leader, of 04 Mar 1887 news item mentions Butterfield has been photographer for eleven years
1878 Nov 13
Marengo, IL, L T Butterfield marries Martha E Rich
1880
Prairie Du Chien, WI, US census as photographer
1883 Dec 31
Prairie Du Chien, WI, city records, daughter Mabel Alice Butterfield is born

1887 Mar 04
(Sioux Falls, SD) Argus Leader, news item takes over studio of George W Taylor
1887 Mar 19
(Sioux Falls, SD) Argus Leader, display ad says new gallery opens 21 Mar 1887
1888
Sioux Falls, SD, city directory as photographer at 127 w 9th se cor Main; res 217 Prairie
1889 - 1894
Sioux Falls, SD, city directory as photographer se cor Main; res 217 Prairie
1890
Sioux Falls, SD, city directory as photographer with Butterfield & Ralston, cor Main av and Ninth
1890 May 08
(Sioux Falls, SD) Argus Leader small ad for studio
1891 Jan 05
(Sioux Falls, SD) Argus Leader news item says Butterfield & Ralston have dissolved partnership and Butterfield will continue in the business
1893 May 15
(Sioux Falls, SD) Argus Leader news item says Butterfield has leased out the gallery to Oliver Evans
1894 Jan 30
(Sioux Falls, SD) Argus Leader news item says Butterfield took over the studio again at the YMCA block

1896
(Sioux Falls, SD) Argus Leader Retired this year (see obituary of 1897, next)
1897 Dec 27
(Sioux Falls, SD) Argus Leader, L T Butterfield dies at age 45


Samuel Archibald Ralston
(16 Dec 1858 - 15 Sep 1944)

Very little was found about S A Ralston except the mentions on this page. He appears to have been in the photography business with Butterfield just about a year, in Sioux Falls, SD. After that he went into the pharmacy business in Iowa and never returned to photography or South Dakota.

The cabinet card at the left must have been finished when Ralston was not a partner in the gallery. Considering the style of the card it was probably done after January of 1891 when the partnership disolved and before 1896 when Butterfield retired.

Another example from KEN on Flickr

Sioux Falls, SD, Argus Leader - 04 Mar 1887

Sioux Falls, SD, Argus Leader - 19 Mar 1887

Sioux Falls, SD, Argus Leader - 19 Mar 1887

Sioux Falls, SD, Argus Leader - 22 Jul 1887

Wisconsin Family Albums: Photographer Imprints - 1888

Sioux Falls, SD, City Directory ad - 1880

Sioux Falls, SD, Argus Leader - 08 May 1890

Another example at Langdon Road Gallery

Sioux Falls, SD, city directory ad - 1890

Sioux Falls, SD, Argus Leader - 05 Jan 1891

Sioux Falls, SD, Argus Leader - 15 May 1893

photographer: Butterfield
Sioux Falls, SD
Example Ancestry.com
Probably about 1892 or after

Sioux Falls, SD, Argus Leader - 30 Jan 1894

Sioux Falls, SD, Argus Leader - 28 Dec 1897

photographer: Butterfield
Sioux Falls, SD
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.