
This original cabinet card photograph features a forlorn looking young woman. She is wearing two lovely bracelets. This image was photographed by Edgar Decker (1832-1905). He was one of Cleveland’s earliest and most renowned photographers. Decker was raised on a farm in New York. He grew up to be a shopkeeper. He developed an interest in photography. When he moved to Cleveland in 1857, he went to work in photography studios. After two years of experience, he opened his own studio, which operated for over 40 years. His subjects included many accomplished people including performers, businessmen, and politicians. In fact, Decker photographed four US Presidents, John James Audubon (ornithologist), as well as General William Sherman. In 1862, he photographed encamped Union army soldiers before they left Cleveland to be engaged in the civil war. Decker won many awards in photography competitions. In 1887, he was elected President of the National Photographic Association. He served on Cleveland’s City Council from 1878 through 1882. Decker was succeeded by his protege, George Edmondson. Edmonson became a successful and well known photographer in his own right. (SOLD)

