A distinguished looking older man with a white eard and mustache poses for his portrait at the Fenwick studio in Bloomington, Illinois. The man is dressed in his finest clothing for his day at the photographer but it seems he had no time to see a barber to tame his beard and longish hair. The photographer of this image is Richard Fenwick. He was born in England in 1845. He appears in the U.S. Census in 1870. He was living in a Bloomington boarding house and working as a laborer. The 1880 census finds Mr Fenwick (age 35) married to Alida Fenwick (age 30). The couple was married in 1875 and were living with their two children. Richard Fenwick had a 1 year-old daughter (Adda) and a 9 year-old step son (Rush Downey). Fenwick was working as a photographer. The 1900 census reveals that Fenwick still worked as a photographer and his step son, Rush, filled the manager role in the photography studio. Research reveals that between 1866 and 1875, Fenwick was associated with the Cook and Fenwick studio. This cabinet card is in good condition (see scans).
This Cabinet Card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $22.00 or best offer
Interested collectors may view the listing here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/236753226977
This cabinet card captures the bond between grandfather and granddaughter. Grandfather looks rather serious as he stares at the photographer. He has an interesting wide beard. His right hand grips his chair as if he is sitting in the dentist’s chair waiting for a tooth extraction. The granddaughter has bright eyes and appears to be holding back a smile. She has her right hand gently and affectionately resting on her grandfather’s arm. The photographer and the locale of the studio are not identified. This touching cabinet card portrait is in very good condition (see scans).
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 