WIDE-EYED MAN WITH A HANDSOME BEARD IN LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY

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The gentleman seen in this cabinet card photograph possesses a fine beard. Although I have seen his beard style in other cabinet card images, it still is an uncommon beard style for the time. The beard is very thick on each side but sparse in the middle. It has a similar appearance as a bushy mustache. This gentleman and his beard have earned a place in the Cabinet Card Gallery’s category of “Beards (Only the Best). The subject of this photograph is well dressed in a three piece suit and is wearing a pocket watch attached to one of the buttons on his vest. The photographer of this cabinet card portrait was employed by the Johns & Faught studio in Lexington, Kentucky. In the book “History of Fayette County, Kentucky” (1882), it is stated that W. E. Johns was born in Lexington in 1843. He began his photography business in Lexington in 1870 and by 1876 opened a new studio at the address (56 East Main Street), which was where he photographed this cabinet card. By at least 1886, James Faught worked for Johns as an operator in his studio. At a later date, the pair became partners in the business. To view other photographs by this studio, click on the category “Photographer: Johns & Faught”.   (SOLD)

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Published in: on August 25, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A GENTLEMAN WITH AN INTERESTING BEARD IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

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This cabinet card portrait features a well dressed handsome gentleman with a stylish mustache and beard. Men were more creative with their facial hairstyles during the cabinet card era compared to today. This gentleman’s mustache is incredibly thick and he is wearing his beard in a fashion that might be called “the billy goat” look. To view other interesting beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best). This photograph was taken by the Hamilton studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Hamilton studio was located in Grand Rapids between 1886 and 1911. The studio was run by Daniel H. Hamilton (1836-1891) and his wife, Emma J. Hamilton (1852-1918). Daniel Hamilton was born in New York while his wife was born in Iowa. Their studio was at times single proprietor and at times run by a partnership. Daniel ran the studio between 1886 and 1896. Emma ran the studio between 1897 and 1907 and then again between 1909 and 1910. There were two partnerships in the studio’s history; Hamilton & Vancampen (1908) and Hamilton & Reingholtz (1911). Emma is listed in the 1900 US census as living in Grand Rapids with a housekeeper and a servant. Both Daniel and Emma are buried in Oakhill Cemetery in Grand Rapids.

Published in: on April 9, 2015 at 12:03 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A MAN WITH AN INTERESTING LONG DARK BEARD

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This cabinet card portrait features a man with a long wiry dark beard. His beard and thick mustache completely hide his mouth. This is an interesting style of beard. Most of his face and jaw line are clean shaven and his whiskers appear to be confined to his chin and upper lip. The photographer’s last name (Farley) appears on the reverse of the cabinet card but his location is not mentioned. The identity of this photographer is most likely W. H. Farley. He operated photo studios in a number of small towns in Illinois.

Published in: on April 8, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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AN OLD MAN AND HIS WISPY BEARD IN TIFFIN, OHIO

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An old man with a long pointy wispy beard poses for his portrait at the studio of W. D. Miller in Tiffin, Ohio. The elderly gentleman has a knowing but far away look in his very expressive eyes. He is well dressed for his day at the photography studio. William D. Miller operated a photography business in Tiffin from 1881 through 1887 and then again from 1897 through 1908.

Published in: on February 8, 2015 at 10:32 am  Comments (1)  
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FIFTY SHADES OF GREY IN RED BLUFF, CALIFORNIA

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An unidentified old man with a great beard poses for his portrait at the H. Weston studio in Red Bluff, California. Fifty shades of grey is the best way to describe the color of his hair and beard. To view other all-star beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best)”. Henry Weston (1840-1911) was born in Massachusetts. He was listed in the 1885 business directory as a photographer in the Tehama County directory. He is also listed in the 1900 US census as a photographer living in Amador, California. Red Bluff is a town about 125 miles north of Sacramento. The town overlooks the Sacramento River and is in Tehama County.

Published in: on September 6, 2013 at 7:41 pm  Comments (1)  
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OLDER GENTLEMAN WITH LONG WHITE BEARD IN PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND

RI BEARD_0004The Salisbury studio in Pawtucket, Rhode Island produced this cabinet card portrait of an elderly man with a long white beard. His beard is very impressive but one wonders how he ate without wearing his food. To view other interesting beards click on the category “Beards (Only The Best)”. The photographer was Arnold F. Salisbury. His name can be found in many Pawtucket city directories of the 1880’s. At one time his studio was located at 65 Mill Street. He is considered by “Classy Arts” photo history site as one of America’s most productive photographers during the Carte De  Visite era (he  is among over 200 photographers so designated). Salisbury’s obituary appears in the Bulletin of Photography (1918). In the brief article it is mentioned that Salisbury was a civil war veteran. Further research revealed that he was a private in the 1st Regiment Rhode Island Infantry (company E) for three months in 1861. He later served as a second sergeant in the 9th Regiment Rhode Island Infantry (Company A) and as a first lieutenant in the 12th Regiment Rhode Island Infantry (Company H).

Published in: on July 17, 2013 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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MAN WITH NOTABLE BEARD IN NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT

BOWMAN_0001This photograph merits inclusion in the cabinet card gallery on the basis of the subjects stylish beard. He is quite clean cut except in the very center of his face. This beard also is a “mouth hider”. Mealtime must be quite a messy affair for this gentleman. To view other photographs of men with interesting beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best).  The photographer of this image is F. A. Bowman of New Haven, Connecticut. Frank Augustus Bowman (1847-1911) is included on a list compiled of the two hundred plus most prolific  photographers of the Carte de Visite era. His name appears as a photographer in New Haven’s  business directories between 1869 and 1900. The 1880 US census reported that Bowman (age 33) lived in New Haven with his wife Mary Fowler Bowman (age 32), his daughter Bessie (age 2), and a servant. The family also had a boarder, Jennie Ferris (age 27) who worked with Bowman in his studio.

Published in: on January 15, 2013 at 10:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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TOOTHLESS OLD MAN WITH ODD BEARD IN HOWELL, MICHIGAN

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An elderly man poses for his portrait at the Gibson & Morgan studio in Howell, Michigan. The gray haired  gentleman appears to be missing his teeth and is wearing an unusual beard that occupies much of his neck and little of his face. To view other interesting beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best)”.

Published in: on December 25, 2012 at 12:24 pm  Comments (4)  
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HANDSOME MAN WITH WIRY BEARD IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

This cabinet card portrait features a handsome man with a wiry beard. His beard qualifies him to enter the cabinet card gallery’s category  “Beards (Only the Best)”.   Click on the category to see an interesting photographic collection of men with notable beards. This photograph was produced by the Gilbert & Bacon studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To view other photographs by this studio and to learn more about the photographers, click on the category “Photographer: Gilbert & Bacon”.

Published in: on October 14, 2012 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A COUPLE IN CHATSWORTH, ILLINOIS (JOSEPH AND ELLA FRANCIS)

This cabinet card features a couple posing for their portrait at the studio of A. H. Hall in Chatsworth, Illinois. The gentleman has an interesting long and narrow beard, The woman has a dress with many buttons and is wearing a pin on her collar. Note the mans hat is on the floor directly in front of where the couple is sitting. It is not uncommon to see cabinet card portraits that include hats prominently displayed on the floor. Perhaps the hats were viewed as important enough to belong in the picture but it was considered inappropriate to wear hats indoors. The couple in this photograph are identified on the reverse as Joseph and Ella Francis.  Investigation reveals that Joseph Francis served in the civil war. In 1864 he enlisted as a private in Company D of the Illinois 45th Infantry Regiment.He mustered out as a private in 1865.  The 1880 US census identifies Joseph S. Francis (1846-1930) as a farmer of Irish descent living in Illinois. The 1910 census finds the Ohio born, Francis living in Forrest, Illinois and working as a railroad car inspector. He was 64 years old at the time and living with his wife Ella Svedaker Williamson Francis (1862-1938) and four of their children. The 1930 census that Joseph Francis, at age 84, was still employed. He was working as an assessor for his township. Research found death certificates for both Joseph (1930) and Ella (1938).  The photographer of this image was Albert H. Hall. The History of Livingston County (1878) provides a brief biography of Hall. He was born in 1849 and at age 22 went to Chicago to learn the trade of photography. In 1872 he moved to Chartsworth and opened a photography and gem gallery. He married a woman named Dora Knapp.

Published in: on September 20, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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