This is an authentic antique cabinet photo of an unidentified young lady photographed in 1887 by George W. Morgan in Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. She is in a form fitting jacket with narrow lapels, a dozen buttons, a lace ruffle on a high collar with a bar pin and the front of her skirt is draped. The image measures 4" x 6 1/4" and is on a white card board mount with rounded corners which overall measures 4 1/4" x 6 1/2". On the back of the image is a full advertisement for the studio of "Morgan, Viroqua, Wis., Negatives Preserved - 1887."
Using Federal Census Records it is possible to chronicle this early American photographer from 1850 to 1900.
On the 1880 Federal Census for Wisconsin, in Vernon County and the town of Viroqua is George W. Morgan, Photographer, born about 1845 in Wisconsin. With him are his wife Hattie L. Morgan born about 1843 in NY and two sons, Samuel Morgan born about 1870 in Iowa and George Morgan born about 1873 in Wisconsin.
According to 1870 Federal Census, G. W. Morgan, Photographer, was working and living in the City of Lansing, Allamakee County, Iowa. His wife was H. L. Morgan and son S. M. Morgan had just been born in September 1870.
On the 1860 Federal Iowa Census in Lansing, Allamakee County was: Samuel Morgan, a Drayman, who was born about 1822 in England and his wife Elizabeth Morgan born about 1829 in Illinois. The first child in the household is Geo. W. Morgan, born about 1845 in WI. And again on the 1850 Iowa Census, George W. Morgan born about 1845 in WI was with his parents, Samuel Morgan, a Wagon maker, born about 1822 in England and his wife Elizabeth Morgan born in Illinois in about 1829.
Listed on the 1860 Iowa Census are other children of Samuel Morgan and Elizabeth Morgan: Theodore Morgan b ca 1849 WI, Mary Morgan b ca 1851 WI, Francis Morgan b ca 1853 IA and Eugene Morgan b ca 1856 WI.
By 1900, this same George W. Morgan, aged 54, born November 1845 in Wisconsin was working as a Photographer in Harriman, Roane County, Tennessee. Living with him is his wife Hallie L. Morgan, born October 1842 in Ohio.
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3 comments:
I found some photographs that were taken by this photographer, they belonged to a Smith Family. I have thought about trying to find the family that they belonged to. My name is Brenda Moffett, my email is blmoffett@att.net if anyone might have the info I need to return these items to their rightful owner.
I have found a picture with photo studio on the back. It is in a hand made metal frame of a child and would love to find out more about it. I am planning on driving to Viroqua, Wi and seeing if the still have the negative and finding out more!
My e-mail has changed to b_sienko@yahoo.com
I have a cabinet card of my great uncle from Kentucky, taken by George Morgan in 1888. My great uncle lived in Kentucky.
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