S. Bigelow's Photographic Rooms Over N. L. Polk's Drug Store in Collinsville, CT

The search was for the early photographer named S. Bigelow who was active in Collinsville, Hartford County, Connecticut, sometime between 1861 and 1869. It resulted in information about N. L. Polk who owned the drug store downstairs from the Bigelow's photography studio.

This is an authentic antique cdv or carte de visite of an unidentified young lady, photographed between 1861 to 1869 in S. Bigelow's Photographic Rooms, Over N. L. Polk's Drug Store, in Collinsville, Connecticut. The lady scholar is in a dark dress with a wide lace collar and a velvet neck band. She is holding a book, has a brooch at her throat and a long gold chain. Judging by her hair style, her wide lace collar and the pose of her hands, this may be a cdv image made of an earlier daguerreotype from the 1850's. The oval image measures about 1 1/2" x 2" and is mounted on a white or off-white thin card board mount which measures about 2 1/4" x 4" with square corners and a double gold pinstripe around the edges. On the reverse is: "S. Bigelow's Photographic Rooms, Over N. L. Polk's Drug Store, Collinsville, Ct".

The bases for dating of the photo between 1861 and 1869 is the style of the cardboard mount with its gold border and the U.S. Federal Census.

The photographer named S. Bigelow remains elusive in censuses and databases. On the 1860 Federal Census in Connecticut, Hartford County and town of Canton, Collinsville P.O. is: Nathan L. Polk’s Apothecary Store where he and his family were living. Nathan L. Polk was born about 1813 in Connecticut. His wife is Mary A. Polk born about 1812 and children James Polk and Jane Polk, twins born in 1849, all in Connecticut.

At this writing, S. Bigelow has yet to be found in 1860 and note the establishment is called an Apothcary Store, an earlier name for a Drug Store. S. Bigelow would have set up shop above the Drug Store after the 1860 census and before the 1870 census, thus the 1861-1869 date for the cdv. By the 1870 Connecticut Census for Collinsville, neither Bigelow nor the Polks are there.

On the 1870 Federal Census for New Jersey is: Nathan L. Polk, Druggist, born about 1814 in Connecticut. He and his wife Mary A. and two children James and Jane are living in Point Pleasant, Brick Township in Ocean County, New Jersey. James Polk is working in his father’s Drug Store.

The search which began for a photographer named S. Bigelow, led to genealogical data about the family of Nathan L. Polk of CT in 1860 and NJ in 1870. (Image Ser. 1011A)

George W. Morgan, Photographer in Iowa, Wisconsin and Tennessee

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.

William H. Sherman, Photographer, born 1822 in Vermont

In my Auctiva and eBay Stores is an authentic antique full length CDV carte de visite of a lady in a figured silk gown with Pagoda sleeves with rows of detailed embroidered trim worn over white undersleeves. There are medium sized bows down the front of the bodice and she has a ribbon tie around the collar. This CDV is dated on the back in pencil: Dec. 29, 1864. Next to the image of the lady is also written: "Mrs. M. Kelmer." The image is on a cream colored thin cardboard mount which measures about 2 ¼" x 3 ½". The artist's mark is on back: "W. H. Sherman, Photographic Artist, 16 Wisconsin Street, Milwaukee." The corners have been clipped by the first owner to fit in an album or frame.

Using Federal Census and vital statistics, one can readily follow a photographer named William H. Sherman working in Milwaukee. On the 1860 Federal Wisconsin Census, Milwaukee, in Milwaukee County is: William H. Sherman, Photographist, born about 1823 in Vermont. He had a $12,000 net worth. His wife is Cornelia Sherman, born about 1825 in New York and two children: Harriet born about 1854 in Pennsylvania and William W. born about 1857 in Wisconsin.

On the 1870 Federal Census for Wisconsin in Milwaukee City and County is: William Sherman, Photographer, born about 1822 in Vermont; he had real and personal estate that totaled $18,000. Cornelia Sherman, born about 1825 in New York, Harriet Sherman born about 1854 in Pennsylvania, William Sherman born about 1857 in Wisconsin, Mary Sherman born about 1861 in Wisconsin and Julia Sherman born about 1866 in Wisconsin. Living with the family was Della Fleet aged about 26, whose occupation was a Printer, born in Ohio, and a domestic servant named Bridget Lacy aged about 17 born in Massachusetts.

In 1880, the family’s address is 455 Jackson Street in Milwaukee. W. H. Sherman, Photographer, born about 1822 in Vermont (his parents’ birthplaces were left blank). Cornelia Sherman born about 1825 in New York. Her father was born in Vermont, (her mother’s birthplace was left blank). William Sherman, now aged 23, still single and born in Wisconsin, is working as a Photographer with his father. Mamie [Mary] Sherman aged 19 and Julia Sherman aged 14. Both born in Wisconsin.

Listed in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin City Directories, in 1889 and 1890, Wm. H. Sherman, photographer, his residence still was 455 Jackson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In Wisconsin Deaths, 1820 – 1907, there is a Wm. H. Sherman who died 7 September 1898 in Milwaukee County. He no longer appears on the 1900 Milwaukee census; his son William W. Sherman does. On the 1900 Federal Wisconsin Census is William W. Sherman, Artist, born May 1857 in Wisconsin and his wife Martha J. Sherman, born April 1857 in New York. They had been married for 19 years and Martha J. Sherman had been the mother of two children, one of whom survived. Living with them are: Anna E. Ingalls, William W. Sherman’s sister-in-law who was born June 1864 in New York, and his mother-in-law Marcelia Ingalls who was born August 1826 in New York.

Special Note: According to Craig’s Registry of Daguerreians, William H. Sherman (1821-1898) was born in Lunenburg, Virginia. He began his career as a daguerreian in Clinton, New York. He was instructed by Avery in the Mayall process and worked on his own at first near Rome and Clinton, New York. In 1848, he married Cornelia Rawson, daughter of Professor Peloriah Rawson. He left Clinton, traveled by way of Oswego, Lake Ontario and Lewiston to Niagara Falls. From Buffalo he traveled to Sandusky, Ohio by steamboat and to his parents' home near Milan, Ohio and visited Norwalk and Monroeville with the idea of moving there. But about August 1848, he returned to New York State, and located in Springville, Erie County. In the summer of 1849, he traveled to Ellicottville for six to eight weeks and then to Forestville, Chautauqua County, New York. In 1850, Sherman was listed as a daguerreian in Erie, Pa., in partnership as Sherman and Lewis. He was listed in the city in 1851 and 1853-1854, and his address was listed North Park Street between the Reed House and Brown's Hotel, with his residence on Fourth Street. In 1854-1855 he was listed on Park Row and in 1854, he may have been affected by the railroad riots. In 1860, William H. Sherman relocated his studio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This William H. Sherman, daguerreian and photographer, may be the same except for some discrepancies such as his birthplace in Vermont.