Allamakee co. IAGenWeb - Misc. History

Ahlstrom, Vera Bertha, Lansing, ca1913-1921. "Lansing, Iowa, May 12 - Messrs. Ahlstrom and Eastman have purchased a photograph gallery here Friday, the purchase price not being made public. Mr. Eric Emerson has conducted it for the past few years, and his daughter Vera, who has been in charge of it for sometime will continue with the new management." ~Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, May 12, 1913 (note: Vera was not Mr. Emerson's daughter, she was the daughter of August Ahlstrom, who likely was the Mr. Ahlstrom referred to in the article. Vera's mother's maiden name was Eastman).

The photographer stamp used by Vera was very faint and unobtrusive in both photos I've seen that were taken by her. In the example (left) Ahlstrom is in cursive just under the white printed 'Lansing Ia.' The white letters are not part of the stamp. Just under Ahlstrom is printed Lansing IA, which is part of the stamp.

More about Vera Ahlstrom:
*1915 Iowa State census, Lansing, Allamakee co. IA - Vera identified herself as a photographer. She was aged 21 and single.
*1920 U.S. census, Lansing, Allamakee co. IA - Vera is living w/parents August & Anna. She gives occupation as a Photographer, owns gallery.
*Lansing, Iowa, March 17 - The photo gallery owned by Miss Vera Ahlstrom has recently been purchased by Claude P. Cade of Virouqua, Wis. Miss Ahlstrom has been in charge of the gallery for the last 10 years, and had worked up a fine trade here. Mr. Cade is experienced in this line of work, and strives to serve his patrons in the same satisfactory manner as his predecessor. ~Dubuque Times-Journal, Friday, March 18, 1921
*On March 21, 1921, in Waukon, Vera married Rudolph Rasmussen, a Waukon dentist. The marriage record gives her parents as Aug. Ahlstrom and Anna Eastman, and his parents as Rev. Wm. A. Rasmussen & Inger Peterson. The Rasmussen's lived in Waukon until August 1926, when he opened a dental office in Monona (Clayton co. IA), located over the Schultz Furniture store. In April 1937 he sold the dental practice. They moved to Minnesota where, on the 1940 U.S. census they are living in Minneapolis, she with 3 of their children and he boarding in a different household. Marital status of both is divorced.
*According to a family tree on Ancestry, she died Jan 3, 1993 in Brainerd, MN. (no source given for death, needs verification)

There are at least 2 photos on this website that were taken by Vera Ahlstrom. Both in the Allamakee Album section: one in the postcard collection of David Shedlock and another, a photo of a little girl, in the unidentified photos.

Allen, Chas. F., 1892. This advertisment was in the Postville Review: "Photographs. It might interest you to call and learn my prices. All work warranted to be satisfactory."

Bailey, M.A., Waukon, 1864-ca1865. In August 1864, paid an occupational tax of $7.50 covering a term of nine months in Waukon.
~contributed by Erin Wilker

Barnard, Alonzo A., ca1880-1890's, had a studio in Waukon in 1880's and 1890's in partnership as Huffman & Barnard. He was the son-in-law of his partner, P. C. Huffman, having married Huffman’s daughter, Della. His brother, Thomas Nathan Barnard, went to Idaho and produced stereographs there.

Barnard, Thomas Nathan, Waukon, 1861-1880, brother of Alonzo A. Barnard, another Waukon photographer. T.N. Barnard went West to Idaho & Montana.
~source: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers: A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Carl Mautz Publishing, 1997 ~contributed by Errin Wilker

Beedy, Fred Newel, Postville. Mr. Beedy advertised his studio in many issues of the Postville Review throughout 1885, 1887, 1892, 1896 & 1897. He was born Jan. 10 1853 in Hardin, s/o Norman John Beedy. Fred married Frances M. Allen, d/o Wilson R. & Emiline (Noble) Allen. Fred died June 27, 1901 and Frances died Nov. 15, 1936. Both are buried in the Postville cemetery. Obituary

Blake, L.R., Lansing. The Lansing Weekly Union 9/19/1865: L.R. Blake, Photographist. Every description and every style of Pictures taken on short notice and reasonable terms. Two doors below Spencer's Store, Main street, Lansing" A similar ad was in a Jan. 1866 paper, but not found thereafter.

Boeckh, Edwards Jr., Lansing 1895-1896. He may be s/o Edward & Paulina (Kerndt) Boeckh. Woodmansee records an Edward Boeckh in Oak Hill cemetery 1868 Sep 26, 1868-Nov 15, 1922.

He is mentioned in the book: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers: A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Carl Mautz Publishing, 1997 ~contributed by Errin Wilker

Bollman, Vives, Postville, 1913

Boston Art Co., New Albin, 1901

Bristol, Larsh Kellogg, (1952-2006), Waukon, ca 1990's-2006. Obituary of Larsh K. Bristol

Bulman's Photography Studio, Postville, 1939

Buser, Joseph S., Lansing, 1860's & early 1870's

Buser was active in several areas of Iowa from 1860 to 1900’s, mostly in Waterloo, Black Hawk co. and Cedar Rapids, Linn co. He is recorded as being in Lansing, Allamakee County in the 1860s & 1870's. In 1871 he advertised his "new and improved" gallery above Hesla's hardware store". He is well known for his sterographs of several Iowa cities. His brother H.R. Buser was also a photographer in Cedar Rapids.

Cade, Claude P., Lansing, 1921-ca1925/1930. "Lansing, Iowa, March 17 - The photo gallery owned by Miss Vera Ahlstrom has recently been purchased by Claude P. Cade of Virouqua, Wis. Miss Ahlstrom has been in charge of the gallery for the last 10 years, and had worked up a fine trade here. Mr. Cade is experienced in this line of work, and strives to serve his patrons in the same satisfactory manner as his predecessor." ~Dubuque Times-Journal, Friday, March 18, 1921. Mr. Cade (whose middle initial may be D rather than P) and his wife Anna are enumerated on the 1925 Iowa State census, living in Lansing. By the time of the 1930 census the family is back in Viroqua, where he's a salesman.

Cass, William, Lansing,1864-1865. Paid a three months' occupational tax of $2.50 in Lansing in February 1864, along with an additional $10 in May of that same year. ~source: Peter E. Palmquist & Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide: A Biographical Dictionary, 1839-1865, Stanford University Press, 2005 ~contributed by Errin Wilker

Chickering, Edwin

Waukon photographer for many years prior to his death in 1937. He married Lucinda Jones, daughter of Elam & Lucinda (Neff) Jones.

Obituary of Edwin Chickering
Obituary of Lucinda Jones Chickering

~contributed by Tammy O'Hare Kuhn

Clark, L.W., New Albin, unknown dates ~source: photograph from personal collection of Erin Wilker

Combs, Harry E., Postville, 1901-1903. The July 5, 1901 issue of the Iowa Volksblatt announced that H.E. Combs had bought the Beedy photograph gallery. Presumeably this was the business of F.N. Beedy, who died in 1901. Harry and his wife managed the photography gallery until November 1903, when they removed to Sioux City, Iowa where it was reported in the Nov. 20, 1903 Postville Review that he had "accepted a position in a gallery there."

Davis, C.L., Lansing,1889 ~source: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers: A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Carl Mautz Publishing, 1997 ~contributed by Errin Wilker

Davis, Miss, Postville, 1865. Postville Review advertisement.

Everson, ?. More information is needed for this photographer. His/her name appears on photos from the Lansing area. Time-period unknown.

Hall, John G., Lansing, 1865

Harden, W.Q., Volney & Makee Twp., 1856. Enumerated in the 1856 Iowa State Census for Volney, Allamakee County, as a twenty-five-year-old married male from New York and a daguerreian by profession. He had lived in Iowa for one year and was a native voter and eligible for the militia. Harden was double-enumerated in the 1856 Iowa State Census, for he also showed up in Makee Township, Allamakee County.
~contributed by Errin Wilker

Harris, Henry A., according to his biography, he was the first photographer in the county, ca1855. Biography of Henry A. Harris

Herrington, Homer E., Dorchester, 1865

Hill, Dr., Lansing 1860's. Mentioned in the biography of G.W. Morgan, "...commenced learing the art of photography in 1866, with Dr. Hall, of Lansing, Iowa. Dr. Hall subsequently died, and Mr. Morgan took charge of his business..."

Hirth, Edgar A., Waukon.

In the course of identifying some old Allamakee Co. photos, I had collected some information on the photographer, Edgar A. Hirth.
He was born to Adam and Louisa (Longabach) Hirth in Iowa in abt 1877. His parents were both natives of Iowa and were married in Waukon, Allamakee Co., Iowa. He married Jessamine “Jessie” Halvorsen in Cedar Falls, Black Hawk Co., Iowa. She was the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Knapp) Halvorsen, natives of Norway and Canada, respectively, and who were also married in Cedar Falls, Iowa. In the 1925 census, he is listed at 107 West St. in Waukon, Iowa. He’s listed as a photographer in Waukon from 1910 until at least the 1930 census, when his daughter, Beatrice, was listed as an “assistant photographer.” They were still in the photography business in Waukon in 1933 when it was reported in the Waukon Democrat that they had attended a national photographers’ meeting in Waterloo, Iowa. (source: Iowa Old Press) In 1935, Jessie died in Dubuque, Iowa. (obituary) And in 1948 and 1952, Edgar and his daughter, Beatrice, were listed in the city directories of Dubuque, Dubuque Co., Iowa.
~contributed by LuAnn Goeke

Hirth, E.S., Church vicinity, early 1900's.

There is an Edward S. Hirthborn in 1868 living in Lansing on the 1910 census, but occupation is farming. Unknown if he is related to Edgar A. Hirth (above). The E.S. Hirth photography stamp appears on a photo of the Church church & other photos taken in the Church area. The 1930 census shows Edward living with his son Raymond Hirth in Texas.

Houghton, Amasa A., had a studio in Lansing as early as 1879, and into the mid-1880's. For at least part of his time in Lansing, he was in partnership as Houghton & Powell.

Hughes, J.B., Postville & West Union. He was employed in the photography studio of F.N. Beedy and purchased his own studio in West Union in April 1899 - from the West Union Argo: "E.B. Branch has sold his photograph gallery to J.B. Hughes, and the latter is already in charge. Mr. Hughes is said to be a first class artist and The Argo warmly welcomes him to West Union". That same year, Postville Review, June 1899, reported his marriage: "As we predicted, our popular photographer, J.B. Hughes, has brought a lovely wife [Mabel Hawkins] from Postville and is now settled under his own vine and fig tree on West Hill one door beynd the Wonnenberg residence." Just a couple years later, in 1902, the Review reported "Mrs. J.B. Hughes left this week for Boone, Iowa, to join her husband, who has a position in a photograph gallery at that place." ~contributed by S. Ferrall

His full name was John Bernard Hughes, b. 17 October 1876 in Rock Island, Illinois. He died 9 September 1952 in Fullerton, Orange County, California. J.B. married Mable Edna Hawkins on 22 May 1899 in Postville, Iowa. She was the daughter of Harvey Greenleaf Hawkins and Luella "Ella" May Ellis, longtime residents of Postville. Quite a few of the Hawkins families left Postville about 1908. This included J.B. and Mable. As pointed out in the Postville Review, J.B Hughes had a photography shop in Boone, Iowa. Their son, Ronald Robert Hughes was born in Boone in 1903. After leaving Iowa J.B. and Mable continued their photography business in several California locations, including Santa Cruz and Fullerton. Mable did a lot of the oil paintings on the pictures. The Santa Cruz business was sold in 1952 when J.B. died and their son, Ronald operated the Fullerton business until 1974 when he passed away. ~contributed by Connie Ellis from information in her Hawkins genealogy files.

Huffman, Laton Alton 'Late', (1854-1931), known to have a photography studio in Postville as early as 1876. Son of Perrin Cuppy Huffman, another Allamakee co. photographer. Biography of L.A. Huffman.

Huffman, Perrin Cuppy, (1832–1894), had a studio in Waukon, Allamakee County, in the 1870s through the 1890s. Was in partnership with Alonzo Barnard. Biography of P.C. Huffman.

Israel, John, Makee Twp.,1856 ~source: Peter E. Palmquist & Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide: A Biographical Dictionary, 1839-1865, Stanford University Press, 2005 ~contributed by Errin Wilker

Kenyan, O. A., Waukon, 1862-1863. Applied for $10 tax licenses in Waukon in October 1862 and December 1863.
~source: Peter E. Palmquist & Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide: A Biographical Dictionary, 1839-1865, Stanford University Press, 2005 ~contributed by Errin Wilker

Lacy, Eugene Osman, Waukon, 1858 ~source: Peter E. Palmquist & Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide: A Biographical Dictionary, 1839-1865, Stanford University Press, 2005 ~contributed by Errin Wilker

Lane, James S., Waukon, 1860-1861 ~source: Peter E. Palmquist & Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide: A Biographical Dictionary, 1839-1865, Stanford University Press, 2005 ~contributed by Errin Wilker

Letchford, Virginia Lee, (1925-1969), Letchford Photo Studio, Waukon, unknown dates ca1940's/1950's. Obit of V.L. Letchford

McCartny, J., Postville, 1873. Postville Review advertisement

McGarrity, John R. 'Dick', Lansing & Waukon, ca1891-before 1920.

The photographer's stamp is from a photo dated 1891 ... photo. The Lansing Mirror announced in 1895: "J. R. “Dick” McGarrity has purchased the Hoffman & Barnard photo gallery in Waukon." McGarrity is listed in a 1901 Waterloo City directory as a photographer. The Allamakee Journal & Lansing Mirror, June 1902: "Artist McGarrity secured several views of the dedicatory ceremonies at Gethsemane cemetery Decoration Day, which will doubtless soon be on sale at his photo gallery."

On the 1900 census his wife Emma J. nee Schrody and 2 eldest children, William and Geneveve E. are living with Emma's parents George & Jane Schrody in Makee twp. but Dick is not in the household.
He was also an inventor, having patented a machine for polishing shoes in 1903. At that time he gave his address as Lansing. McGarrity is on the 1905 Iowa State Census in Lansing, again with his wife & children.

In 1910, J.R., Emma and children: William, 12; Geneveve, 10; John R. JR, 8 and Jeanette, 2 are living in Lansing with Emma's parents. J.R.'s occupation is newspaper printer. The entire family left Iowa about 1913. The 1920 US census enumerates them in Clackamas, Oregon.

The University of Oregon Libraries Special Collections has a collection of McGarrity photographs that were taken in Lansing, Waukon & Oregon from the 1920's through the 1940's.
~information contributed by Ann Krumme & S. Ferrall

Mishler, Arthur, "... who ran the 10-cent photograph gallery in the storeroom south of the O'Brien hardware store for the past couple of weeks, left last Thursday for West Union, where he will engage in the same business." ~Allamakee Journal, Waukon news column, February 7, 1934 ~contributed by Errin Wilker

Morgan, George W., Lansing mid-1860's to early 1870's.

Born ca1845 in Wisconsin, s/o Samuel & Elizabeth Morgan. Married by 1870 to Hallie L. On the 1850 & 1860 census he is in the Lansing household of his parents Samuel & Elizabeth Morgan. 1870 census he is in Lansing, working as a photographer, married with one son, S.M. Morgan, b. Sept. 1870. In 1872 the family removed to Viroqua, Vernon co. Wisconsin where they are found on the 1880 US census. Biography

Morgan & Hoover, in Lansing in 1865. Morgan may be G.W. Morgan above.

Nichols, Frank E., age 40, b. Apr 1860, listed occupation as 'Photographer' on the 1900 U.S. census, Waukon town, Makee twp., Allamakee co., Iowa; June 19, 1900

Paddock, N.S., Waukon, 1860. ~source: Peter E. Palmquist & Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide: A Biographical Dictionary, 1839-1865, Stanford University Press, 2005 ~contributed by Errin Wilker

Palmer, had a studio in Lansing during the 1870's.

Parker, Verrillas, had a gallery located over Purdy's Store in Lansing during the late 1870's. Ads published in the North Iowa Journal, throughout 1877 advertised the business as "..the BEST GALLERY in Allamakee County ... the ONLY place where you can get finely RETOUCHED PHOTOGRAPHS" V. Parker, Artist. The New Hampton Tribune 11/19/1879: "V. Parker, step-son of Hon Judge Burdick, of Lansing, has been engaged by Mr. Shear in this city. We hope he will make New Hampton his home." The 1880 US census enumerated Verrillas Parker, age 26, b. WI, photographer, in New Hampton, Chickasaw co., IA and his wife Ella, age 22.

Payne, Wilbur J., (1891-1952), opened his photography studio in Waukon in 1903. Moved to Clayton county ca 1920. Biography of Wilbur J. Payne

Powell, 1881, Lansing, in partnership as Houghton & Powell.

Robertson, G. E., Lansing / New Albin, ca1900-1910. First name may be George.

Spurr, E.W., Postville, 1889. He ran the following advertisement in the Postville Review, November 1889: "All babies under one year old will be photographed free of charge during the first week in November. Secure a fine cabinet of your baby. E.W. SPURR."

Shepard, Idalene, Waukon, unknown dates

Shuttlesworth, Mrs. C.L.; Photographist New Albin, Iowa, 1876 ~1876 New Albin Newspaper Ad ~contributed by Errin Wilker

St. Clair, J.L., Lansing, 1862

Steele Bros. Photo Gallery, Waukon, 1889.
Steele, Robert I., Waukon, ca 1880's/1890's. Obituary of R.I. Steele

Taylor, B.F. - Postville, 1879, 1881, 1882
~source: Postville Review

Taylor, Frank, Postville, 1878, 1880, 1882
~source: Postville Review

Taylor, Will, Postville in 1888, he moved to Wichita, Kansas that same year
~source: Postville Review

Thomas, J.W., Lansing, 1870 ~source: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers: A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Carl Mautz Publishing, 1997 ~contributed by Errin Wilker

Thompson, Harry, Waukon, 1895-1896. ~source: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers: A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Carl Mautz Publishing, 1997 ~contributed by Errin Wilker. The Postville Review, Sept. 26, 1891: "Harry Thompson, of Waukon, is learning photography with F.N. Beedy."

Towns, H.E., Postville, 1887, 1888. From the Postville Review: "H.E. Towns will commence to build a photographic studio this week and will be ready for business about Dec. 20th, 1887." A year later, he placed an ad in the same paper that he was going to relocate after Sept. 1st, 1888

Waller, Ernest, Waukon, 1946-?. Waller managed (and presumeably did photography for) the "New Hirth Studio" in Waukon for the owners who resided in Waterloo. From the Waterloo Daily Courier, Feb 14, 1946: "Three Waterloo persons Thursday had filed articles of incorporation for the New Hirth Studio, Inc. at Waukon, Ia., capitalized at $20,000, which was purchased a week ago and will be formally opened Feb. 18. Mrs. Denver McKenna is president, Robert Cougalin, vice president and Denver McKenna, secretary-treasurer. The studio, to be managed by Ernest Waller, of Waukon, was formerly operated as the Hirth studio."