1845                Rooms at Mr. Shively’s Hotel, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

J. W. Thompson was recorded in two announcements in the Jefferson Republican (Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania).  The first appeared on April 17, 1845.  Daguerreotype Portraits.  Mr. J. W. Thompson, of New York, is now in Stroudsburg, and will remain here for a few days, for the purpose of taking miniatures by the Daguerreotype process.  The same opportunity for families and individuals to supply themselves with their own and their friends likenesses, which is now held out to them, may not be repeated for a long time.  We can, from our own knowledge and observation, recommend Mr. T. as an able and skillful artist, and we hope a liberal encouragement will be extended to him by our citizens.  His rooms are at Mr. Shively’s Hotel.

The second appeared on April 24, 1845.  To the Public.  We have examined several Daguerreotype likenesses, taken during the last week by Mr. J. W. Thompson, and we do not hesitate in saying they are equal, if not superior, to any we ever saw.  In fact we can conceive nothing finer, either as regards the likeness or execution.. Mr. T. makes a pretty picture of a Daguerreotype, which no person who has been in Stroudsburg before has done.  Whoever wishes to transmit his physiognomy to posterity, just as it is, should not leave the present opportunity pass by.  There is no mistake in the daguerreotype.  It tells the truth.  If any one wishes to satisfy himself in this matter, let him call on Mr. T., who will be happy to attend to all request of this nature.  Mr. T. will remain at Mr. Shively’s a week longer.  Now is your time.

J. W. Thompson is not recorded in other photographic directories.  This is probably Josiah W. Thompson, but, at this point it is only speculation.  J. W. or Josiah W. Thompson does not appear in the New York City directories for 1845/1846 or 1844/1845.  Josiah W. Thompson is listed in the NYC directory as a daguerreian in 1846/1847.