1856                Address Unknown, El Dorado, Arkansas.

John Gum was recorded in one advertisement that was recorded on August 23, 1856 in The Democratic Union (El Dorado, Arkansas).  Ambrotypes!  Ambrotypes!  The undersigned begs leave to inform the citizens of this place, and vicinity that he has opened rooms in this place, for the purpose of taking those fine, soft, distinct, and truthful miniatures, called Ambrotypes; which are far better than daguerreotypes, for many reasons, viz:  They can be seen in any light, they are not reversed, they have none of the glare of the old Daguerreotype plate, and they never fade.  Parents may now bring their children with absolute certainty of getting a fine picture, as by this new process pictures are taken almost instantly.  No inferior pictures will go out of the rooms, if left to the judgement of the artist.  All persons wishing this new style of never fading pictures, are requested to call soon, as my stay in this place is limited to a very short time.  Rooms open from eight to five o’clock.  John Gum.  Eldorado, Aug. 8, 1856.

John Gum is not recorded in other photographic directories.  Craig’s Daguerreian Registry does record a J. W. Gunn who was active in New Orleans, Louisiana C. 1850’s exact date unknown.  In Pioneer Photographers from the Mississippi to the Continental Divide A Biographical Dictionary 1839-1865 by Palmquist & Kailbourn record him as being in New Orleans c. 1858, and in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1858.  It is unknown if they are the same person at this time.