Tag Archives: Boonville Missouri

George C. Wood

Daguerreotypes, Lecturer, , ,

1850                Address Unknown, Boonville, Missouri.

George C. Wood appeared in one article on October 30, 1850 in the Democratic Banner  (Bowling Green, Missouri).  Itinerant Scamp.—For some weeks past one George C. Wood has been lecturing the people of Boonville on the subject of Phrenology and taking Daguerreotype portraits.  Indeed his “name has been in the papers” of that city and he seems to have been quite a lion.  It suddenly turns out however that he is a great scamp—that he had left his own wife and run off with the wife of a Mr. Larned of Tecumseh, Michigan.  Mr. Wood hearing this information had reached Boonville, suddenly decamped—leaving the editors and citizens who had toasted him, in a nice p-h-i-x!  So much for a hasty endorsement of a stranger.—[Mo. Statesman.

George C. Wood is not recorded in other photographic directories as being active in Boonville, Missouri.  Craig’s Daguerreian Registry does record a George C. Wood who was active in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1851-1852.

W. Benson

Daguerreotypes, , , , ,

W. Benson was recorded in an announcement and then an advertisement in the Glasgow Weekly Times (Glasgow, Missouri) on September 5, 1850.  The advertisement ran until September 12.  Daguerrean Portraits.—See advertisement of Mr. Benson, Daguerrean Artist.  He is one of the best operators that has been in our city for some time, and those in want of likeness should give him a call.

Worthy of Notice.  Daguerreotype Portraits!!  W. Benson, Daguerrean Artist, most respectfully informs the citizens of Glasgow, and vicinity, that he has taken rooms for one week over J. C. Davis old Store, for the purpose of taking Daguerreotype Portraits.  Having a Practical Knowledge of his Profession, and apparatus of Superior quality, he is enabled to produce Pictures that, for life-like expressions, and correct delineation of features, Cannot Be Excelled!  Ladies and Gentlemen are politely invited to examine specimens, and judge for themselves.  Taken without regard to weather!  Instruction given in the art, and apparatus furnished.  Sick and deceased persons taken.  Office hours, from 8 A. M., to 5 P. M.

On September 19 another announcement appeared in the Glasgow Weekly Times.  Portraits.—All in want of a fine picture should not fail to call on Mr. Benson, forthwith.  He leaves this week, and another opportunity may not be presented soon.

Again in an announcement in the Glasgow Weekly Times on May 15, 1851 Jenny Lind in Fayette—Great Excitement.—Crowds are thronging to the Court House to view this beautiful specimen of Art, and to have themselves Daguerreotyped by Benson the famous Daguerrean.

W. Benson was also discussed in yesterday’s post, by the way he is written about in the announcements it appears that he has been around for some time.  Further newspaper research may shed more light into his career.