Tag Archives: Daguerreotypist

Wentworth

1853                Concert Hall, Frankfort, New York.

Wentworth of the partnership Payne and Wentworth appeared in one announcement on June 15, 1853 in the Herkimer County Democrat (Frankfort, New York).  Daguerreotypes.—Messrs. Payne & Wentworth have opened Concert Hall, in this village, as a Daguerrean Gallery.  Their specimens are very fine and those in want of a good picture, at a very low price, would do well to give them a call.

Wentworth is not recorded in other photographic directories as being active in Frankford, New York.  It is possible that this is Henry Wentworth.

Henry Wentworth

1855                Diefendorf Block opposite Sneck’s Hotel, Fort Plain, New York.

Henry Wentworth was recorded in one advertisement and one announcement.  The advertisement ran from March 21 to October 11, 1855 in the Mohawk Valley Register (Fort Plain, New York).  First Premium Daguerreotypes.  H. Wentworth & Co., Beg leave to inform their former patrons and the public that they have taken rooms in the Diefendorf block opposite Sneck’s Hotel.  They have fitted their rooms with Splendid Side and Sky Lights flatter themselves that as Daguerrean Artists, their pictures cannot be excelled.  Prices, from 25 cts., 50 cts., 75 cts., and $1 to $10 and $25.  All of which will be put in cases.         

The Best German Instrument Used.  H. Wentworth & Co.               

The announcement appeared on August 10, 1855 in The Freeman’s Journal (Cooperstown, New York).  Destructive Fire At Fort Plain.—A large fire occurred at Fort Point on Friday last, resulting in the entire loss of Diefendorf’s and Wieting’s blocks, and a part of Webster block.  The losses so far as ascertained areas follows:.. Second floor H. Wentworth daguerrean rooms.  Total loss.  Said to be about $500….

Webster Block.—…Hewitt’s Daguerrian rooms.  Part of stock saved in a damaged condition.  Loss $100; no insurance.

Henry Wentworth is recorded in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry as being active in 1859 in Fort Plain and possibly Sharon, New York, a distance of under twenty miles.  It is also unknown but possibly that Henry Wentworth is the same person in the partnership of Payne and Wentworth who were active in 1853 in Frankfort, New York, a distance of thirty six miles.

Conrad Wenck

1852                Address Unknown, Northumberland, Pennsylvania.

Conrad Wenck was recorded in one announcement that appeared on  October 30, 1852 in the  Sunbury American (Sunbury, Pennsylvania).  Agricultural Fair.  The Annual Fair of the Northumberland County Agricultura Society, came off at the borough of Northumberland on Thursday and Friday October 7th and 8th…

On Miscellaneous Articles.  This Committee regret very much the inability of the Society, on account of the lowness of the fee of membership to award prizes in proportion to the merits of the articles exhibited…

For some excellent Daguerreotypes by Conrad Wenck, North’d  .50

Conrad Wenck is not recorded in other photographic directories.

J. D. Wells

1856                Rooms in D. T. Cox’s Building, Pike Street, Port Jervis, New York.

J. D. Wells was recorded in two advertisement and one announcement in the Tri-State Union (Port Jervis, New York).  The first advertisement ran from July 10 to August 14, 1856.  Daguerreotype and Ambrotype Gallery.  The subscriber has opened a room in D. T. Cox’s building, Pike St., with a good skylight and other facilities for taking Daguerreotype and Ambrotype Likenesses, of superior finish, accuracy and artistic effect, and would be happy to wait upon those wishing a beautiful colored life-like miniature.  Strangers and citizens visiting this gallery can have portraits and miniatures beautifully cased in silk velvet, morocco, or other fancy cases, or set in gold lockets or pins.  Daguerreotypes, paintings or drawings copied, out door views and miniatures of sick or deceased persons taken.

He has made arrangements with Mr. E. Jessup of Middletown, who has the exclusive right for this county, for taking the Double-glass Ambrotypes, to attend at the subscribers gallery in Port Jervis, on Thursday and Friday of each week, and take portraits and miniatures by this new and beautiful process.

Gallery open from 8 o’clock a. m. until sunset.  J. D. Wells.     Port Jervis, June 26, 1856.

The second advertisement ran on July 24, 1856.  Ambrotypes.  The Ambrotype miniatures when taken properly and secured in the best manner surpass all other portraits.

There is the single and double glass process.  In the single the picture is liable to become loosened and fall from the glass, while in the double, the two glasses being cemented together, thereby excluding all influence of the air, they remain permanently fixed upon the glass.  They possess greater relief, depth of tone, as well as greater strength and beauty, than the single glass Ambrotypes.

Mr. E. Jessup of Middletown, the agent of the patentee for the Western portion of Orange County has a few specimens of each, the inspection of which will convince any one of the superiority of the patent double glass pictures.  This fact all should understand, for in the one they have a permanent picture, while in the other they are liable to lose the picture.

Mr. J. D. Wells, of this village, has made arrangements with Mr. Jessup by which he is able to furnish the inhabitants of Port Jervis and vicinity with the true double glass pictures.

N. B.  Some will tell you that they put up the double glass Ambrotypes, while they are only a reversed picture, covered over with a second glass, but not in a manner to exclude the air.  When you buy an Ambrotype, assure yourselves that the two glasses lie in close contact and are firmly cemented together.  Examine well the two classes of pictures before buying.

The announcement appeared on August 7, 1856.  A day or two since we saw several really fine and life-like Ambrotypes taken by our cleaver village artist, J. D. Wells, Give him a call.

J. D. Wells is not recorded in other photographic directories as being active in Port Jervis, New York.  It is possible that this is Jeremiah D. Wells from Northampton, Massachusetts who also had galleries in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and Brattleboro, Vermont.

Henry M. Wells

1856                Address Unknown, Cambridge, New York.

Henry M. Wells appeared in one announcement in the Washington County People’s Journal  (Union Village, New York) on October 16, 1856.  Sixteenth Annual Cattle Show And Fair of the Washington County Agricultural Society.  List of Premiums Awarded at Union Village, Sept. 17th and 18th, 1856….

Non Enumerated Articles.  The committee respectfully reports that Henry M. Wells of Cambridge, presented to the committee for inspection a large variety of daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and crayon daguerreotypes, which excel in beauty and finish, and awarded him a meritorious premium of three dollars.

Henry M. Wells is possibly recorded in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry in 1859 as H. M. Wells of North White Creek, New York which is only 15 miles away from Cambridge. 

David A. Wells

1851                Address Unknown, Cambridge, [Unknown.][1]

David A. Wells appeared in one article in The New York Herald (New York, New York) on August 22, 1851.  American Association for the Advancement of Science, Albany meeting.  Wednesday’s Proceeding.  Wednesday, August 20, 1851.  The following is the order of the programme for the morning’s meeting, in Section No. 1.  Professor Bache presiding….

5. Daguerreotypes of the late Solar Eclipse, and of Spots on the Sun; by David A, Wells of Cambridge.

David A. Wells is not recorded in other photographic directories as being active in 1851 in Cambridge.  Since the State or Country are not recorded in the article one could speculate that the paper was published in N. Y. and Cambridge, N.Y. is only 53 miles away from Albany it has to be in New York.  But, there are 25 cities or towns named Cambridge in America, they are in Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont Virginia, Wisconsin. Also in Jamaica, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, and Australia.  More research is needed to identify the location and if Wells is a daguerrean or possibly an astronomer, like William Cranch Bond and John Adams Whipple.


[1] Craig’s Daguerreian Registry list a David Wells in 1857 in Rochester, New York, it is unknown if they are the same person.

Wellman

1845                Rooms over N. Beckwith’s Store, New London, Connecticut.

1845                Lawrence Building, Bank Street, New London, Connecticut.

Wellman of the firm Payne & Wellman (Elijah H. Payne & Wellman) were recorded in three advertisements in the Morning News (New London, Connecticut).    The first advertisement ran from April 11 to 18, 1845.  Daguerreotype Miniatures.  Payne & Wellman Would respectfully invite the Ladies and Gentlemen of this city to call at their Rooms, over N. Beckwith’s Store, on the Parade, and examine specimens of the Daguerrean Art, whether they contemplate sitting or not.  Their pictures are finished in such a manner that they are Indelible, and will be found to stand the test of a saline atmosphere.

Seaman will find this a favorable opportunity for procuring an imperishable and life-like Miniature of themselves, or friends.

Persons having Likenesses taken by the old process, can have them re-taken at a trifling expense.

The second advertisement ran from April 19 to 29, 1845.  Payne & Wellman Have Removed their Rooms to Lawrence’s Building, on Bank-street, where they are prepared to execute Daguerreotype Likenesses, in a manner superior to any heretofore taken in this city.

Ladies and Gents are respectfully invited to call and examine specimens.

The third advertisement ran from May 3 to 14, 1845.  Payne & Wellman, Daguerreotype Miniature Rooms, Lawrence’s Building, Bank-St.   Likenesses taken in all kinds of weather, warranted durable, and possessing all the beauties and perfection of nature.

Payne & Wellman are not recorded as being active in New London in 1845.  There is a possibly that Wellman is William A. Wellman who is reported in other sources as being active prior to 1850.     

R. H. Wellington

1851                Room at the City Hall, Columbus, Mississippi.

R. H. Wellington was recorded in one advertisement that ran from August 30 to November 1, 1851 in the Southern Standard (Columbus, Mississippi).  R. H. Wellington, Daguerreotypist, Wishes to inform the citizens of Columbus and the surrounding country, that he is prepared to execute Photographic likenesses in every variety of style, at the City Hall, where he would be happy to wait on those who may wish a perfect reflection of their features to life.

Surprising art, by which we lend

Our countenance to absent friend,

Or leave a token for the bower,

Where love laments the parting hour;

Where childhood, with its winsome face,     

And lovely woman’s queenly grace,

Or lordly man’s imperial frown,

Are, each, adroitly penciled down.

You that have beauty should to——take it,

You that have none, should come and let us make it.

The citizens are respectfully invited to call and examine specimens.           

R. H. Wellington is not recorded as being active in Columbus Mississippi.  Craig’s Daguerreian Registry does record Robert H. Wellington as being active in Memphis, Tennessee during this time.  It is unknown if they are the same person.  The distance between Memphis and Columbus is 184 miles.

James Welch

1856                On the Public Square, Savannah, Ohio.

James Welch appeared in one announcement in The Ashland Union (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) on September, 1856.  Great Democratic Rally—Boarder Ruffianism Triumphant……“Buck and Breck, Constitution and Union,” was the significant motto flung to the breeze, and they gave a pure Buchanier demonstration of their devotion to the Constitution and its guarantees of inalienable rights in a base and ruffianly attack upon the property of an individual for the exercise of his right of free thought.  The Daguerreotype Car of Mr. James Welch has occupied a place upon the public square a sufficient length of time to give it a “local habitation and a name.”  It was asked as a privilege by the Democracy, that they might be allowed to erect their platform upon the shady side of said car.  The privilege was courteously granted, but in doing so he surrendered no right to act with his own property as he saw fit.  He chose therefore to hang out a Republican flag through the sky-light of his car; the moment that this was done the ruffian spirit was predominant;…..

James Welch is not recorded in other photographic directories.

Weiser & Johnston

1849                Rooms on Market Street, over C. L. Jones’ New Store, Lewistown, Pennsylvania.

Weiser & Johnston were recorded in one announcement and one advertisement in the Lewistown Gazette (Lewistown, Pennsylvania).  The announcement appeared on June 30, 1849.  Messrs. Weiser & Johnston have opened a Daguerreotype establishment in the room over C. L. Jones’ new store, where they exhibit and take beautiful specimens of that art.  Thosde we have seen are certainly as perfect as any heretofore brought to our notice.  Give them a call.

The advertisement ran from June 30 to July 14, 1849. Miniatures For Only $1.50.  Weiser & Johnston, Daguerreotype Artist, Would respectfully inform the Ladies and Gentlemen of Lewistown and vicinity, that they have taken rooms for a short time immediately over the Store of Mr. C. L. Jones, In Market Street, and are prepared to execute Daguerreotype Likenesses in a style superior to any heretofore taken in Lewistown.

Then give us a call—our prices are low; Our work, it is perfect, as specimens show; The Sun is our pencil, with rev’rence we say, Your miniature made by the bright King of day.

Call soon.  Remember that delays are dangerous.

Instruction given in the art with all the late improvements, and apparatus furnished on reasonable terms.                             

Weiser & Johnson are not recorded in other photographic directories.  Looking through other photographic directories it is possible that Johnston is Charles M. Johnston who was active in Lancaster, Pa.  (speculation on my part, no collaborating documentation has been found to substantiate this claim.)