1855-1859 131 Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois.
1859-1865 122 and 124 Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.
1859-1860 Address Unknown, Savannah, Georgia.
1865 114 and 116 Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.
1856 February 1. The Daily Democratic Press. (Chicago, Illinois.) February 1, 1856, Vol. IV, No. 105, P. 2 & 3.
Review of the Manufacturers of Chicago for 1855. In presenting our readers with the fourth Annual Review of the Manufactures of Chicago, we are happy to say , that this important arm of our prosperity continues to keep pace with the general growth of the city and country…
Daguerreotypes, Photographs, Ambrotypes, &c. The Daguerrean business is not strickly speaking a manufacturing branch of industry, yet as there is in this city a large amount of capital invested in establishments of this kind, we have thought it but proper to include them. During the past two years Daguerrean rooms have increased very rapidly; and we are happy to record the fact, that Chicago has some of the best operators in the United States.
A. Hesler, Daguerrean and Photographer, Metropolitan Block, Lasalle street.
This is the largest Daguerrean establishment in the United States. It consists of 12 large rooms, most appropriately fitted up. The show rooms are luxuriously furnished.
Mr. Hesler’s Daguerreotype likenesses have taken the premium at the World’s Fair, New York, and at several of the State Fairs throughout the United States. He was formerly situated at Galena, in this State, and moved to this city in December, 1854.
The following is a statement of his business during 1855.
Capital Investment…………$22,000
Va. Of Pictures, &c.………..$38,000
Material used……….………$18,000
Wages used………………….$6,500
No. of operators employed….10.
Root, Cook & Fassett, Daguerreotypist and Ambrotypist, 131 Lake street.
This establishment was only commenced las September, since which time they have acquired a good reputation as Daguerreans. Some of their pictures have taken premiums at State Fairs and Industrial exhibitions.
The Following is a statement of their operation from Sept. 1st to Dec. 31st, 1855.
Capital Invested……….$3,000
600 pictures……………$2,000
Raw material used……..$400
H. W. Williams, Daguerrean Artist, 58 West Randolph street.
The amount of business turned out in this establishment during the past year, is as follows:
Capital Invested……$500.
Value of pictures……$1,500.
No. of operators…….2.
Taylor & Lenox, Ambrotypist and Daguerreans, 75 Lake street.
This firm commenced business in September last. They are the proprietors of the patent right of Cutting’s process of Ambrotyping, for this State and Wisconsin. The figures during the few months they have been in business, we did not receive.
C. H. Lillibridge, Photographer, 77 Lake st….No report.
C. C. Kelsey, Daguerrean, 96 Lake st………..Blanks not returned.
G. E. Gordan, Daguerrean, 44 Dearborn st…..No returns.
E. G. Stiles, Daguerrean, 139 Lake st…………Blanks not returned.
P. Von Schneidau, Daguerrean, 142 Lake st….Blanks not returned.
1856 March 22. The Daily Democratic Press. (Chicago, Illinois.) March 22, 1856, Vol. IV, No. 148, P. 3.
Art Matters…Pictures and paintings are more talked of among us than ever before…
Hesler’s gallery contains some new gems in daguerreotypes and photographs. The crayon photographs on white paper are still “the rage” here. Mr. Marck, the artist in oil colors at Hesler’s has completed two photograph portraits of the late Edwin Shermanwhich will be exhibited next week and attract the attention of the numerous friends of the deceased. They were photographed from daguerreotypes.
At Fassett’s, some of the most perfect groups have been taken during the last week. In a short time Mt. Root of Philadelphia, Mr. Fassett’s partner, will be here to take photographs. Some of his specimens are already shown in the gallery. In some of them the effect is wonderfully heightened by deepening the darker portions by skilfully touching them with India ink. Some of these are valued as high as fifty dollars each.
1856 April 5. The Daily Democratic Press. (Chicago, Illinois.) April 5, 1856, Vol. IV, No. 160, P. 3.
Art Matters…From Hesler’s the artists are never gone. He is always there, a whole host in himself, and others are ever and anon coming to work with him. The pictures colored by Winters the last week have been better than his “specimens,” and are greatly admired. Marck has just finished a life size photograph on oil colors, of a child of a citizen of Kenosha, which is the best thing at Hesler’s this week. He is improving his pictures by lending a warmer tone of color. Hesler has commenced something which promises to be very fine; a photograph panoramic view of Chicago; it will be taken from the top of the new grain elevator at the Illinois Central depot, which is on the lake shore and 105 feet high. The view is complete from this stand point and if the work when finished equals our expectations, we shall have ,more to say of it hereafter.
Fassett’s Gallery has been rather surrendered to the carpenters, the painters and the upholsterers the past week, and will be found vastly improved in consequence, while several new and beautiful daguerreotypes show what is constantly being done by the artists there.
1856 June 19. The Daily Democratic Press. (Chicago, Illinois.) June 19, 1856, Vol. IV, No. 224, P. 3.
Improvements In Ambrotyping.—Ambrotyping is a branch of the fine arts, which has attracted the attention of daguerreans and others all over the United States. It consists in taking the picture on glass by a chemical preparation, instead of on a plate, as in Daguerreotypes, and as a general thing the expressions have been much clearer than in the latter. One difficulty however has always presented itself to operators—the pictures have been cold and dead-like, while it has been almost impossible to color them successfully. From two pictures which we had the pleasure of examining yesterday, however, in the store windows of D. B. Cooke & Co. and S. C. Griggs & Co., taken by S. M. Fassett, 133 Lake street. we are inclined to believe that perfection has been nearly approached in this branch. In those portraits the folds of the dresses are most naturally portrayed—each overlying the other, while the colors are faithfully and skillfully represented. There is besides in them a warmness of expression—every lineament and feature as if glowing with life—which is very beautiful. Altogether they are well worthy the inspection of the public.
1856 October 7. The Daily Democratic Press. (Chicago, Illinois.) October 7, 1856, Vol. V, No. 17, P. 3.
The Fair Of The American Institute.—We paid a short visit yesterday to the buildings for the Fair of the American Institute at the corner supposed to be spacious enough when planned, of Clark and Adams street. The buildings were but they are now enlarging them, although the space already enclosed is nearly twice as large as South Market Hall.
The great mass of artistes yesterday were in too much confusion to admit of a fair examination, but it is evident that the display will be very attractive and varied. Just as the daylight was dying away, we caught a glimpse of Fassett & Root’s collection of pictures as they were being hung. They are to occupy the centre of the space devoted to pictures, directly under a stained glass window; they will be the chief attraction at that end of the hall, for they are the finest specimens of plain and colored photographs we have ever seen, for distinctness, force, naturalness and beauty of finish. They show that Messrs Fassett & Root have secured the services of the best artists in the country. The photographs of John C. Fremont and other citizens finished in India ink, have a strength of expression that cannot be excelled, while the photographs and ambrotypes of ladies, colored to the life with all their accessories of dress and surroundings, are miracles of beauty.
1856 November 20. The Daily Democratic Press. (Chicago, Illinois.) November 20, 1856, Vol. V, No. 54, P. 3.
A Master-Stroke—Yesterday we had the pleasure of inspecting one of the finest specimens of photography we have ever seen. It was a picture (large size) of our well known friend “Tom Church.” There was “Tom,” just as natural and life-like as we have seem him for the past dozen years—every feature and twitch of his countenance as familiar to us as if he was standing by our side with the “roll book” under his arm.
The artist who deserves the credit of the picture is Mr. Fassett, of the firm of Fassett & Cook, 131 Lake street. The photograph is colored with India ink, and is finished in a style and on a principle entirely his own. Our readers will probably recollect that Mr. Fassett took the first premium at the Mechanics Fair, which was held recently in this city. Chicago has much reason, indeed, to be proud of her artists.
Those desirous of a living and a lasting likeness could not do better than visit Mr. Fassett’s gallery. His pictures are all good; but his photographs have a beauty of finish that cannot fail to be specially attractive to the public.
1857 April 2. The Daily Democratic Press. (Chicago, Illinois.) April 2, 1857, Vol. V, No. 165, P. 3.
Beautiful Photographs.—Yesterday we had the pleasure of examining in the rooms of Mr. Fassett, on lake street, several beautiful Photographs (cabinet size) of some well known faces, among whom may be mentioned Harry Johnson and Mr. Bates, of this city, and W. W. Chandler, now of Cleveland. As specimens of the art, they are perhaps the most perfect we have ever seen, being at the same time most faithful likenesses and handsome pictures. Mr. Fassett’s process of finishing photographs is entirely new, and, we may add, highly successful, as any one may judge, by the beautiful pictures which he sends forth to the world.
There is one significant feature in the above photographs which places them above those generally produced by artists. It is this: they have a smoothness of appearance, which is seldom exhibited in photographs, and which has sometimes rendered them so objectionable.
1858 November 6. Ashtabula Weekly Telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio.) November 6, 1858, Vol. IX, No. XXXXVII, Whole No. 463, P. 1 & 2.
A train on the Chicago & Milwaukee R….Not least the matters of interest, was the Photographic Gallery, of Mr. Fassett. His collection is numerous, and the specimens which compose it, in the highest attainment of the art. Brady’s Galleries in New York and Washington, are the only ones we have visited which compare in tone and finish with his pictures. They are taken of the ordinary sizes, and “thrown up” to any desired size even to full life, and colored to nature, giving them all the freshness, vigor of tone, and fidelity of the living subject. The coloring is executed by Mrs. F. We bid adieu to Chicago with a feeling of deference and respect, such as takes possession of us in the contemplation of triumphant development and greatness.
1859 April 4. The Press and Tribune. (Chicago, Illinois.) April 4, 1859, Vol. XII, No. 234, P. 1.
Art Matters.—Messrs. Fassett & Cook, Daguerrean and Photographists, will open on the first of May, their new rooms in Larmon’s Block, Nos. 122 and 124 Clark street, West Side, where all the lovers of art will delight to linger. Mr. Fassett will leave for New York this week, to procure the most elegant furniture and adornments that can be found to fit up his rooms in the most superb style. They have been arranged to order for Mr. Fassett, and nothing will be wanting to make them one of the most attractive resorts in the city. The reputation of Messrs. Fassett & Cook, as artists of the highest character, is too well established to need commendation at our hands. Specimens of their superior taste and artistic skill adorn the homes of hundreds of our citizens.
Their present rooms on Lake street, will be continued as usual. Due notice will be given when their new hall will be opened on Clark street. Their friends will wait impatiently the announcement of their first announcement.
1859 June 11. The Press and Tribune. (Chicago, Illinois.) June 11, 1859, Vol. XII, No. 291, P. 1.
The “Orchestrian.”—We made an incidental allusion yesterday to this wonderful musical instrument which will be on exhibition to-day and this evening at the rooms of Messrs. Fassett & Cook, 122 and 124 Clark street. It is an automatic orchestra, or orchestral organ, built by Schaepperle at Neustadt, Germany, at a cost of &6,000. There are only four of these instruments in the United States of which this is the largest and most perfect. It is capable of rendering between one and two hundred of the finest pieces of classical music, in full orchestra melody.
By the way, we may in this connection remind our readers that they may hear this instrument at the formal opening of the rooms of Messrs. F. & C., any time up to 10 o’clock this evening.
1859 June 13. The Press and Tribune. (Chicago, Illinois.) June 13, 1859, Vol. XII, No. 292, P. 1.
Grand Opening.—On Saturday morning, in company with other members of the press and gentlemen of this city, we attended the opening of Messre, Fassett & Cook’s new Daguerrean Gallery, and although this is a mere business enterprise on the part of energetic men, we cannot let the occasion pass without referring to it as a matter of public interest. For here are palatial apartments devoted to the Photographic art, which like the Ambrotype and Daguerreotype, should be dear to every American, seeing that it is essentially our peculiar field of art, and when reception halls and operating rooms can be fitted up like these of Messrs. F. & C., it shows the progress of that pursuit; particularly when we compare it with our first daguerreotype taken in a smoky garret of foul odor, or in a villainous car similar to that which Mrs. Jarley devoted to her wax-work exhibition, and Van Amburg to his beasts of prey, we at once see without reference even to the works of the artist themselves, what material progress has been made.
But the pictures are gems of art work, and altho’ for a long time we could not associate the efforts of Mr. Daguerre, or Talbot with the title of artist, we certainly must say, now, that to take a picture such as we saw adorning—not singly, but in numbers,—the walls of the new rooms, 122 and 124 South Clark street, it demands a high appreciation of the beautiful in art, that delicate execution, which are the real results of a mind education in the artistic steed.
It was the pictures executed by Mr. Fassett and repainted and retouched by his lady, that so recently astonished the editors of the N. Y. Tribune, and which they pronounced without Metropolitan prejudice, equal, if not superior to anything ever turned out by Gurney, Brady, or Fredericks. Mrs. F. is the artist of the concern, who does the coloring and touching, and her flesh tint coloring and drapery painting would have won the admiration of a Reynolds or an Eddy. She is indeed an artist, in the fullest sense of the term.
At the reception yesterday, we saw many of the elite of our city. The rooms, the music, (by that wonderful instrument—the orchestrian) and the artistic adornments, delighted every one. In the operating room we noticed that splendid window, which has been built with the building expressly for its purpose, it gives a Northern light of great power, but the intensity which sitters feel in other rooms, is neutralized by the admirable tinting of the walls and the light blue of the painting. It is far from painful to sit in this light, and have one’s features “typified.” The proprietors intend to give daily Free Matiness, and we assure our friends, both male and female, that an hour may be well spent in this way, listening to the orchestrian, and examining the specimens which adorn the walls of this splendid gallery of art.
1859 June 25. The Press and Tribune. (Chicago, Illinois.) June 25, 1859, Vol. XII, No. 303, P. 1.
On Thursday evening last the reception of Messrs. Fassett & Cook took place at the daguerrean palace, 126 Clark street. The rooms were crowded with our best citizens, who expressed themselves pleased with what they saw and heard from the Orchestrian. They are to have another of these delightful reunions this afternoon from 1 to 6 o’clock.
1859 July 1. The Press and Tribune. (Chicago, Illinois.) July 1, 1859, Vol. XII, No. 309, P. 1.
We are requested to announce that Messrs. Fassett & Cook will have their new Gallery, at 126 Clark street, opened during the Fourth for the reception of visitors, when the Orchestrian will be played for their entertainment.
1859 July 16. The Press and Tribune. (Chicago, Illinois.) July 16, 1859, Vol. XIII, No. 13, P. 1.
Reception At Fassett & Cook’s.—The public are invited to call and spend an hour in this establishment of art, which has proved such a triumph of success, notwithstanding the hard times.
1859 September 12. The Press and Tribune. (Chicago, Illinois.) September 12, 1859, Vol. XIII, No. 62, P. 1.
Fassett & Cook, 122 and 124 South Clark street, Photographic Rooms.
Advertisement ran from September 12 to 14, 1859.
1859 September 21. The Press and Tribune. (Chicago, Illinois.) September 21, 1859, Vol. XIII, No. 70, P. 1.
Photographs.—Persons wishing to see those beautiful Photographs exhibited by Fassett & Cook at the late U. S. Fair, are respectfully invited to call at their Rooms on Thursday evening, September 22d.
List of Premiums Awarded at the U. S. Agricultural Fair…
Class 118—Daguerreotypes And Photographs,
Best photographs in water color, Fassett & Cook, Chicago, silver medal.
Plain photographs, O. T. Wallace[1], Chicago, silver medal.
Certificates were awarded to A. Hesler for stereoscopic and microscopic photographs; Fassett & Cook colored ambrotypes.
Photographs in India Ink, Mrs. Fassett, Chicago, silver medal.
Photograph in Waster colors, Fassett & Cook, Chicago, silver medal.
Photographs plain, O. J. Wallace1, Chicago, silver medal.
Photograph Miniatures, Fassett & Cook, Chicago, diploma.
Photograph plain, A. Hesler, Chicago, diploma.
Photographs in oil, A. Hesler, Chicago, diploma.
Stereoscopic photographs, A. Hesler, Chicago, certificate.
Colored Ambrotypes, Fassett & Cook, Chicago, certificate.
Microscopic photographs, A. Hesler, Chicago, certificate.
1859 October 5. The Press and Tribune. (Chicago, Illinois.) October 5, 1859, Vol. XIII, No. 82, P. 1.
An Hour Among The Pictures.—One of the most delightful halls to visit in the city is Fassett & Cook’s Art Gallery on Clark street, in the marble block south of the Court House square. The exquisite taste with which Mr. Fassett’s pictures are finished command the warmest admiration of all who see them. Mr. Olcott, the correspondent of the New York Tribune, in his letter to the journal spoke of Mr. Fassett’s pictures in the following complimentary manner:
In the Fine Arts Hall, the windows in the roof are whitewashed to tomne down the light to suit the pictures and objects displayed. Messrs. Fassett & Cook of Chicago show some of the finest specimens of colored photography I ever saw. In particular, a family group of five figures should be noticed. The artist is a lady, the wife of Mr. Fassett, and a former pupil of Wandesford, the water colorist. The same parties exhibit a colored likeness of Col. Capron, the Superintendent of the show, and other fine specimens. None of the exhibitors show the beautiful coloring of Mrs. Fassett’s pictures, which are really pretty enough to grace the walls of our Academy of Design.
The family group here spoken of is a picture of D. B. Cooke, Esq., and his family, and well does it deserve the compliment it received from Mr. Olcott. It can be seen in the gallery of Mr. Fassett. There are many other elegant pictures there which will well repay half an hour’s study.
1859 November 3. The Press and Tribune. (Chicago, Illinois.) November 3, 1859, Vol. XIII, No. 107, P. 1.
To Be Closed For The Winter.—Our citizens will learn with regret that Fassett & Cook’s Art Gallery on Clark street, will be closed for the winter after the first of December. Mr. Fassett has made arrangements to spend the winter at Savannah, Georgia. We need scarcely speak of the splendid daguerreotypes, and the elegant photographs, for which this establishment has become so justly distinguished. For delicacy and beauty of coloring, for accuracy and life-like resemblance, the pictures of Mr. Fassett have, in our humble judgement, no superior. Many of our citizens will remember the exquisite picture of our fellow citizen, D. B. Cooke, Esq., which was on exhibition at the U. S. Fair. Doubtless many of our citizens then determined to have a family picture, but have since been deferring the matter from week to week. We hope that such and all others who wish to have photographs of themselves and friends will call immediately. Only four weeks remain before Mr. Fassett’s rooms will be closed, and let each one who wants a picture call the first pleasant day. We have no doubt that Mr. Fassett and his accomplished lady, to whose pencil he is indebted for much of his success, will have a most successful wither at Savannah. Their eminent ability as artist justly entitles them to it.
1862 December 4. Chicago Evening Journal. (Chicago, Illinois.) December 4, 1862, Vol. 21, No. 281, P. 1.
Chancery Notice.—State of Illinois, County of Cook, ss. Superior Court of Chicago, January Term, 1863.
Samuel M. Fassett vs George S. Cook. In Chancery.
Affidavit of the non-residence of George S. Cook, defendant above named, having been filed in the office of the clerk of said Superior Court of Chicago, notice is hereby given to the said George S. Cook that the complainant filed his bill of Complaint in said Court, on the Chancery, side thereof, on the 3d day of December, 1862, and that a summons thereupon issued out of said Court against said defendant, returnable on the first Monday of January next, 1863, as is by law required.
Now, unless you, the said George S. Cook, shall personally be and appear before said Superior Court of Chicago, of Cook County, on the first day of the next term thereof, to be holden at Chicago, in said county, on the first Monday of January, 1863, and plead, answer or demur to the said complainant’s bill of complaint, the same and the matters and things therein charged and stated will be taken as confessed, and a decree entered against you according to the prayer of said bill. Thomas B. Carter, Clerk. Burgess & Root, Complainant’s Sol’rs.
1910 August 4. Washington Post. (Washington, D.C.) August 4, 1910, No. 12,474, P. 10.
Samuel M. Fassett Dead. Former Government Photographer Succumbs at Daughter’s Home.
Samuel Montague Fassett, a relative of Representative J. Sloat Fassett, of New York, one-time photographer to the supervising architect of the Treasury Department, and a resident of Washington for about 35 years, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. W. Delano, 1763 Newton street, Tuesday morning. Mr. Fassett had been ill only several days, and his death was a shock to his relatives. Senile debility was the cause of death.
Funeral services will be held at the daughter’s residence this afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Interment will be in Creek Cemetery. Born In Chicago in 1825, at one time Mr. Fassett was one of the prominent photographers of that city. He resided there up to the time he came to Washington in 1875 to accept the position at the Treasury Department. His wife, Mrs. C. Adele Fassett, who died in 1898, was a well-known painter. Her picture in the Senate wing of the Capital, the “Electoral Committee of President Hayes,” was her most famous work, it contains more than 200 portraits.
Mr. Fassett left six children. They are Mrs. Myron A. Pearce, of San Antonio, Tex.; Mrs. Arthur Cristadoro, of New York city, Mrs. W. W. Delano and Mrs. Flora F. Hodge, of this city; Montague Fassett, of New York, and Raphael Fassett of Chicago.
[1] Possibly O. J. Wallis.
Pioneer American Photographers, 1839 - 1860 