1847                Rooms at the Saloon of the Planters House, Peoria, Illinois.

1848-1849       15 Main Street, Peoria, Illinois.

1848                Canal Street, over A. G. Folger’s Store, Ottawa, Illinois.

1850                Corner Main & Washington Streets, Peoria, Illinois.

1851                Corner Main & Washington Streets, Peoria, Illinois.[1]

J. Hastings was recorded in eight advertisements and three announcements (five advertisements and two announcements in the Peoria Democratic Press, Peoria Illinois and three advertisements and one announcement in The Ottawa Free Trader, Ottawa, Illinois).  The first advertisement was recorded on October 27 & November 11, 1847 in the Peoria Democratic Press.  Colored Photographic Miniatures Taken By J. Hastings.   A Favorable opportunity is now offered to the Ladies and Gentlemen of Peoria and vicinity to obtain Miniature Portraits, executed in the most perfect style, surpassing in brilliancy, beauty of finish, and general life-like appearance.  The are warranted imperishable.  Now is the time for you to secure a good likeness of your friends and relatives.  Who among us that has not lost a friend, companion, or child, that would not now give thrice or ten times the price of such a memento of departed loved ones?  Then secure the shadow ere the substance fades, or you may regret the loss of the present opportunity when to late.  They are also valuable as presents [to] send to distant friends and connections.

As dress makes a great difference in Daguerreotype Miniatures, light dresses should always be avoided—dark dresses, or those having dark and decided figures, producing the most admired effect in the picture; a first-rate likeness and picture guaranteed.

Please call and examine specimens.

Miniature taken every day, without regard to weather.

Rooms at the Saloon of the Planters [House.]

The first announcement appeared on November 24, 1847 in the Peoria Democratic Press.  A Card.  I would beg leave to inform the ladies and gentlemen pf Peoria and vicinity That I shall remain in the city until the third of December, and continue to [take] Daguerreotype Miniatures at the following reduced prices:  Single pictures as heretofore, for $3.—Parties from Two to four, $2.50 each.  Parties of five and upwards, at $2 each.  My object in reducing my prices is to enable every one to get a picture as low as they can be afforded.  And to do this they [must] come in parties so that I can have all the pictures of each party to finish at the same time.  And [the] object will be readily perceived when I state that [it is] worth nearly as much to finish one single picture as it is to finish half a dozen when they are all finished at the same time.  J. Hastings.

The second announcement appeared on November 24, 1847 in the Peoria Democratic Press.  All those who wish their images taken in the first rate style, will learn from a card in another column that Mr. Hastings’ sojourn in this city will be brief, and they had better employ their leisure moments in keeping him busy.

The second advertisement was recorded on June 28, July 5, and August 9 & 23, 1858 in the Peoria Democratic Press.  Daguerreotype Miniatures.  Mr. Hastings would respectfully announce to the Ladies and Gentlemen of Peoria and vicinity, that he has again returned to the city and will remain a few weeks for the purpose of taking Colored Daguerreotype Miniatures, in a superior style.  Likenesses taken on a sitting of a few seconds, from 7 o’clock, A. M. until 6 P. M., in any kind of weather.  All pictures warranted to be durable, and satisfactory to the person sitting.—Rooms at No. 15 Main street, in the room with Dr. Miller, Surgeon Dentist.  Ladies and gentlemen are invited to call and examine specimens.

The third advertisement ran on August 9, 16 & 30, 1848 in the Peoria Democratic Press. 

Daguerreotype.  Miniatures.  Mr. Hastings would respectfully announce to the ladies and gentlemen of Peoria and vicinity, that he will remain in this city until the 1st of September for the purpose of taking Colored Daguerreotype Miniatures, in a superior style.—At the very low price of $2 each, (the usual price has been three dollars). 

Those wishing a good likeness will do well to improve the present opportunity.

Likenesses taken on a sitting of a few seconds, from seven o’clock, A. M. until six, P. M. in any kind of weather. 

All pictures warranted to be durable, and satisfactory to the person sitting

Rooms at No. 15 Main st., Peoria, in the room with Dr. Miller. 

Ladies and gentlemen are invited to call and examine specimens.

The fourth advertisement was recorded on November 17, 1848 in The Ottawa Free Trader.  Mr. Hastings would respectfully announce to the ladies and gentlemen of Ottawa and vicinity that he will remain in this place for two weeks, for the purpose of taking Colored Daguerreotype Miniatures, by a superior Style.

Likenesses taken on a sitting of a few seconds, from seven o’clock, A. M., until six P. M., in any kind of weather.  All pictures warranted to be durable, and satisfactory to the persons sitting.

Prices, from Two to Five Dollars, for single Pictures.  Instructions given in the art.

Ladies and gentlemen are invited to call and examining specimens.  Perfect satisfaction given.

A first rate Camera for sale.

Rooms over Mr. A. G. Folger’s store on Canal Street.  J. Hastings.  Ottawa, November 17, 1848.

The fifth advertisement was recorded on December 1, 1848 in The Ottawa Free Trader. 

Daguerreotype Miniatures.  Prices Reduced.  Mr. Hastings would respectfully announce to the ladies and gentlemen of Ottawa and vicinity that he will remain in this place for One Week longer for the purpose of taking Colored Daguerreotype Miniatures in the new and improved style.

Likenesses taken on a sitting of a few seconds, from 7 o’clock, A. M., until 4 P. M., in any kind of weather. 

Prices from One to three dollars each.  Persons wanting a good likeness of themselves or friends will do well to embrace the present opportunity.  dec. 1.  J. Hastings.

The third announcement appeared on December 8, 1848 in The Ottawa Free Trader.  We had the pleasure of visiting Mr. Hastings’s daguerrean Rooms, over Mr. Folger’s store, a few day since, and of examining a large assortment of miniatures and landscapes, all of which we found to be remarkably fine.  A number of likenesses of citizens of our town with whom we are familiar, and which are so precise and life-like, that one can almost imagine he can see them breathe.  There are decidedly the best pictures of the kind ever taken in Ottawa.

The sixth advertisement was recorded on March 14, 21 and April 18, 1849 in the Peoria Democratic Press.  Daguerreotype.  Miniatures.  Mr. Hastings would respectfully announce to the ladies and gentlemen of Peoria and vicinity, that he will remain in this city for a few weeks, for the purpose of taking Colored Daguerreotype Miniatures, in a superior style

Likenesses taken on a sitting of a few seconds, from 8 o’clock, A. M. until 5, P. M. in any kind of weather.  All pictures warranted to be durable, and satisfactory to the person sitting.

Prices, from $1.50 to $5.00 for single pictures.

Rooms at No. 15 Main street.  Ladies and gentlemen are invited to call and examine specimens.

The seventh advertisement was recorded on September 5, 19 & 26, 1849 in the Peoria Democratic Press.  Notice.  Mr. Hastings would beg leave to inform the citizens of Peoria, that he will leave the city about the 10th inst. To be absent  about two months, and would request all those having their pictures at his room, to call and get them previous to that time.  And all those wishing to have a first rate likeness please to call soon.

The eighth advertisement was recorded on June 19 & 26, 1850 in the Peoria Democratic Press. 

Daguerreotype Miniatures. Mr. Hastings begs leave to give notice to the citizens of Peoria and vicinity, that owing to an arrangement recently made in his business, that he will not leave the city at present, and lately announced, but will still remain at his rooms, where he will at all times be happy to see his friends, and supply those wanting a first rate Daguerreotype likeness of themselves or friends, in the latest style.  All such are requested to call at his rooms.

He has lately received a new process in taking miniatures that gives an entire new style of pictures.

Instruction given in the Art.  Apparatus for sale.

Rooms at the corner of Main and Washington sts., over W. A. Herron’s drug store.  Peoria, June 12, 1850.

J. Hastings is recorded in A Directory of Early Illinois Photographers in 1850 and in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry in 1851.

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[1] Craig’s Daguerreian Registry.