N. D.               Address Unknown, Lewisville, Arkansas.

1848                Rooms at the Court House, Washington, Arkansas.

W. A. Buchanan was recorded in two announcements and one advertisement in the Washington Telegraph (Washington, Arkansas).  The first announcement appeared on February 16, 1848. 

Daguerreotype Likenesses.—Mr. Buchanan, whose card appears in another column, is now in this place, and is prepared to take fac similes of those of our citizens who are anxious to see their beautiful phizes in a frame.  We have seen some of his specimens, which are highly creditable.

The first advertisement fan from February 16 to March 8, 1848.  Southern Daguerreotype Miniatures, Taken by W. A. Buchanan, with or without colors.  He respectfully calls the attention of the public, and more particularly the citizens of Washington and its vicinity, to his beautiful specimens, taken at Lewisville.  They surpass by far, in form and texture, any ever taken in the western country.  His rooms are at the Court House, where all are invited to come and see themselves as others see them.

The second Announcement appeared on March 1, 1848.  Daguerreotypes.—During the last eight or ten days, Mr. Buchanan has taken some excellent counterfeit presentments of several of our citizens, and will remain in town a short time longer for the purpose of affording others, who may wish his services in that line, an opportunity to have their likenesses taken.  His specimens warrant us in saying that he is proficient in the art, and we have no doubt his work will be satisfactory to all who may be pleased to patronize him.  The public are invited to call at his room in the court house and examine his specimens.

W. A. Buchanan is recorded in Pioneer Photographers From The Mississippi to the Continental Divide A Biographical Dictionary, 1839-1865.  I believe there is a typo, in the entry for W. A. Buchanan they say that he was active in Louisville, Ky., before 1848.  The advertisementclearly says “Lewisville” not “Louisville”.  Just for reference the distance from Louisville, Kentucky to Washington, Arkansas using modern roads is 333.3 miles, where the distance from Lewisville, Arkansas to Washington, Arkansas is 33.3 miles.  To date no .newspaper advertisements have been found from Lewisville, Arkansas to verify this information.