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        EARLY STOUGHTON PHOTOGRAPHERS

                                        19th Century Photographers

 
ISAIAH N. PACKARD (1826-1904)
Isaiah Packard was born in Easton, Massachusetts 20 April 1826; died at 48 Tower St., Jamaica Plain (Boston), Mass. in 1904. He was the son of Isaiah and Olive (Phinney).  In 1847 Isaiah was a resident of Stoughton when he got married.  He was a Stoughton photographer in the 1860's to 1870's.  

The following obituary appeared in The Stoughton Sentinel 27 February 1904, p. 1 (Issue:  39: 8). 

"The remains of the late Isaiah Packard, who died at the home of his daughter in Boston, was brought to this town Thursday for interment.  Mr. Packard was formerly one of the best known citizens of this town.  He carried on for many years the business of Photographer in this town and was an excellent artist in the earlier days when photograph was in its primited stages.  All of the older citizens of the town remember him and his saloon which was located on Railroad avenue and was a popular resort of those days.  Of late years he has lived with his daughter, Mrs. George Greenlaw in Boston, and passed away there.

 
ORANGE H. VENNER (1838- d. between 1900-1910) - 1860's Stoughton photographer
He was married in Lynn, Mass. 1 October 1859 to Susan B. Coombs.  At the time of his marriage he was a listed as an "Artist".  In the 1860 Census of Lynn he was a "Daguerreotypist".  He operated a studio in Stoughton on Pleasant Street during the 1860's. The Carte-de-viste's were simply hallmarked with "Venner". 

The following advertisement ran when Venner returned to Stoughton in The Stoughton Sentinel, 26 December 1863, p. 3 (Issue: 1:8). :

HOME AGAIN!

Mr. O.H. Venner, having returned from his tour through the East, would respectfully inform his friends and the public generally that he is now prepared to furnish them with pictures of all varieties.

  Card Photographs, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, &c.

Also Large Photographs copied from old or faded Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Painting, Statuary, &c. or taken from life and finished in ink, Water, or Oil colors in the most satisfactory manner.

Also particular attention paid to taking Childrens pictures between the hours of 10 A.M. and 2 P.M.sick, or deceased persons, visited as on reasonable forms.  Grateful for the liberal patronage of the past year, would respectfully solicit a continuance of the same, assuring my customers that no pains, or expense will be spared to give perfect satisfaction.

                                                                                                                              O. H. Venner, Artist

                                                                                                                              Pleasant St., Stoughton

In 1867 he was residing back in Lynn, and was still living there at the time of the 1870 Census.  By the late 19th century Venner was living in Maine.  In 1900 he was a jeweller living in Blue Hill, Maine.  His widow Susan died at the home of her nephew in Waltham, Massachusetts in 1913.  She was buried in Blue Hill, Maine.
FREDERIC  BLANCHARD SAVELS (1865-?) - 1890's Stoughton photographer
He operated as a photographer in Stoughton during the 1890's. Frederic was born at Stoughton 25 September 1865, the son of Frederick S. and Sarah L. (Billings) Savels. In 1900 Fred was single residing with his parents in Stoughton, and was proprietor of a variety store.
FREDERICK A. CHADBAND (b. ca. 1854 - d. after 1920 ) - Stoughton photographer ca. 1891
He operated a studio on in Stoughton at the corner of Washington and Freeman Streets in 1891. Chadband was born in England December 1854, and arrived in the United States in 1889.  Though no longer living in Stoughton by the year 1900 he was a single photographer boarding in Philadelphia at 1343 North 12th Street. He became a U.S. Citizen in 1908.  By 1920 he was still living in Philadelphia and was a patient at the Philadlphia Hospital for the Insane according to the 1920 U.S. Census.

 

              TWO STOUGHTON RESIDENTS PATENT A UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICE.

AARON S. DRAKE (1829 - after 1900), and HENRY JONES (1821-1888) both of Stoughton along with N.W. Langley of East Cambridge filed a United States Patent # 26370  for securing a daguerreotype photograph to a gravestone.  Aaron S. Drake was a working as a "trader" while residing with the family of Charles Jones of Stoughton [1860 U.S. Census]. In 1870 he was listed as "Aron Drake" residing in the 5th Ward of Detroit, Michigan, and was a "pork packer" with $5,000. in real estate [1870 U.S. Census]. By 1900 Aaron was a widowed "rancher" living out in Liberty, Kansas [1900 U.S. Census]. Henry Jones was born at Stoughton 28 December 1821, the son of Charles Jones and his wife Elizabeth.  Henry was married at Stoughton by Rev. Massena B. Ballou 25 October 1846 to Mary M. Swan.  Henry was a shoe leather dealer residing with his family within the household of his father-in-law James Swan in 1860.  Henry was the father of the famous Stoughton composer Edwin Arthur Jones. Henry died at Stoughton 3 September 1888, at the age of 66 yrs. 8 mos. and 6 dys.

An example of this type of photographic gravestone can be seen at the the Avon Cemetery, however the photograph is no longer incased in the .headstone.made from brown sandstone.

 

                           Some 20th Century Stoughton Photographers

 

GEORGE GERARD (c. 1874-?) 
George was born in France ca. 1874.  He came to the United States in 1884, and became a naturalized U.S. Citizen in 1891. In 1920 he was residing with Alice L. Talbot at 12 Capen Street, Stoughton and was working for George Belcher Last Co.   George operated a photography studio in Stoughton in the early 20th century.  He served as a juror during the Sacco & Vanzetti trial. He ran small advertisements in the Stoughton Directories of the 1920's (example below).

 

 

JOHN CYRUS "JOHNNY" STILES (1907-2000)

Early Stoughton aviator and commercial photographer.  Johnny took the first aerial views of Stoughton on 1926.  He operated a photo studio in Stoughton known as "Fotakraft" for many years.  He was a World War II veteran, and a postal carrier in Stoughton for many years.  John was the curator for the Stoughton Historical Society for many years.  John was buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Stoughton.

 

A new exhibit  of many interesting photographs taken by the late John C. Stiles can be seen at the Stoughton Historical Society starting in April 2005.

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