Photographs, Two CDVs, Two Young Ladies in the West By G.C. Stevens

                                    

                         (1) An unknown female, photo taken in Topeka Kansas

Every photo has its own story to tell. Every image I've come across over the last thirty years, tells me something about the subjects or location that were captured by the photographer. Cart de Visite (CDV) photos can add a lot more information to their own content, because many CDVs frequently have printed and written information on them, in the way the photographers name and studio location as well as handwritten information, placed there by family members and/or the owners. The CDV was a wonderful transition from the days of ambrotypes and tintypes. Both of the photos in this article were taken in western states, they are photos of regular everyday salt of the earth people. Though both are unknown, though we know where and approximately when they photos were taken. Photo (1) was taken in Topeka Kansas by photographer, Jas. H. Leonard who was active in Topeka from 1877-1902, Photo (2) was taken in Kansas City by Photographers Willians & Thompson (also spelled Thomson), and according to the book Biographies of Western Photographers by Carl Mautz was active in 1875 in Kansas City Missouri, so that really narrows the time frame down.

(2)

One look speaks a thousand words. photo most likely 

taken in Kansas City Mo. in 1875.

Of particular interest is the necklace worn by this

young lady.  

RPPC Jesse James House, St. Joseph Missouri by G.C. Stevens

 

Recently added to the Stevens collection (c)

A color RPPC produced by the Souvenir Post Card Company, NY showing the house where Jesse James was killed by Outlaws Bob and Charley Ford 

 The Souvenir Post Card Company  existed between 1905 and 1914. It was located at 268 Canal Street in New York City. The company was purchased by Valentine & Sons and the combined company became Valentine – Souvenir.

Postcard note Date UNK

St. Joseph, MO

This is the home where Jesse James was killed. Any one can go all though it for 15 cts. and the room an place where Jessie fell er died in is just as he left it.

Right Section "this is sure a pretty place- it is tall green and nice trees around the place. its is just outside of the city limit the street cars go and stop there. lots of people go out to see it.

Blow Seminole Wind, Rest in Peace John Anderson by G.C. Stevens

 

RIP John Andesron photo from wikipedia fair use

"And progress came and took its toll

And in the name of flood control

They made their plans and they drained the land

Now the glades are going dry

And the last time I walked in the swamp

I sat upon a Cypress stump

I listened close, and I heard the ghost of Osceola cry..."

I was really sad to hear about the passing of John Anderson, he was an Orlando, Florida-born vocalist, who created songs such as. 1983's Swingin' and 1991's Straight Tequila Night, and Seminole Wind, his family announced his death in a post on his Instagram account Wednesday evening.

'It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and best friend,' the post read. 'To the world, he was a gifted country music singer whose voice and songs touched countless lives."

It was reported by several news outlets that the Governor of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had issued an executive order designating "Seminole Wind" by country artist John Anderson as Florida's Anthem. Governor DeSantis also directed the Department of State to erect historic markers in the City of Apopka depicting Anderson’s contributions to the state's heritage.

https://www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/article/john-anderson-seminole-wind-florida-anthem/74264680

An Evening at The Warren County Iowa Historic Society, By G.C. Stevens

                          

   A vintage map of Iowa, on display and the Warren County Iowa Historical Society, photo by the author.

The Warren County Iowa Historical Society mission statement: To collect, preserve, and create interest in the cultural, political and economic heritage of Warren County Iowa

On Tuesday October 27, 2026, I gave a talk at the Warren County Iowa Historical Society in Indianola Iowa for their Volunteers annual dinner. The subject of the talk was the Jesse James 1873 train robbery, in Adair Iowa.

The journey from Newton to Indianola Iowa was a breathtaking drive through the fall colors of Central Iowa. At one point during my drive, I actually, stopped and tried to take some photos of nature's big fall show, but the pictures could not capture the grandeur of the countryside like the human eye. Upon arrival at the historic society, I had the pleasure of sitting down to a great dinner of ham, potatoes and green beans with the staff and Volunteers of the museum. After which time I gave my presentation to a well-rounded group of people who had a great interest in the history of Iowa. It's always pleasure to speak other local historians, they always bring new information to the table to share and they ask good questions.  I'd like to the thank the historical society President Jerry Beatty, Vice President(s) Juanita Ott and Doug Harding who is also the President of the Warren Country Model Railroaders club. The railroader's club is also based in the Warren County Iowa Historic Society building, and after my presentation, Doug gave me the grand tour of their impressive H.O. Scale modular layout which is in the lower level of the historical society. The railroad display is more than just the train layout, as the club also built a train depot office as part of the display. 

    Painting by Lea F McCarty

 "Jesse James"

 A photo of the author at Stuart Iowa on the White Pole Road

Iowa's Outlaw Trail!

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All photos below are by the author

The train depot depot office!

                                                 

                                           Photos of the Train Layout

                              The layout represents

                          Indianola Iowa in the past

Chuck Connors American Western TV Icon by G.C. Stevens

 

AMERICAN TV ICON

CHUCK CONNORS

Actor Chuck Connors is truly an America Western Icon. Chuck's roles on the 1960's T.V. series "The Rifleman" (1958-1963) was well received and well known by many T.V. viewers. Though not as popular as other T.V. series like Gunsmoke or Bonanza. The Rifleman had its lions share of viewers. According to Neilsen ratings, The Rifleman was watched regularly by 40-45 million households in the united states.  Chuck Connors had a towering 6-foot-5 frame and a rapid-fire Winchester, his unmistakable presence and chiseled appearance are from the golden age of Westerns, and there was no one quite like Chuck Connors.

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Photo of Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford 

  as his son Mark. From the T.V. program The Rifleman.

     Photo in the public domain.

​Before he ever rode the American frontier or shouldered a modified 1892 rifle as Lucas McCain on The Rifleman, Chuck (Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors) lived a separate life. He was a true multi-sport athlete—one of the handful of players in professional sports history to play both Major League Baseball (for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs) and professional basketball (for the Boston Celtics). Chuck also had an extensive filmography which included movies like Branded (1965), A Cowboy in Africa (1967) and Roots (1972).     

In Search of the Earp Family in Jasper County Iowa.

                                          

 Brother of Nicholas Earp.

 Lorenzo Dow  Earp

Find a grave

In the bucolic hills of Central Iowa in Jasper county is found a secluded, but well-maintained graveyard called Mt. Zion cemetery, in the rolling green and golden hills of Iowa rest family members of the Earp clan of Wyatt Earp fame, A son of Walter Earp, Lorenzo Dow, a native of North Carolina, attained manhood in his Kentucky home, whence he immigrated to Warren County, Illinois, in 1846. He made that location his home until 1853, when he removed to Jasper County, Iowa, and engaged in farming until his death, in the fall of 1893, at the age of eighty-four years. Lorenzo served as justice of the peace and post-master of Galesburg, Iowa. In his religious convictions he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, politically he was a staunch Republican and during the Civil War was active in efforts to raise troops for the Union Army. He was twice married, his first wife being Nancy Storm, a native of Kentucky. Nancy Earp died in Illinois, after which her husband again married. He had eighteen children, nine by the first wife and nine by the second, of whom six sons and five daughters. 

ref (History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley, California, 1906, p. 298 - biography of Peter Asbury Earp).

   Read more here

Nicholas Porter Earp

Find a grave

Nicholas Earp The True Story

By G.C. Stevens

                                                  All photos and video were taken by the author

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Military Photos; Photographer Mv (Von) Fielitz: By G.C. Stevens

Military Cabinet Card, Taken by M. (v) Von Feilitz recently acquired by the author. 

I knew this card was special when I bought it. A mystery I'd like to solve, is finding out where this photo was taken. An important clue here is the fact that the soldier is holding a musket, possibly a Springfield Rifled Musket, and he's leaning upon what appears to be an actual Dahlgren Gun, which makes me think that this was taken at an actual fortification, and with the nature of the gun, it  could suggest a location such as a coastal fortification, but there's no way of knowing that without further context.

The Following information was gleaned from the internet, however a link at the bottom, will lead the reader to an auction house sale of a similar military photo from the same photographer, M (v) Von Fielitz.   

Though biographical documentation on von Fielitz remains sparse, though historical artifacts and surviving photographic prints provide important key details about their work and place in photographic history: M. von Fielitz operated a  commercial photography studio in New York during the late Victorian era, active primarily in the late 1880s through the 1890s. The studio specialized in cabinet cards and studio portraits, which were the dominant formats for formal portraiture in the late 19th century.   Notable to the author is the subject Matter at hand: Military & Historical Figures: Von Fielitz is notably recorded in historical archives for studio backstamps on rare Spanish-American War era cabinet cards (circa 1898). Among these are documented portraits of soldiers, including scarce identified Black Spanish-American War soldiers stationed or processing through New York.   Late 19th-Century Civilians & Uniformed Servicemen: Various surviving 1890s portraits bearing the "M. von Fielitz, New York" backstamp exist in vintage ephemera collections, antique auctions, and historical military archives.

Alex Autographs auction. Similar 

https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/identified-black-spanish-american-war-soldiers_F7JKAWAZSJ?hl=en-US

copyright. 2026

White Pole Road Excursion Train Stuart Iowa. 2026

 

THE WHITE POLE  ROAD EXCURSION TRAIN,  Stuart Iowa October 17th 2026.

It was a real honor to help out the White Pole Road Scenic Byway Development Corp. In Stuart IA. The weather was perfect and the people were awesome.  I love to bring a historic perspective to these kind of events. It was awesome to ride the Iowa Interstate Train. 

WHITE POLL ROAD 

IOWA'S OUTLAW TRAIL

        Iowa Interstate Passenger Car

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