Frontier Photographers Robinson Brother's and Stromsten; Photos, Ladies in Frontier Iowa

From the research archives of the Central States Lawman & Outlaws Historic Assn. Three unidentified cabinet card photos of women of frontier Iowa, probably taken sometimes during the 1890's. The frontier photographers who took these photographs are listed in the book Biographies of Western Photographers, by Carl Mautz. All of these photos are in mint condition, and a perfect example of professionally done photos of the time period. 

Robinson Brothers Photographic Artists                              

 

Stromsten Photographic Artist 

A listing appears in Biographies of Western Photographers:

The spelling of Stronsten may be an error, Allerton Iowa is a

short distance from Corydon Iowa. It's highly probable that this

is referring to Sophia Stromsten.

Also See Iowa Genweb information of Photograhers

Both Sophia and her son J.M Stromsten are listed on 

find a grave, 

J.M. Stromsten's obituary tells us that he was a photographer. Both are buried in Corydon Iowa, where the Stromsten photo originated from.

Photograher J.M. Stromsten, photo courtesy of find a grave

Contributor Thomas Sollenbarger

 List of 19th Century Photographers, this list is another reference

 but by no means exhaustive.

Photo Investigation: Not Frank and Jesse James: By G.C. Stevens

 

   Not Frank & Jesse; An RPPC (Real Place Post Card) published by AZUSA Post Card Co. Original Photo in the collection of the Denver Public  Library.

 Card from the authors collection.

Correct Photos of Frank and Jesse James from the authors collection

    While writing my first book on Jesse James, "A Fiendish Crime" I went in search some verifiable photos and artwork for my book. I searched Ebay and found a grouping of several post cards published by AZUSA postcard company. The grouping of cards memorialized the James gang infamous great Northfield Minnesota bank robbery which occurred on September 7, 1876. The grouping was comprised of eight post cards (see photos below) that covered members of the gang and the posse who captured some of the outlaws, with the exception of Frank and Jesse James. The James brothers escaped and blazed a trail through Minnesota and Iowa during their flight back into Missouri. During my research, I ran into a photo, (which is posted at the top this article.) It was on the website of the Denver Public Library and was said to be in their collection. I immediately inquired about the photo of Frank & Jesse James on their website and its provenance. A photo of two men sitting together with pistols drawn, which appeared to be a tintype. 

I received a prompt email response from Kellen Cutsforth, who is currently the executive director of the Western Writers Association, he told me:

 "So we do not have any provenance for this particular photo. It was acquired long before any of our current staff came on board. When it was acquired, the staff did not sign any agreements nor retain any receipts detailing whether it was purchased or a donation."  

Photo was noted as a false photo in the book "The Many Faces of Jesse James" By Phillip W. Steele and Artist George Warfel Published in 1995 by Pelican Publishing Co . 

*Note

This photo is but one of many photos that have surfaced over the years that have purported to be Jesse James. But what was unique about this photo was that it was part of a published set, alongside other photos which were confirmed to be members of the James - Younger gang who were involved in the Great Northfield Minnesota Raid in 1876. There were however, also some inconsistencies with the descriptions of other parties involved.  

Top card labeled (more likely mislabeled) Oscar Suborn, probably Asle (Axle) Sorbel.

Bottom Photo: Posse who captured the Youngers (unverified).

"Two weeks after the James–Younger Gang raided Northfield, the gang appeared at the farm of Ole Sorbel on Lake Linden near Hanska. Ole spoke to the men briefly and his wife, Guri, provided the men with bread and butter for breakfast. The gang told the family that they were hunting in the area, but 17-year-old Asle Sorbel didn’t believe them. He had a hunch they were the Northfield robbers that authorities had been chasing around the area for weeks."

-Forgotten Minnesota

Well known photos of the Younger gang, Bill Chadwell and Clell Miller (Top Left)

Cole Younger (Top right), Bob Younger (Right Center), Jim Younger (Bottom Left) 

Charlie Pitz (Bottom left).All photos from the authors collection.

Photographic Evidence

Every photograph and caption must be assessed and evaluated just as you would textual documents in your genealogical research. These tips will help to classify and date the images you locate to determine if the pictured subject is appropriate to the date, place, and context observed in the photograph. As researchers, we must always do our own evaluation, seek out original records, weigh the evidence, and come to our own conclusions.

-Library of Congress

Note: Article updated 08/17/2026

  

19th Century Photographic Resources: By G.C. Stevens

 

Biographies of Western Photographers by Carl Mautz, is a highly detailed exhaustive document / listing of frontier photographers of the 19th century. It is 604 pages and belongs in the library of people who are serious researchers.

I have been collecting cart de visite's, tintypes, ambrotypes and RPPCs for over 30 years. In recent years, I've had the unique pleasure of investigating, identifying and connecting antique photos to their home locations and donating them to their respective state historic societies. I've also been able to identify other photos of people and updated their grave profiles on Find a Grave. This aspect has added to my genealogical pursuits and helped me to sharpen my research skills and to develop an eye for the backstory on many photos that have come into my possession.  It is, however, not an exact science, and it sometimes requires the hunch of a gumshoe. It's also an endeavor which requires some financial investment, though there are many free resources available. For those interested in early American frontier photographers like me, should pick up a copy of the book "Biographies of Frontier Photographers" by Carl Mautz. This publication is a 604-page exhaustive document with the names and locations of hundreds of frontier photographers. I've also listed some resources here, this is by no means an exhaustive list and true photo investigations sometimes take a state by state, county by county search for documentation and it may also require finding family members that are connected to the photos. It's worth noting, as a warning, that photo investigations can also have a controversial, and emotional edge when it comes to family members and protective owners who assume control of certain photos that come into their possession. In my personal experiences, and I have encounter many, emotions can run high in this area, and sometimes reactions include, hostility, protectionism, rejection and even threats. But for me, it's still worth those pitfalls when it comes to revealing the stories that old photos can tell.

 

Correcting Morgan Earps Photo

(I corrected Morgan Earps photo on Find a Grave)

Frontier Photographers

(Article on this blog)

Photo Investigations

(Articles on this blog about my photo investigations)

G.C. Stevens Photographer

(My studio)

RESOURCES

Find A Grave

(Great resource)

Ancestry.com

(Requires a subscription)

19th Century Card Photographers

(Good listing, very basic)

LDS Genealogical Records

(A time- honored resource for genealogists)

Massie's Antiques

(Dealer of antique photos)

GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY RESOURCES

Library of Congress

Carlisle Barracks

(Military Photos)

National Portrait Gallery

Augustana College

(Upper Mississippi collection)

GLOSSARY OF PHOTO PROCESSES 

​ALBUMEN PRINT

Positive photographic print made on paper coated with eggwhite and salt solution which is sensitized with silver nitrate solution. Prints were made by exposing the paper to sunlight through a negative.

​AMBROTYPE

A glass collodion positive patented in the United States in 1854 by James Cutting.

​CABINET CARD

Essentially a larger (4 1/2" x 6 1/2") version of the carte-de-visite, this popular format supplanted the carte-de-visite by the late 1870s, although the first cabinet card photographs appeared in 1866 in England. Primarily a medium for portraiture, the cabinet card dominated commercial photography until the turn-of-the-century.

​CALOTYPE (also called TALBOTYPE)

The first successful negative/positive process invented by William Henry Fox Talbot and patented by him in 1841. This process entailed exposing paper sensitized with potassium iodide and silver nitrate in a camera and developing the negative in gallic acid and silver nitrate. Prints were made by the contact method in daylight on paper sensitized with salt and silver nitrate.

​CARBON PRINT

Prints produced by exposing a negative against a pigmented gelatin tissue sensitized with potassium bichromate. The surface of the tissue hardens in relation to the amount of light received and when washed, leaves a positive image which is permanent.

​CARTE-DE-VISITE

A format developed by Disderi in Paris and patented in 1854 consisting of a 2 1/2" by 4 1/2" mounted photographic print. The primary format for portraiture from the beginning of the Civil War to the late 1870s, the carte-de-visite is referred to often as "cdv" by collectors today. The format continued to be made up to the turn-of-the-century, but was eclipsed in popularity by the larger cabinet card.

​COLLODION PROCESS

A process for making negatives involving a glass plate coated with a light sensitive emulsion of gun cotton dissolved in alcohol and ether and mixed with potassium iodide and potassium bromide. Also known as the wet plate collodion process.

​CYANOTYPE

A print made with a paper impregnated with iron salts and potassium ferricyanide, creating an image where the darks are blue. Popular paper from the 1890s to WWI.

​DAGUERREOTYPE

The first practical photographic process introduced in Paris in 1839 by one of it's inventors, Louis Jaques Mande' Daguerre. The process required a silver coated copper plate which was sensitized with vapors of iodine and developed in mercury fumes after exposure in a camera. The images produced were one-of-a-kind and often beautiful although reflective like a mirror. Being very delicate to touch or the atmosphere, they were sealed and encased in glass, brass mat and leather case.

​DRY PLATE

The successor to the wet plate collodion process, dry plates were glass sheets coated with silver halides suspended in gelatin. These pre-prepared negative plates supplanted the wet plate process by the 1880s.

​FERROTYPE (also TINTYPE or MELAINOTYPE)

A positive photographic image appearing on a thin sheet of varnished iron which has been sensitized with collodion. A very popular format which competed with the carte-de-visite from the late 1850s through the 1870s, finally becoming a novelty format in use at fairs and amusement parks to the 1930s.

​POSTCARD

The photographic postcard became common just after the turn of the century. Beginning in 1902, Eastman Kodak and other manufacturers marketed postcard format photographic paper that was sensitive enough to print under artificial light. This simplified the process of printing photographic negatives and further encouraged both amateur and commercial production of photographic postcards. It was the widespread use of the postcard format in the hands of both professionals and amateurs that continued the visual recording of culture begun by stereoviews.

​STEREOVIEW (also STEREOGRAPH)

A pair of views taken at slightly different angles and mounted side by side. Viewed separately by each eye in a stereoviewer, the two images merge to create the illusion of three dimensions. This format was used early in the daguerreotype era and increased in popularity when paper prints became the standard, eventually becoming an item of amusement in virtually every household in America. It is through this format that 19th century culture can be visually witnessed.

2700 Identified Carte de Visits of Iowa Civil War Soldiers By O.J. Fargo & Edited by G.C. Stevens

Identified photo courtesy of O.J. Fargo, Army of the Southwest.

O.J. Fargo Army of the Southwest, Photo by the author

LEGACY

I've only known O.J. Fargo for a short time, about three years to be exact. We became acquainted when I joined the Army of the Southwest (ASW), which is a civil war reenactment group based in Iowa. We both got into civil war reenacting around the same time in the 1990's. O'J. was one of the founding members of the ASW, and, like myself, he is an avid researcher.  At a recent event in Zearing Iowa, I saw O.J. had a laptop and folder with a cover that said something about locating peoples civil war ancestors, and he mentioned a project that he was working on to create a searchable database of Iowa civil war soldiers. He also mentioned something about legacy, I heard what he said, and I thought I knew exactly what he was talking about. I answered him in my own mind and didn't say it out loud, but in recent months I had been thinking the exact same thing. I didn't exactly understand the depth of what his project was about until he put out and additional email explaining what he had been working on. When I read his email, I sat up in my chair, because he went on to explain that he had compiled a database of approximately 2700 identified Cart de visit photos of civil war soldiers from Iowa units that served in the conflict. To the best of my knowledge, besides large, organized collections in various military museums and historical societies, this was quite the endeavor. 

"I have just finished another lengthy project to supplement my Iowa Civil War soldiers searchable database. Tilting at windmills is my specialty. I have 2700+ CDVs (Carte de Visits)/pictures of Iowa soldiers with at least 2 from each regiment That doesn’t make a dent in the 72,000+ that served but it is a one-of-a-kind collection. I thought that might be of interest to you as a curiosity. I can call them up alphabetically or by regiment. Coupled with the database there could also be specialty searches e. g. everyone who was wounded in the 4th Iowa, those born in Denmark etc. All of the 2000+ photos are identified and matched to my searchable database. I can tell someone everything Civil War-ish about each person in the picture. 

Attached are 3 pictures I just have handy. Two are labeled the third one is Amos Rawley of the 4th Cavalry. He is a relative of Mike Rowley who didn’t know he existed until I sent him the picture." 

-O.J. Fargo 

ASW

Amos Rawley of the 4th Cavalry

Credit where Credit is due photos here from: “Iowa Civil War Images Facebook Group.”

Frontier Photographers: C.M. Flanders: By G.C. Stevens

 

All photos are from the authors collection

Photo collecting is like another form of archaeology, in that some photos have their own type of cuneiform etched into them by the Photographic Artists who created them. If we are lucky, some of these artifacts have the names of the subjects in the photo written on the back. If we're really lucky, additional information could also appears on the back of the photo if another person, such as a relative took some due diligence to record more data on the photo. Though in most cases the antique photos are as blank as the face of the sphinx in Egypt, and all we are left with is the faces of the person(s), who sat for the picture. But luckily many cabinet cards bare the names, logos and artworks of the photographers and the companies who employed them embossed on the front of each photo, and many of them are from the early days of the frontier (1860's-1890s) Photographers. Author, Carl Mautz, captured the names and the essence of the frontier "Shadow Catchers" in his book, "Biographies of Western Photographers". One of the Photographers listed was Charles M. Flanders, who was active in Corydon Iowa from 1889-1892. This towns name conjures up images of outlaws because eighteen years prior in 1871, the famed outlaw Jesse James had robbed the Ocobock Bank in Corydon, as I looked at the pictures, I wonder if any of the people in the in the photos below were old enough to remember when that happened? But alas... We may never know.

CM Flanders:

Name appears in the book "Biographies of Western Photographer", by Carl Mautz (Pg# 225)

Flanders, Charles M. 

Flanders had a studio in Glenwood, Mills County, in the 1890s. NSA reports a single view seen of a group of women posed by piano in studio. Burgess lists Humeston (1887–1892), Corydon (1889–1892), and Glenwood (1895–1897) 

ref  IOWA STEREOGRAPHS 

LIBRARY & ARCHIVES RESEARCH CENTERS 

(515)281-6200

History.Research@iowa.

Jesse James Robbery Corydon Robbery

Member 

The Michigan Cabinet Card, Identified Photo By G.C. Stevens

Fred Reader: 

 Returned to Mason County Michigan:  

Genealogy, Genealogical Databases, Forensics 

&

  Social Media Walk Hand in Hand.

I love old photos and old documents. I've been collecting these items for over twenty-five years, and my house is full of genealogical family records. Each document and each photo has its own story to tell. Some old photos, particularly cabinet cards and Carte de Visite photos, in many cases (not all) automatically tell part of their story about which city they came from and who took the photograph. This is because many of the photo galleries of the day, used their photos for advertising and calling cards. These types of photos were printed on albumen paper and carried the name of the photographer and location printed somewhere on the card. Adding to this, many of these cards that found their way onto auction websites like eBay, and/or landing in antique malls, carry the names the families who owned these cards. We know this because they wrote information on them, in the way of the identities (or suspected identities) of former family members / ancestors. As I was shopping in an antique mall one day, I saw a small wooden crate of old photos with a sign on the side of the box that read: "Instant Ancestors." I think that particular dealer (who probably did that as a pun) said more that he or she knew. But its foregone conclusion that the photos in that box (or on eBay) were and are in fact someone's relative or ancestor. And with all due respect, in 95% of the photos that I've seen or possessed, the images on each card, ambrotype, cart etc. display images of people who were well dressed and well groomed. I think it's good assumption that theses well rounded people of this time period, intended to preserve their family history through the photographic medium. That being said, photography wasn't free, though it became cheaper as each new technology came along. Then the computer and the internet came along and changed the whole game.

                                               

      THE MICHIGAN PHOTO

                            

“Technology has been deployed to help speed processes that used to take years. Sophisticated online databases, facial recognition applications, and link analysis tools have allowed us to become interconnected across continents, bridging gaps between long lost families, spurred commerce, and have enriched the lives of countless people. As long as people use technology responsibly, the possibilities for the continued enrichment of our lives is an interesting prospect indeed.” 

-Michael Streed  

Retired Polce Sergeant and Forensic Facial Imaging Consultant

                  

                     

                 The name was written on the back of this photo in blue pen.

                        I obviously realized this inscription was modern     

Every single day, auction houses, and online auction websites are alive with people selling and purchasing these old-time images, I know this because I am one of them and I have found that it's not an obscure thing to find a photo of place or person that can be identified. The identification of the Fred Reader photo is one example of many such cases where identification was made possible, not just because someone made a notation on photo. And the fact is, there are many photos with these notations and newer technologies have evened the playing field. The tech that has emerged over the last twenty years, such as intuitive websites like Ancestry.com, facial forensic technologies, artificial intelligence and traditional genealogical state by state, county by county searches which have become easier in recent years due computer technology being readily available to all archivists all over the world. And it these types of technologies that made it possible to quickly and efficiently track down the origin of the Fred Reader photo.

THE INVESTIGATION

The Fred Reader photo was purchased on Ebay from a dealer in Marietta Georgia. The photo was part of a large lot of twenty photos, there was no initial provenance connected to this photo. I did not question the dealer about them, because as a general rule, most dealers purchase these photos in groups and rarely have any background on them. When I received the lot, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that many of the photos, which was a mix of cabinets cards and tintypes, were well annotated. The Fred Reader photo also had a notation on it, but it was different because it was written in what appeared to be blue ballpoint pen. I almost disregarded this note because, I was immediately guarded, and blue ball point pens did not become popular until the 1960's in the United States. But I decided to check the name and photo gallery location anyway. The photos next clue was that the photographers name: "Carson and Graham" and the location "Hillsdale Michigan" was printed on the back of the card. I knew that my next move was simple, and that was to query Ancestry.com. That query yielded immediate results. As it turns out the Reader family, particularly Fred Reader had a significant connection to Mason County Michigan, and more importantly to Scottville Michigan, a town which legend says was founded by Georger Reader in a legendary coin toss: 

"The story of how Scottville got its name is part of local lore, the result of a coin toss between two businessmen due to a scandal. The story is told on an official State of Michigan historical marker in downtown Scottville and has been told in many historical accounts over the years. In the late 1870s, scandal struck the little town of Sweetland, located in the center of Mason County. The town’s namesake, James Sweetland, had apparently left his wife, Annett, while she was pregnant with twin daughters. He supposedly left town with a Native American woman. The townsfolk were so distraught about this they called a meeting and determined the name of the town should be changed. This task fell on business owner Hiram Scott and his colleague, George Reader, who flipped a coin resulting in Scott winning and naming the town after himself: Scottville.

At least, that’s how the story goes."

-Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

  Mason County Press

I then posted the photo on the Scottville History Facebook page, and members of the Reader family confirmed that the photo was connected to their line. I then reached out to the Mason County Historic Society and emailed Rebecca Berringer Executive Director and Amber Valentine Collections Manager and they advised that they were indeed interested in the photo. 

Definition of Forensic Genealogy

Forensic genealogy is the application of genealogical research, analysis, and reporting in legal or investigative contexts, often involving living individuals or unresolved legal matters International Society of Genetic Genealogy. It is a professional discipline that combines traditional genealogical methods with legal standards and, increasingly, with DNA analysis to produce evidence that can be used in court or other formal proceedings.

Core Legal and Investigative Uses

Forensic genealogists may be engaged in: Probate and estate cases to identify unknown or missing heirs, beneficiaries, or remainders men International Society of Genetic Genealogy.

Military repatriation to reunite service members’ remains with families using DNA profiling International Society of Genetic Genealogy.

Kinship determination in adoption, foster care, guardianship, and citizenship cases International Society of Genetic Genealogy. Land and real estate disputes involving title, adverse possession, mineral rights, and unclaimed property International Society of Genetic Genealogy. Coroner’s cases to identify relatives of unclaimed remains International Society of Genetic Genealogy. Cold case investigations to generate leads in unsolved crimes, including homicides and sexual assaults biologyinsights.com. Provenance and intellectual property claims International Society of Genetic Genealogy.

G.C. Stevens

Editor   

 

Every Day Life, Everyday People & Humor: By G.C. Stevens

 

Not Jesse James 

(To prove a point)

T.J. Sellers?  

Photo from the authors. collection 

  

The soft youthful glow of this young man's face jumped out at me as

 I looked through a new group of Carte devisite's that I had recently purchased.The photo also had a possible name written on the back, TJ(?) M Sellers, apparently of Versailles Kentucky. The photographer's studio name and location is also on the back of this photo: "S.C. Williams Photograher" 56 E. Main St. Lexington, Ky. It's worth noting that Lexington and Versailles are approximately thirteen miles from each other. But my efforts to find out more about him, lead me in different direction.

"So far as the population of the city, the immediate environs are concerned, they were as orderly and law-abiding as any community of equal size anywhere."

-John Clum Mayor of Tombstone Az giving the everyday citizens their due respect.

The pursuit of history in our modern world is heavily driven by popularity, controversy and sometime criminal behavior. As I writer, I also find myself caught up in the grinding perceived seriousness of the many historic topics that I write about here. But as I pour over old news articles online or sift through old photos in wooden boxes in antique malls, I am reminded that there is and was a world occupied by normal everyday people. And the soft face of young Mr. Sellers reminded me of that fact. When I started digging around about information about this particular young man, I came upon a series of humorous short blurbs about photographers in the Lexington Bluegrass Blade between 1891 and 1910. And I found out something I did not realize, and that was that people of the day seemed to view photographers, much in the same way that they viewed barbers, and the barber shops of that time was always a place of local gossip and humor. 

There were a number of photographers who set up shop 

on Main Street in Lexington Kentucky this is just one ad of many.

I had to look this one up! An Octocyon is a bat eared fox. 

I have not determined what the term dig-dig refers too.

I'm sure there's a hidden story here

Could this be a veiled ad for postmortem services?

Good people skills were essential for photographers 

G C. Stevens U.S. Photographer

 

RECREATING EARLY PHOTOGRAPHY 

FROM THE LATE

 1800'S TO THE

 EARLY 20TH CENTURY

email

(right click to copy email)

PHOTO GALLERIES

Jefferson Iowa Civil War Days 2026

Zearing Iowa Civil War Event 2026

 I utilize both vintage cameras and digital to recreate old time photos. I have also developed a technique for recreating cabinet cards.

My cameras: A No. 2 Kodak Brownie, an Imperial SIX-TWENTY & A No. 2 folding Premo.