Mr. and Mrs. Muttonchops

The steamer trunk contained a cache of unidentified photographs. Two of them I have already recklessly identified as Louise Nolte. As for the others, I don't have a clue. I'm inclined to believe they are relatives or friends of the Harmses or Rossows, since it was likely Minnie Rossow Harms who collected them, but of course it's possible that they are total strangers — Minnie wouldn't be the only person ever to buy some random old photos at an antique store on a whim! I'm going to post them because (a) I find them interesting and (b) somebody out there might recognize them.

The first is a wedding photo.


(Click on images to enlarge)
Images courtesy of E.H.

Judging by the style of the bride's dress, I'm guessing this dates to around 1880, give or take a few years. The photographer's name is on the back.



From this transcription of Goodspeed and Blanchard's Counties of Porter and Lake — Historical and Biographical (1882), we learn this:

John W. McLellan, photographer, is a native of La Porte County, Ind., his birth occurring August 2, 1848. He is the youngest son of a family of seven children, six yet living, born to Joseph and Fidelia (Reed) McLellan, who were natives of Vermont and Michigan, and of Scotch and Pennsylvania Dutch descent respectively. Joseph McLellan was a farmer, and came to La Porte County, Ind., in 1833, settling in Cool Spring Township, but afterward moving to Scipio Township, where he died in July 1881, preceded by his wife, both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John W. was reared in La Porte County, Ind., where he acquired a good common school education, afterward attending for two and one-half years the High School of Westville, Ind., and then attending and graduating from the State Normal School at Oswego, N.Y. He learned the photographic art in La Porte, Ind., of John Bryant, and for a short time afterward was engaged in the business at Rockford, Ill. In December 1873, he came to Valparaiso and purchased the studio of W.H. Hayward. He is a member of the National Photographic Association of the United States, and has an established and enviable reputation as a photographer. He was married August 20, 1873, to Miss Huldah A. Forbes, daughter of J.R. Forbes, appropriate mention of whom is made in the biographical department of Washington Township. To this union have been born two children — Mattie P. and Frank C., deceased. Mrs. McLellan was born July 13, 1849 in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. McLellan are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. McLellan is a Republican, and a member of the I.O.O.F.

So we know his photography work in Valpo goes back as early as 1873. A Valparaiso directory from 1885 still lists him as a photographer, with his studio in the Union Block (wherever that might be). Beyond that, I know nothing. But the timeframe of 1873 to 1885 is consistent with my guess at the picture's date.