IAGenWeb Project - Clayton co.


The Brown's
ca mid-1890's


The Brown's, Clayton Ridge, photographer 'Chase'
The Browns

~Steve included this note with the photo: "This old picture was in a box of pictures from Neva's grandfather's estate. Neva's grandfather, Sylvester W. Butts, was born in Clayton County. His parents are buried in Eastside Cemetery.   All we know is that the couple in the picture are the Browns from someplace called Clayton Ridge and the picture was taken by a photographer named Chase in Guttenberg. They were friends of Sylvester's mother."

~photo contributed by Steve & Neva Nelson

~Clayton co. coordinator comments:
1. This photo appears to date from the early - mid 1890's, and both Mr. and Mrs. Brown appear to be in their 70's. The 1885 Iowa census, Clayton co. enumerates two couples in the vicinity of Clayton Ridge (near Guttenberg) who would be about the right age by the estimated 1890-1895 time-period.....

David (b. ca1837) & Dinah (b. ca1839) Brown
William (b. ca1830) & Louisa (b. ca1838) Brown

Perhaps the above photo is of one of these couples? Anyone who can positively ID these people, please email the Clayton co. coordinator.

2. Edwin W. Chase 1853-1923, was a photographer in Guttenberg from approx. 1893 until his death in 1923.  According to the 1915 Iowa State census he had lived in Iowa for 22 years, so he likely set up his photography business in Guttenberg about 1893. He appears on the 1895 Iowa State census in Guttenberg, occupation photographer.  On the 1920 US census, Guttenberg, he continued to give his occupation as photographer, and that he owned his own shop.  Mr. Chase is buried in the Guttenberg cemetery.

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