Story #41
FINLEY BLACK, PHOTOGRAPHER
A few of the photos on this website, particularly those with this story, were the purported endeavors of Finley Black. While the starting point of his interest and later dates of his occupation as a photographer remain in question, it is generally accepted his earliest known photograph was produced in 1860. He had been born in the Hoop Ridge area of Adams County, married a county girl, Eliza Ann Kerr. They moved to Scioto County where they raised part of their family and later moved to the Sinking Spring area where two more sons were born. Finley and Eliza's nephew, Joseph Fry, joined together to establish and operate a woolen mill in the village, manufacturing blankets and coverlets to be sold throughout the Ohio Valley and beyond. After Fry's death at the premature age of 26, the mill closed and Black enlisted in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry where he served for just over seven months before being discharged on a Surgeon's Certificate on February 6, 1862. He was apparently able to develop his photography skills while serving as a private and provided a number of prints of various military activities.
Upon his return to Sinking Spring, he opened a studio for portraiture, however most of his work concentrated on the out-of-doors and its natural beauty, focusing particularly on Adams, Highland, Hocking, Franklin and Greene Counties. He traveled extensively with his camera and supplies for the wet plate photography process in his horse-drawn, self titled, “What-Is-It-Wagon.” A few of his non-nature photos were believed to have been transformed into pen and ink sketches and published by historian Henry Howe in his “Historical Collections of Ohio.” Black was also known for his stereoscopic views of the Rocky Fork and Seven Caves areas.
The following photographs were found for sale on the internet. Their descriptions indicated they were copies taken from original glass slide negatives of people, places and events in and around Peebles in the early 1900's. No verification of the details was offered with those listings. There are a few items to take into consideration when trying to date the pictures: the photo of the WCTU group (Women's Christian Temperance Union) on a parade wagon shows a number of women presumed to be members of the organization. The woman near the front, under the sign, next to the man, bears a striking resemblance to Annie Turner Wittenmeyer, who was born at Sandy Springs in Adams County. She became president of the world-wide organization and served until moving to Iowa with her family in 1850, where she died in 1900. The horse drawn tank in another picture was listed as a Standard Oil Company wagon from Peebles. Standard Oil (Ohio) began operations in 1870. The U.S. flags decorating the various units cannot be seen clearly enough to determine a time period. It is also interesting to note Mr. Black died in 1883 and is buried at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Sinking Spring.
The Gaffin Store in downtown Peebles
Thomas Undertaker & Hardware
a barber shop in Peebles
described as Markins Store at Fawcett
G.A.R. Parade Unit
Women's Christian Temperance Union
Annie Wittenmyer
Yankee & Sons Lumber Wagon
Standard Oil Wagon
