🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Not what but who

[GDub62]

Found in old family bible but nobody seems to know who he is. Can't find much on GW Slotterback either.

 

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[Retired Sarge]

I can only find one mention of a photograph by G.W. Slotterback of Ashland. But nothing on him as a photographer or on a studio he worked at.

 

[devldog]

Neat looking pic. He almost looks a lil' like Edgar Allen Poe.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Neat looking pic. He almost looks a lil' like Edgar Allen Poe.

I was leaning towards the subject looking like John Wilkes Booth. The OPs picture subject doesn't seam to have as wide a forehead as Poe did.

Then again the hairstyle and mustache were in vogue and a lot of people look alike from that period.

 

[pepperj]

Edgar Allen Poe had the saddle bags under his eyes in every photo in images.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Zooming in on the OPs picture, and the right hand side of coat/sleeve looks odd, and while the left hand is visible the right is not.

That has me wondering if he is missing his right arm...IF so (Big if) maybe a Civil War Veteran. Then again it could just be an artifact due to the angle of the picture/pose.

 

[Red-Coat]

Don’t know if this helps but the 1890 ‘special census’ of Ashland township in PA lists a ‘Mary E. Slotterback’ as the widow of ‘George Slotterback’. He’s stated to have served in the Civil War from 19th August 1861 to 22nd April 1863 with the rank of ‘Private’.

I don’t think there’s any particular reason to suppose the photograph is of anyone famous, rather than just being a member of the family to whom the bible belonged. As ‘Sarge’ said, a Google search turns up one other photograph attributed to G.W. Slotterback of Ashland, but it’s just a family portrait with no date given, although obviously from the same era as yours. This one (said to be of a guy called Robert Grant and an unnamed lady that's presumably his wife):

 

[GDub62]

I was leaning towards the subject looking like John Wilkes Booth. The OPs picture subject doesn't seam to have as wide as a forehead as Poe did.

Then again the hairstyle and mustache were in vogue and a lot of people look alike from that period.

Ha, I actually thought Booth myself till I compared the two

 

[GDub62]

Zooming in on the OPs picture, and the right hand side of coat/sleeve looks odd, and while the left hand is visible the right is not.

That has me wondering if he is missing his right arm...IF so (Big if) maybe a Civil War Veteran. Then again it could just be an artifact due to the angle of the picture/pose.

View attachment 2084528

Yes I noticed that too. Not a very clean pic

 

[Red-Coat]

Don’t know if this helps but the 1890 ‘special census’ of Ashland township in PA lists a ‘Mary E. Slotterback’ as the widow of ‘George Slotterback’. He’s stated to have served in the Civil War from 19th August 1861 to 22nd April 1863 with the rank of ‘Private’.

Note that although the census gives his dates of service and he didn't serve beyond April 1863, it doesn't say that he was killed in the war. He could have been invalided out. All that can be deduced from the record is that he died sometime between then and 1890, leaving Mary as his widow.

 

[Bramblefind]

I think this is his Findagrave indicating he died in 1871.

George W Slotterbeck (1825-1871) - Find a Grave...

Born in 1825. Died on 22 Nov 1871. Buried in Ashland, Pennsylvania, USA.

www.findagrave.com

Worthpoint lists two GW Slotterback photos but there are no images -

CDV Photo CUTE BOY on ROCKING HORSE Ashland, PA | #42645530

Boy on Rocking Horse 1860's carte de visite photograph by G. W. Slotterback of Ashland, PAShown enlarged, the photo is approx 2.5 by 4 inches, with trimmed corners. $3 P&H for first class mail for US

www.worthpoint.com

CDV Photo CIVIL WAR ERA WOMAN - ASHLAND, PA | #42671244

Full Length Portrait 1860's carte de visite photo by G. W. Slotterback (Although t is no indication on the back of thiss cdv as to town, I have another cdv by Slotterback listed with Ashland, PA noted

www.worthpoint.com

 

[GDub62]

Interesting info y'all. Thanks alot

 

[Deftone]

Just looked at the enlarged pic by Sarge. To me it looks like the right hand going in his coat with a thumbnail. While the left is gripping the arm of a chair or just balled up.

 

[Blackfoot58]

Neat looking pic. He almost looks a lil' like Edgar Allen Poe.

Yes, or John Wilkes Booth

 

[GlowingArtist]

Can you believe they wore those clothes!¡!

 

[cw0909]

Interesting info y'all. Thanks alot

I found a Sergeant George Slotterback from Schuylkill County Co. E, in chapter XX, there is an index
of names are any of them in your fam/or that fam bible

http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/schuylkill/pdf/munsell.pdf

 

[GDub62]

Can you believe they wore those clothes!¡!

Comfortable looking huh? I guess whatever kept you warm back then

 

[GDub62]

I found a Sergeant George Slotterback from Schuylkill County Co. E, in chapter XX, there is an index
of names are any of them in your fam/or that fam bible

http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/schuylkill/pdf/munsell.pdf

Not able to pull up your tab. I'm not aware of any family from the north. I guess he could have ventured up to Pa. though to that photographer. Probably will never know. Thanks for your input

 

[ARC]

Founding member of the Allman Brothers Band... err or perhaps Lynard Skynard.

 

[Blackfoot58]

Comfortable looking huh? I guess whatever kept you warm back then

Unfortunately her bathing suit looks like that too!😂