By Wayne C. Temple

Christopher Smith German took some of the finest early photographs of Abraham Lincoln, only the second known photographer to capture the President-elect with a beard. Although German was a most skillful camera artist, little has been known about him previously. Now, we know that he was born in Adolphustown, Canada, on December 25, 1814. With good reason, he carefully avoided revealing his ancestry or early life. However, the history of that early Canadian settlement would explain his reluctance to discuss this subject.

Christopher Smith German was born in Canada and moved to Illinois before the Civil War. His National Gallery studio in Springfield was on the west side of the city square in January 1861, when he shot the first of at least three Lincoln portraits.

When the American Revolution finally ended with the Peace of Paris on September 3, 1783, those colonists who had fought for or aided the British in the conflict found themselves ostracized and their very lives sometimes threatened in the new United States. Therefore, the British government agreed to collect those that desired to leave their homes and settle in Canada. Seven sailing ships with the armed brig Hope of 40 guns sailed from New York harbor with these Loyalists on September 8, 1783. Northward into the Atlantic Ocean the convoy ploughed until it reached the mouth of the St. Lawrence River and then the emigres proceeded upstream to Quebec which they reached on October 8. Onward they navigated to Sorel where they spent a hard winter in tents. The group, which settled Adolphustown, arrived at this scenic wilderness spot on June 16, 1784. It lay in the fourth township from Fort Frontenac and had been named for Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge — a tenth son of King George III. It was surveyed during the year that the new settlers arrived.

Among this little band of Loyalists was a man named German. From the local census of March, 1794, we find that his full name was Christopher German. He headed a family of five and certainly was the grandfather of Christopher Smith German. From the U.S. Census of 1880, C. S. German admitted that he, himself, was born in Canada as well as his father and mother. The aforementioned and presumed grandfather would have either been born in the American Colonies or in Europe — not Canada — and mathematically the three generations would fit this pattern. C. S. German's father was Matthew German, born January 13, 1796; he married Margaret Smith, born September 19, 1792. She came from Fredericksburgh, Ontario, Canada. Christopher mentioned that his father had been a Methodist minister. Some of the Adolphustown settlers also were of this faith.

With Mr. German's reluctance to reveal facts about his early life, one must speculate about that period of his life. In writing about his daughter, Jennie German, who had married George Williams, son of Col. John Williams, on May 12, 1897, an editor was told later that Christopher S. German stemmed from Kingston, Canada. That city was much larger than Adolphustown, and German perhaps moved there to learn a trade. Family members reported that he had been a photographer "since early in the forties." That would, indeed, be quite early since photography did not come to the United States until 1839. One primary source placed German in Illinois about 1856. However, he is not listed in the 1855 Illinois State Census nor in the 1860 U.S. Census for Illinois.

Yet in 1859 or '60, he was selling "artists materials" in Red Bud,

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Randolph County, Illinois. In 1871, he recalled that he had been a photographer in the Capital City for over ten years, making his arrival to be in late 1860 or early 1861. But he certainly did not come in late 1860, because on December 21, 1860, Woodward Wright and Agustin Duboce published an advertisement proclaiming that Capitol Gallery on the West Side of the Public Square was now reopened with their previous six years of experience in the trade, and boasted that theirs was "the only establishment of the kind in this Western Country." Wright, they admitted, had been gone for two years, dwelling in California and Mexico, but was now back and ready for business. Yet their "Christmas Special" ad quickly disappeared from this newspaper. Wright & Duboce's partnership dissolved almost as soon as it was formed. Duboce left for France.

It seems evident that German took over their establishment. He was operating his gallery as early as January 13, 1861, when he photographed President-elect Abraham Lincoln with his new beard. It is numbered 0-41. A beautiful, large, original print of this pose has this identification printed upon the bottom of its fine mounting: "PHOTOGRAPHED BY C. S. GERMAN, National Gallery, West Side Square, Springfield, Ill." (The first known photo of Lincoln with his sprouting beard was taken by Samuel G. Alschuler in Chicago on November 25, 1860. It is 0-40.) Again, German persuaded Lincoln to pose for him on February 9, 1861. By this time, his beard was much fuller and his hair longer. On the mounting, 0-43 is identified as being photographed by C. S. German in the National Gallery on the West Side of the Square. At this sitting, German also positioned Lincoln in a most unusual profile (0-44). It is a unique picture and shows more than any other study the contour of Lincoln's head in the back. Years later, an editor declared that "one of the best photographs of Abraham Lincoln" was taken by German and later acquired by the Illinois State Historical Library. When C.S. German came to Springfield he was a single man. Within a year after his arrival, he met Mrs. Cordelia Ann Lynch who was either widowed or divorced. She and German had come to town at about the same time. In 1860, Mrs. Lynch was 25 years old and born in New York. She was then living by herself in a rather large boarding house in Middleport, Iroquois County, Illinois, with no stated occupation. Middleport was founded in 1836 and soon became an important crossroads settlement. In 1865, though, it was swallowed up by Watseka which became the county seat. If Christopher had known of Cordelia's past, he might have surmised that she perhaps fit the pattern of a "loose woman."

Anyhow, on December 31, 1861, Christopher and Cordelia appeared before N. W. Matheny, the Sangamon County Clerk, and secured a marriage license. On the following day, they were married at the residence of the bride by the Rev. Reuben Andrus. German was regarded as a very religious person of the Methodist faith, and he had secured the services of a most prominent clergyman. Andrus had been born in Rutland, Jefferson County, New York, on January 29, 1824. Early in his life, he came to Illinois, attended Illinois College at Jacksonville from 1844-1847, but graduated from McKendree College at Lebanon, Illinois, in 1849. As a Methodist minister, the following year he founded Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington. There, he served as a professor but soon began preaching in various places: Beardstown, Decatur, Quincy, Springfield, and Bloomington. Later, he moved to Indiana and died in Indianapolis on January 17, 1887.

Unfortunately and tragically, Christopher discovered shortly after his marriage that he was not the only man who slept in Cordelia's bed! He proceeded to acquire the legal services of James C. Conkling, a most prominent attorney and former mayor of Springfield, and sued to annul and dissolve his bands of matrimony on the grounds of adultery. In the Chancery Division of the Sangamon County Circuit Court on August 20, 1863, the union was terminated with Christopher paying all the court costs. There were no children involved.

The Springfield Directory for 1863 listed "Mrs. C. German" on page 80 and gave her address as Fifth between Jackson and Edwards. In the following year she was derisively termed a "grass widow" living on Tenth Street, between Madison and Mason. However, on August 30 later that same year (1864) she married Charles H. Goodman. Her marriage to Goodman did not last, either. In 1870, she was alone, working as a dressmaker in the household of Fred and Eleanora Romburg at Quincy, Illinois. And then the trail of Cordelia ends.

Some photographers in this period of time moved about quite often from city to city in order to find new customers. They would take pictures of those in that place, exhaust the market, and then go elsewhere. C. S. German, however, remained in Springfield for many of the years following his arrival. He was most successful, too. By 1862, he was operating three galleries! The Union Gallery stood over Brown & Co. Drug Store,

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which was on the southwest corner of the Public Square. His National Gallery was located on the West Side of the Square over the Chatterton's Jewelry Store. His City Gallery was on the South Side of the Square over E.B. Hawley's Store.

With money to invest, German on December 1, 1863, purchased from Peleg C. Canedy a building in a prime location. For $6,600 he received the property described as beginning at the Northwest corner of Lot No. 1, in Block 14 of the Old Town Plat and thence west along Washington Street for 33 feet, more or less, to the northeast corner of the lot sold to John H. Jess, [Lot. No. 4] thence south 100 feet parallel with line of said lot, then east 33 feet to the west line of Lot 1 in Block 14, thence north 100 feet to the place of beginning. Evidently, that property Just off the Square had not yet received a lot number, but it turned out to be Lot 3.

Soon after buying this structure, German rented, by the month, the east ten feet to George W. Anderson, a tailor. When Anderson did not pay his rent, German went to L. B. Adams, a Justice of the Peace, and swore out a warrant of Forceable Detainer against Anderson on February 1, 1865. It was served that same day, evidently with successful results in removing the tenant.

Anderson, who advertised as a "merchant tailor" moved his shop from German's building to the basement of the American House on the southeast corner of the square.

At fifty years of age and divorced, C. S. German next courted Mrs. Louisa (Barrett) Van who had moved to Springfield from Otter Creek Township, Jersey County, Illinois. Either widowed or divorced, she had been born in England. Miss Barrett was just seventeen when on May 5, 1860, in Jersey County, she married Henry Van, a twenty-four-year-old farmer, born in New York. Although only married for just three months, the Vans had a six-month-old son, named Willis W. Van in the family when the U. S. Census was taken there on August 11, that same year. Was Louisa pregnant when she married Van? Was Willis the son of Henry by another woman or wife? The answer cannot be given. Anyhow, German took to wife Mrs. Van in Springfield on March 20, 1864. Instead of asking a Methodist minister to marry them, German petitioned the Rev. Albert Hale of the Second Presbyterian Church to officiate, even though he supposedly did not belong to Hale's congregation. Rev. Hale (Nov. 29, 1799 —Jan. 30, 1891) graduated from Yale in 1827; he had come to the Second Presbyterian Church in 1839. A beloved preacher, many in Springfield called him "Father Hale." Somehow, Mr. German kept the marriage notice from appearing in the local press, and today the actual license is even missing! But the original marriage register contains the vital information within its massive pages. Willis Van did not come to Springfield with Mrs. Van, either. With Christopher, Louisa had several children: William O., George G., Jennie A., Sarah and Daisy.

At the time of Mr. German's second marriage, he was still taking photographs at the National Gallery on the West Side of the Square, over Chatterton's Jewelry, and he certainly lived in an apartment adjoining the studio, although he also operated the City Gallery on the South Side of the Square. He specialized in cartes de visites, oil-colored photographs and very large pictures. He termed himself a Photographic Artist.

Shortly after his marriage, C. S. German on May 17, 1864, purchased from the same Peleg C. Canedy for $5,400 the North Half of Lot No. 23 and the 40 feet off of the South part of Lot No. 22 in Block 2 in the Edwards Addition to the Town of Springfield. This tract consisted of portions of two lots, which lay in the second and third lots north of Madison Street and fronting on Sixth Street, a prime location. And according to William Sides 1858 map of Springfield, there was already a large building there. It was certainly an investment, since the Germans did not live there at this time.

In 1865, C. S. German and wife are not listed in the Illinois State Census. It would appear that John F. Crowder had taken over German's Gallery on the West Side of the Square. German is not listed in the local directory as a photographer or a resident of Springfield. Previously, J.F. Crowder had worked with Washington Crowder & Company at Illinois Mills on the corner of Washington and Third, a brick manufacturing plant. He was not then a photographer. It would appear that Crowder was operating the studio in a partnership with the absent German. In a private photo collection there is a cartes de visites which was stamped on its back: "UNION PICTURE GALLERY, West Side Capitol Square, Springfield, Ill. German & Crowder, Artists." This photograph bears a two-cent revenue stamp, which was mandated by the Federal Government beginning in 1862 to raise needed funds. So, the photo was taken sometime during the Civil War, and 1864-65 seems the best conclusion as to a date based on that stamp and directories. It is most possible, too, that W B. M. Colt was assisting Mr. Crowder with the studio, since one directory for this period lists him as "Proprietor" of the Union Gallery on the West Side of the Square. And he did take a photograph of the Lincoln Home on November 11, 1864. Perhaps with sufficient income, C. S. German and wife returned to Canada to visit family and friends for a year, or else he moved to another town to take pictures.

Note that evidently C. S. German strongly supported President Lincoln's administration, because when the Republican Party became the Union

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Party in 1864, German used that name instead of National. It sounded more patriotic in the North with the terrible conflict raging against the South.

By 1866, C. S. German was back in town, advertising as a photographer on the West Side of the Square but without a gallery name. He was over Chatterton's, as usual. He took out a whole page in the directory, perhaps to tell the public he was back in town, saying: "Photographs, Large and small, made in the best manner, without regard to cost! Also the Porcelain picture, or Albatypc, than which no finer picture is made. Photographs in oil or water colors. Fine ambrotypes are also made for lockets, etc. He is the oldest photographer in Springfield, and always strives to make the best work, for which he gets the best prices, makes but little noise, and generally pleases the most fastidious. Those, at least, who are willing to allow the Artist to be, in some degree, the best judge. The public are gratefully thanked for past favors, and no pains will be spared to please in future."

However, by 1867 or 1868, German had moved his studio north to a spot on Fifth Street, between Jefferson and Madison, and he resided at 209 North Sixth Street in a building which he owned. Printed on the front of a mounted carte de visite for his new gallery were these words: "Photographic Reflector and Art Saloon, C. S. GERMAN, Artist. North 5th Street, Springfield, Ill."

By this time, Crowder has disappeared from the photographic business. Yet, Isaac H. Voorhis and R. H. Dawson were both practicing this art on the West Side of the Public Square. Dawson resided at the same address, but Voorhis lived on the west side of 4th near Madison. On one of his photographic mounts, Voorhis announced: "ISAAC H. VOORHIS Photographic Artist, Successor to C. S. German over Chatterton's Jewelry Store."

German shot this portrait of Lincoln at his National Gallery Studio on the west side of the city square in Springfield.

Yet within a year or so, C. S. German had moved back to his old location on the West Side of the Square where he joined R. H. Dawson and Isaac H. Voorhis in the same general location. Both German and Dawson lived at their business address, but Voorhis kept his residence on 4th Street.

When the census taker visited Springfield in 1870, he discovered that German was practicing photography while his wife, Louisa, kept house. After moving about, German evidently determined to let his faithful clients know that he was still in business but at 20 West Side of the Square. Voorhis had moved to a room at the corner of 5th and Adams. Said the editor of the city directory in 1871: Mr. German is "a successful operator, as his large business most conclusively proves. His work has always been of a high order, and compares favorably with that of any gallery in the west. He pays particular attention to getting up fine work, large and small copying and coloring. If you want a good looking picture you must take good looking countenance with you, as he will surely show you just as you look. State Gallery, west side of the square." Note the new name of the studio: State Gallery.

In 1872, German was still at No. 20 West Side of the Square, but he resided on West Grand Avenue (now MacArthur) near Governor. Sometime after this notice appeared, C. S. German and family again disappeared from Springfield about 1873. It would appear that the firm then became known at German & Drenkel, the former being the absent partner. This studio was at 117 1/2 South Fifth, which, of course, was on the West Side of the Square, too. The active partner was Daniel R. Drenkel who later advertised as an artist. However, at some later date, the firm became known as the Drenkel Brothers, successors to German & Drenkel. The other brother was H.W. Drenkel. They stamped on the back of their photos: "No Work done on Sundays."

While the German family were absent from Springfield, Louisa German died on November 3, 1878. No mention of her demise was printed in the local press, but her body was brought to Oak Ridge Cemetery for burial. Christopher had purchased Lot 68 in Block 8 in September of

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1865, and the family buried their ten-month-old son, Edward S., there on October 13, 1865. Also, Louisa's mother, Mrs. Jane Barrett, was interred in this lot on March 19, 1867.

Family members recalled that the Germans had been away from Springfield for approximately six years in the 1870s. That estimate seems reasonable. They must have left about 1873, and they returned about 1879. In 1880, the census taker found them in Springfield. C. S. German was still a photographer; his son, William O., was 14 and working as a [photo] printer; Jane A. (called Jennie), 13, in school; Sarah F. L., 10, in school; George G., 6, in school; Christiana, 4, at home. All children had been born in Illinois, indicating that the family had been residing somewhere within the State during their absence from Springfield.

The Springfield City Directory for 1881-1882, listed German as being at 107 West Side of the Square, and the Drenkel Brothers were at 117 in that same block. But L. S. Anderson's Photographic Studio occupied German's old location over Chatterton's, 117 1/2. Anderson boasted that he had made great improvements to the property and offered new "Parlor" and "Park" background portraits. His large ad appeared on the back cover. But by 1882, he was gone from that location. In 1882, German secured his old quarters at 117, "upstairs," on the West Side of the Square. There, he lived, also. It once more became known as 117 1/2. At this address he remained with his family until he died By 1884, C. S. German had assistance in the studio from his daughter, "Jennie." She worked as a photo-printer while her younger sister, Sarah, was in school. From that date forward, German personally operated his gallery with family assistance until the last twelve months of his life. In that year, he listed no occupation in the city directory, but he was occupying his usual living quarters.

By 1891, his son, George German, worked as an "artist" with his father. George evidently colored photographs, etc. He continued this art work the follow ing year, but Jennie German no longer printed photographs for her father; she had become a music teacher. In 1894, George had advanced to become a full-fledged photographer with his father. Yet by 1895, George was the sole photographer in the German Studio. As Springfield got more and more photographers working their trade, George G. German eventually quit this profession and his gallery to become a laborer. At one time he even lived in Athens, Illinois.

At 10:30 p. m. on Friday, May 15, 1896, C. S. German died in his residence, 1171/2 on the West Side of the Public Square. He was 81 years, 4 months and 20 days old. It was said that German was the oldest photographer in the United States. Dr. W. P. Armstrong, M. D., signed his death record and affirmed that "Old Age" caused his death, with "Cerebral Softening" as a contributing factor. John Foster prepared the body for burial.

From the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Springfield, the obsequies for German started at 3 p. m. on May 17. His pallbearers were all photographers: August W. Kessberger, Lyman S. Anderson, W. S. Parks, William H. Hendricks, J. Henry Ross and E. D. Sidwelk At this time, the congregation had just been assigned a new pastor, the Rev. J. M. Stevenson of West Springfield, but the interim minister was Prof. Melvin Porter Lackland, A. M., of Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington. It was the latter who probably conducted the funeral service. (Although it has been stated in several primary sources that C. S. German was a devout Christian and a Methodist, no record of his membership in this local church has been found.) After the last rites, the body was taken north to Oak Ridge Cemetery and interred in the family plot: Lot 68 of Block 8. So ended the life of another man who had known Abraham Lincoln and had become part of his legend.

Still a widower when he died, German left several children to mourn his passing: William O. German, George G. German, Jennie A. German, Mrs. Sarah Cregan and Mrs. Daisy Anderson. But none of the family members continued C. S. German's photo business. Instead, Harvey W. Scott took over the premises for his dental operatory. He also resided at this address: 117 1/2 South Fifth Street on the West Side of the Square. And right below his establishment at 117 was the Myers Brothers Clothing Store.

Dr. Wayne Temple is Deputy Director of the Illinois State Archives and recognized around the world for his knowledge and expertise on the subjects of Abraham Lincoln and his contemporaries. He is the author of numerous books, including Abraham Lincoln: From Skeptic to Prophet and The Taste is in my Mouth A Little.... Lincoln's Victuals and Potables. The author wishes to thank Linda Garvert, Teena Groves, Richard E. Hart, Susan Krause, Curtis Mann, Mary Michals, and Ed Russo for their contributions to this article. An annotated version of this article is available online at www.historyillinois.org.

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