Posted 5 years ago
scottvez
(977 items)
This is a 6th Cavalry Trooper photographed in the St. Paul, MN studio of F. Jay Haynes.
Haynes was a prolific Western photographer and has a significant collector following.
Uniform appears to be the M1885 or 1887 dress uniform. Helmet with numeral "6" can be seen on the studio rock. Looks to be an 1860 cavalry saber with three lines almost sharp enough to read (US, date, Inspector initials).
The photo dates from about 1889- 90s time period. Haynes opened his studio in St. Paul in 1889 which gives me a "no earlier than". I cannot find a reference to the 6th US Cavalry being in MN. They were moved to the Pine Ridge area during the Ghost Dance/ Wounded Knee time period.
Back of the card has a partial ID of John W. McN. Any thoughts on what this trooper was doing in MN or the identification is greatly appreciated.
Reproduction of these images in any form is prohibited.
Scott
Not exactly Hollywood's idea of uniforms back then.
Thanks watch, roycroft, vo, bobby, buss and stuff.
scott
Scottvez, hi, it has been years---five, actually. Hope all is well with you and your family. I was checking my password list and was reminded of this forum, hopped on, and saw your recent, challenging [as always] post.
You know I am out of my wheelhouse here, but ... After reading about this iconic photographer, Frank Jay Haynes, and his extensive travels, is it possible that the photograph was taken in Wyoming, or one of the Dakotas, or elsewhere? If any of the following helps your research, I will leave the 6th U.S. Cavalry participation and John W. McN connections to you. Here's hoping I haven't wasted your valuable time. :-)
After Haynes opened a studio "again" [in Minnesota] in St. Paul in 1889 (he opened his first studio in 1876 in Moorhead, Minnesota), his cardstock imprint was "Haynes / St. Paul." The back imprint noted "Branches / Yellowstone Park / Fargo, N.D. / In ordering duplicates address / Haynes, / St. Paul."
source: http://temposenzatempo.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-haynes-palace-studio-car.html. In addition, see the chronology below about his mobile Pullman car (1885-1904).
I made a connection to Wyoming not only because Haynes established a studio in Yellowstone Park in 1884 (see chronology below) but after I ran across this "F.J. Haynes Cabinet Card of Indian Wars Officers ... all wearing 6th Cavalry kepis, with St. Paul, Minn. imprint. Provenance: Descended directly through the family of John W. and Gordon Meldrum."
source, courtesy of Cowan Auctions: https://www.lotsearch.net/lot/f-j-haynes-cabinet-card-of-indian-wars-officers-42006419?page=17&orderBy=lot-title&order=ASC
The connection to Wyoming is the owner of the cabinet card, John W. Meldrum. He shared two associations with F. Jay Haynes, namely, American Indians and Yellowstone National Park. From Cowan's bio on another auction: "JOHN W. ("Jack") MELDRUM (1843 - 1936) ... moving to Cheyenne, WY in 1868 with his wife Emmaline. Two years later the Meldrums moved to Laramie where Jack became active in politics, serving as County Commissioner and in the Territorial Assembly. He was also active in the National Guard and served as a disbursing agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He was Acting Governor of the Territory in 1890 when Wyoming was admitted as the 44th state. In 1894 he was appointed Commissioner of Yellowstone National Park, a position he held for 41 years until his death in 1936."
source, courtesy of Cowan Auctions: https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/political-and-military-buttons-belonging-to-john-w-meldrum-of-wyoming-60726
Also, the 6th Cavalry Museum website says the 6th had various outposts in Nebraska, Wyoming, and Washington DC from 1890 to 1898.
source: https://www.6thcavalrymuseum.org/regimental-history
The following is a basic chronology for Haynes, summarized from the biographical sketch on the Archives West website,
source: http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv84210.
1876: Frank Jay Haynes established his studio in Moorhead, Minnesota, and there, obtained a commission with the Northern Pacific Railway. His charge was to supply publicity photos for the railroad and document all of its territory and new construction, from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Bismarck, North Dakota (the railroad system that ran to Puget Sound, Washington, was completed in 1883).
1877: He traveled 400 miles by stagecoach to photograph the Dakota Territory.
1879: Haynes moved his studio to Fargo, Dakota Territory (the Territory was admitted as two states in 1889), to continue his work for the railroad. From Fargo, he continually toured on the railroad.
1881: He took a trip to Yellowstone and saw the value of having a studio in the Park.
1883: Haynes became the official photographer for the Northern Pacific Railway.
1884: After he finally obtained a federal license to open a studio in Yellowstone Park, he constructed his studio/residence in Mammoth Hot Springs, Park County, Wyoming. His National Park Studio opened in the 1885 season and he still maintained his Fargo studio.
In 1885, he established a mobile studio, using a Pullman car, known as the Haynes Palace Studio Car. From 1885 to 1904, he traveled on the Northern Pacific Railroad between the Great Lakes and Puget Sound, Washington.
1889: Haynes closed his Fargo studio and opened again in Minnesota in a larger studio located in St. Paul.
Solver-- GREAT to hear from you again and thanks for providing the information.
I will go through it. I had seen the 6th Cavalry cabinet card you linked.
Again, I appreciate your input and more importantly hearing from you. I hope that you find time to post/ help out as time permits.
scott
Solver, I want to personally thank you for connecting me to the history of the 6th. My father was in the 6th and I have wondered about it's history. He didn't talk about it. I sent all that I saved of his things from that era to my sister. He didn't go overseas but have pics of him in Ft Oglethorpe with a/his horse and with cannons in the Chickamauga battlefield. He was a full colonel & she has all his cavalry time things I gave her since I don't live in the States and didn't think they should be here. I never saw his crossed sabres badge & have kept an eye out for them to add to his things, but never see them for the 6th. All I ever see is the 7th cavalry and if they are all real, the 7th must have had about 200K troopers ! LOL ! Of course they are all presented as "original".