Fashionable Friday - Young Civil War Era Woman from Milwaukee, WI

This week's Fashionable Friday photograph features a CDV (Carte de Visite) from 1864 -1866 taken in Milwaukee, WI by photographer A. Marquis, Jr.  

The subject is identified as "Louisa" and unfortunately there is no last name given.  She appears to be in her teens and is seated in a chair leaning on a table.  She is wearing a dress with long sleeves, fitted at the waist with a belt and it has an unusual soutache like trim complete with a tie at the neck.  Miss Louisa is quite sweet and fashionable indeed!

I had very little luck finding information on the photographer.  I did find the below in the Milwaukee 1861 City Directory and again in the 1878 Directory, but found no mention of him (or her) in the cencus.  I had no luck Googling him as well.  The revenue stamp on the reverse gives us the date of 1864 - 1866.

Milawaukee City Directory 1861

Wedding Wednesday - Young, Beautiful Bride, Older, Rich Groom?

This week's Wedding Wednesday photo features the most beautiful young bride.  She is tall, willowy, ethereal and as she gazes off into the distance I do not believe she looks happy. Her groom is much older, nearly bald and I would guess he was probably wealthy to acquire such a beautiful young bride.  Her body language is very telling - note the way her fingers are barely touching his arm.  I could be wrong, but I don't think this young woman was looking forward to her wedding night!

Her dress is beautiful in its simplicity, there is no fussiness except for perhaps the small adornment of roses in her hair.  She does not appear to be wearing any jewelry yet she manages to look elegant and  graceful.  Her new husband, although seated, appears to be shorter than his wife.  He is wearing a plain, dark suit with small boutonniere.

The photographer was Ludwig F. Hammer, Jr. who had a studio at 1534 So. Broadway in St. Louis, MO.  Ludwig was born in Missouri in July 1867 to Carl Anton and Elizabetha Krieg Hammer, German emmigrants.  In 1896 he married Augusta Hammin and they had two children William B. and Nellie C. twins born in 1893.  Since the children's birth date is before the marriage date it is possible these were children from a first marriage of Ludwig's.  Ludwig had his studio at the South Broadway address from at least 1895 - 1908 according to City Directory listings on Ancestry.com.  Ludwig Hammer died in 1912.

Several things in the cabinet card give me reason to date this card right around the turn of the century; the bride's dress, the make and color of the card and the photographer's imprint with foil-like treatment. My belief is very early 1900's although it could possibly be the last couple of years in the 1890's, but most likely between 1900-1905.