Cantey Collection

Interesting image by Soule & Burkhart, Photographers (no location). It appears that it was taken in Arizona. In front are two stage coaches. There are at least 16 covered wagons behind the Stages. The stages are pulled by mules. Opinions vary but best guess is that it is a supply convoy for one of the major mines in the area or supplies for one of the towns. I believe it is circa 1890-1900. Some damage to the photo's background but historically interesting content.

This cabinet photograph circa 1885-1890 by Bowring, Wisconsin is of a buckskin dressed American Indian in a fine, fringed buckskin jacket, pants, and wide brim western hat. He has an early tomahawk in his left hand and he is holding a small box in his right hand. When you have collected this type of image for over 50 years, you have thousands of pictures in your mind that you have seen. I am very sure I have seen a picture of this man before but I cannot remember where. I have an idea he was in the Patent Medicine business and the box may be a boxed bottle of his medicine. But, I could be wrong and perhaps will never identify him. At any rate, it is an outstanding and valuable photograph. 

Original framed cabinet photograph circa 1890s of John Wilson Vermillion. Contemporarily IDed on the back of the image, JWV carved in the back of the frame, and documented in a letter written to his wife Nannie Fleenor Vermillion by a personal friend of the Vermillion's and a member of Vermillion's church. In the letter, she acknowledges receipt of the framed photograph, a prayer book, and a small box that had belonged to Rev. Vermillion from Nannie after Rev. Vermillion's death. . I have all three items and the letter.
Vermillion was a Confederate soldier under General Joseph Wheeler and Nathan Bedford Forrest during the Civil War.  After the War,  the went to Dodge City in in late 1870s where he met the Earps and Doc Holliday.  He is listed as a special policeman under Virgil Earp during the Tombstone fire in 1881. After the killing of Morgan Earp in 1882, he rode with Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday during the Vendetta ride.  In 1883 he was back in Dodge City, Kansas on the side of Bat Masterson during the Dodge City War.  After that he became involved with the Soapy Smith gang in 1888 in Idaho. Circa 1890, He went back to Virginia and settled in the town of Big Stone Gap and worked as a Methodist preacher. He died in Virginia with his second wife Nannie Fleenor Vermillion and one son, Opie Vermillion, and a daughter Minnie Bell Vermillion, in 1911. His grave along with his wife is in Mendota Cemetery in Virginia. This photograph of "Texas Jack Vermillion" is 100% documented and authentic.

Cabinet photograph of a trick rider in a Wild West Show. It was taken by J.H. Trezise in Harrisburg, Pa in the late 1880s. As in most early images taken outside, it is very light in some areas. In this case, it is the rider's head and hat. He is making the horse rear up on his hind legs. It is not an unusual trick but not often seen in images of this period. He is in wholly chaps and cowboy gear. Notice the tent walls behind him.

Much published and famous cabinet photograph of James "Jim" Masterson, younger brother of Bat Masterson. I waited all my life to own this image. First time I saw it reproduced was in a book of western characters I use to look at over and over again when I was 6, 7 or 8 years old. It was taken by D.B. Chase in Trinidad, Colorado in the 1880s. He was on the Police Force there at the time. See the last (tintype) image I posted just before this one for more of his outstanding record as a law enforcement officer. It is 100% original and from the Jim and Teressa Earl collection.