Unknown Regulator?

Comment by Steve McCarty on June 17, 2010 at 11:02am

I found five Ferrotypes in a Goodwill store near Viroqua, Wis., where George W. Morgan lived during the summers. While still making Ferrotypes he traveled in his wagon during the colder months. One cannot make Ferrotypes in sub zero weather. He didn't even have an office/shop until after 1883 when he changed to a more modern photographic method. He retired in 1891 and moved back to his home state of Tennessee, there in 1904 he died. He had been forgotten until I found what I believe is the Sallie Chisum collection. On one of the pictures was printed, "George W. Morgan, Viroqua, Wis." Then I traveled to Viroqua and found scores, maybe hundreds of other Morgan photos. He and his work should be remembered because he took such wonderful photographs, not to mention that there is a good possibility that he got photos of the Regulators and Billy Bonney.

Interestingly, in the Viroqua collection I found four different pictures of the man I believe might be Richard Brewer. We know that he left Wisconsin after his girlfriend, Matilda Davis jilted him for his cousin. Within what I believe is Sallie's collection is a possible tintype of Davis, and since she never got to New Mexico (as far as historians know) Sallie must have received the tintype from Brewer himself. I searched for a picture of Brewer within Sallie's collection that was strung out inside of bins and shelves in a little antique store in Oregon. I figured that she wasn't able to collect one, because while I think I found French, Rudabaugh, Folliard, Scurlock, Frank and George Coe, Brady, Olinger, Patron, McSween, Mason, Jones, Smith, Lily Casey, Phoebe and Helena Coe, . Then I found what I am pretty sure is a tintype of the famous leader of the Regulators, Richard Brewer in a Goodwill auction in Minnesota!

Are these tintypes authentic? That's the $64,000 dollar question! I think that they are, but apparently I don't have the horsepower or the pedigree to declare them a such. Therefore I'll leave it up to the reader to decide. I hope that people enjoy the collection. I'll keep posting more if there is any interest.

Comment by John Legrove on June 17, 2010 at 12:24pm

Slightly resembles Tom OFolliard in his 'accepted' photo?

Comment by Steve McCarty on June 17, 2010 at 4:50pm

I've got a wonderful picture of who I believe is Tom Folliard. I'll see if I can post it.

Comment by tim davis on January 5, 2012 at 2:04am

looks like photos i've seen of french. also looks like the guy who played him in ygII, but that's beside the point.... =( :0)}~~~

Comment by tim davis on January 5, 2012 at 8:24pm

oops, i meant hendry brown, they called him hendry french in the film....

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