ROOT, Samuel

One of the Root pictures of Dubuque published in Stereographic Views of Dubuque and Surrounding Scenery

ROOT, Samuel. (Granville, OH, 1820--Rochester, NY, Mar. 11, 1889). Photographer. Root first appeared as a daguerreian, a photographer who specialized in daguerreotypes, in New York City, N.Y., from 1849 to 1857. In 1849, Marcus Root opened a New York City daguerreian gallery at the corner of Franklin Street and Broadway and placed Samuel in charge. In 1850, one of the Root brothers, probably Samuel, produced a daguerreotype of Jenny Lind in New York City. Samuel Root also daguerreotyped such important people as Henry Clay and Bayard Taylor.

From 1851 to 1853, Marcus and Samuel Root were listed as daguerreians at 363 Broadway, New York City. They were listed in both the 1851-1852 and 1852-1853 directories. In 1851, the Root Brothers exhibited eight double whole plate daguerreotypes, 14 full plates; 12 two-thirds plates; 14 half plates and two quarter-plates at the American Institute, Castle Garden, New York. They won silver medals in 1850 and 1852. In 1853 Samuel Root won the second prize in a national photographic contest in a national photographic contest sponsored by Edward Anthony, a major art dealer specializing in daguerreian photographs in New York.

By December 31, 1851, Marcus Root had sold out his interest in the gallery; it continued under Samuel Root and J.W. Thompson as Root & Co. In 1852-1853, Root & Co. were listed as daguerreians at 363 Broadway, New York City; the firm may have included G.S. Cook of Charleston, S.C. From 1853 to 1857, Samuel Root was listed as a daguerreian, 363 Broadway, New York City. He lived at the same address.

In 1855, Root employed his brother-in-law, Robert Henry Furman. Root may have sold his gallery in 1855, and Furman continued to work there until 1857. In 1859, Samuel Root & Co. was still advertised at 363 Broadway, New York City; Thomas Faris was listed as being in charge.

Root and his family moved to Dubuque in 1857, and he announced the grand opening of his gallery at 166 Main Street over Glackmeyer and McDonald's clothing store on October 20th of that year. Root moved his gallery to several locations during his time in Dubuque. In 1863 the city directory carried a full-page advertisement listing his business location as "S. Root's Premium Daguerrean and Photographic Gallery" still at 166 Main Street. In 1865 the directory listed the gallery as the corner of 8th and Main. By 1868 he had moved to the Sanford Block at the northeast corner of 8th and Main. He remained there for nearly twenty years. Root and Ephraim Cutter conducted a brief partnership, Root and Cutter Gallery, at that address in 1868.

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Root's daguerreotypes of many Dubuque residences and businesses formed the basis of a lithographic view of Dubuque published in 1858 by W.J. Gilbert, a local bookseller. Root published several stereographic series including Views of Dubuque and Vicinity, Scenery in and Around Dubuque, Stereographic Views of Dubuque and Surrounding Scenery, and Scenery on the Mississippi and Tributaries in the Vicinity of Dubuque, Iowa. In 1882 a hail storm destroyed the skylight of Root's gallery, but he made the best of the incident by photographing some of the largest "stones." On May 27, 1887, A. McKenzie announced that he had purchased Root's gallery.

Root died suddenly of a stroke while visiting his sister-in-law.