John Harnage Scougall is the most well-known photographer from Kincardine. Though Scougall had a great eye and captured much of everyday living in Kincardine, he was not a “professional” photographer, and was not in the business of photography. Through Scougall’s time in Kincardine there were several professional photographers who had studios and practiced portraiture photography. Photographers’ whose work can be found in the Archives are Adam Clark Washburn, Hobert M. Le Gear, and Ross James Merritt.
Adam Clark Washburn
Adam C. Washburn was born ca. 1842 in Waterloo Township, where, as a young man he was a salesclerk in M.P. Empey’s store in Hawkesville, Ontario. He married Elizabeth Gonder in August of 1870. By 1876 Adam and Elizabeth had moved to Kincardine where Adam began his photography business on Queen St. On page 130 of the 1876 Bruce County Directory Washburn advertises that he “Guarantees First Class Work” and that “Copying and Enlarging will always receive my special attention”. Between 1895 and 1898 he gave up photography and became an agent with Federal Life Assurance Co. On the 1901 Canadian Census, Adam and his family were still located in Kincardine where he is listed as a General Merchant. By 1911, he was a bookkeeper living on Princess St. Adam Washburn died May 10, 1921, while living with his daughter in London, Ontario of tuberculosis. He is buried in the Kincardine Cemetery. This portrait of an unknown young man has Washburn’s mark in purple ink on the back of the matting.
Hobart M. Le Gear
Hobart M. Le Gear was born in Ontario ca.1850 and was living in Kincardine with his parents James and Amelia by 1861 where his father was a merchant. Hobart began his photography business between 1869 and 1871. Interestingly, Hobart is listed as an artist on the 1871 Canadian Census rather than as a photographer. Hobart continued his business through 1910. This cabinet card of Ida Macaulay Martyn was done by Le Gear and features his embossed name at the bottom of the card.
Ross James Merritt
Ross James Merritt was born December 5, 1877, to John Merritt and Sarah Anderson on Lot 10, South Line, Kincardine. He began his photography business between 1895 and 1898 and continued through 1911. Ross married Irene Driver in 1913. Ross died in 1941 and is buried with his parents and sisters in the Kincardine Cemetery. This studio portrait of Mrs. Steele and James Steele Sr. of Huron Township has Merritt’s stamp on the lower corner of the cardstock.