"Grandmother Tharp" of Kentucky

We are attempting to identify "Grandmother Tharp" shown in the following picture probably taken in Kentucky, I guess ca 1880-1890's.

The picture was placed in an old leather-covered album of photos which was found at Pioneer Antiques in Jamestown, Kentucky (Russell County). (Pioneer Antiques, S Highway 127, Jamestown, KY 42629, 270-343-6250). Counties surrounding Russell are Casey, Pulaski, Wayne, Clinton, Cumberland and Adair. However, the album may have migrated some distance from its origin.

Other pictures are tin, and scans of some of the others follow. I am guessing they may have been taken from the 1890's to 1910.

The only notation on any of the photos is "Grandmother Tharp" on the reverse of the first photo, as shown. There are no other notations of persons' names, dates, or places anywhere in the album.

Some of the pictures state on the front that they were taken by "Smith & Wybrant" at "405 Main St." This location was in Louisville, Kentucky (Jefferson County) and the "Wybrant" was Frank W. Wybrant who was a prolific photographer in Louisville. He was in that business from 1859/1860 when he worked as an ambrotypist for dauguerrian Theodore H. Harris on Main Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets in Louisville to at least 1897. He is known to have travelled around to different counties in the region. So one can presume that the pictures may have been taken in any of the the surrounding counties, not necessarily just in Louisville. Surrounding Kentucky counties include: Meade, Hardin, Bullitt, Nelson, Marion, Spencer, Shelby, Oldham, Henry, Trimble and Carroll. Also, the actual pictures may have been taken by a travelling employee of the company, not necessarily Frank Wybrant himself. I do not know the extent of their business, so their area of travelling coverage may have been farther than the above counties. Further information about him follows the pictures.

One other picture has the name "Webster & Bros. Photographic Gallery. Louisville" on the back.

I do not have possession of the album so I cannot answer any questions directly, but will forward queries. Also, I am NOT a Tharp descendant; they are an allied line connection from the 1785 marriage in Kentucky of Perry Tharp (1757-1845) and Margaret Shuck (1768-1852) so my information is limited to some descendants of that line.

If you recognize any of the photos, please contact Neal

"Grandmother Tharp"

The Album

Other Pictures, Also Unidentified

The album contains a number of other pictures which are also unidentified. On the back of one of the photos is the name "Webster & Bros. Photographic Gallery. Louisville"

Scan 4


Scan 5


Scan 6


Scan 7


Scan 8


Scan 9


Scan 10


Scan 11


On the back of the above photo is the name "Webster & Bros. Photographic Gallery. Louisville"


Scan 13


Scan 14


There is also what appears to be a banner page for a J. Landy, a photographer, at 208 Fourth St. Cor. Plum, Cincinnati. Click here to see a scan of this page. This file is large and will take some time to download.

Smith & Wybrant

Following are bits of information about the photographer of some of the above, gleaned from the internet. From: Wybrant Families - Frank W. Wybrant Use the link to branch to the referenced links.

According to Craig's Daguerreian Registry:

Frank Wybrant, Photographer, Louisville, KY

Another Possible Reference to Frank Wybrant:

According to the The Filson Historical Society (aka Filson Club)

Orphans' Brigade Photo, taken by Frank Wybrant 1897


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