Alexnder Hesler

Robert Fergus City Directory for the Year 1855

Hesler Alexander

D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859
Hessler Alexander, daguerreotypist, 22 Metropolitan blk, h same

Halpin & Bailey’s City Directory for the Year 1863
Hesler Alexander, photographer, 113 Lake, h. W. Lake, nr. Reuben.

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1866
Hesler Alexander, photographer, r. 591 W. Lake
Hesler’s Gallery, A. Watson & Co. proprs. 113 Lake

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
Hesler A. & Co. (A. Hesler and John Dorchester), photograph and ambrotype stock 118 Lake

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
Hesler Alexander (Hesler & Peabody) 96 State, house Evanston

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1884
Hesler Alexander, photog. 96 State, h. Evanston

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1885
Hesler Alexander, photog. 96 State, h. Evanston

Chicago Tribune, January 16, 1864

A NEW THING IN ART.—The new Argentotype is to other pictures as silver and gold to other metals, and to Alexander Hesler belongs the credit of introducing them in this city. He has made the daguerreotype truly an art, and wrought at its development with untiring diligence. The Argentotype stands at the crown of his labors and discoveries. It is in appearance a miniature painting, with a brilliancy and tone that coupled with the accuracy insured by the camera, produce one of the finest effects we have yet seen realized and one destined to become most popular with the public. In an earlier stage of the discovery we referred to this new class of pictures, but since then the process has been made complete, and the results are what we have stated. Mr. Hesler’s name will be connected with the daguerreotype art for all to come.

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Chicago Tribune, December 7, 1858

VIEWS OF CHICAGO.—There be many views of Chicago extant, and varied in character. There are views, and these chiefly at the East, that Chicago is a bubble, and the bubble is expected to break, and old hunks sits with his money bags ready to be in at the death, for a share of the pieces.

Now we know of a conflicting “View” to the above, and it just—Hesler’s, who, as if to show his confidence in Chicago, has stepped in and taken the whole, from Lake View to Cottage Grove, and to the prairies on three sides of us. If any one can glance at Hesler’s Panoramic Photograph View of Chicago, and still believe Chicago a bubble, he will further believe that the pieces will be worth the picking up when that bubble bursts.

A leading business man at Boston has, in accepting the above view of Hesler’s View, procured a copy, with the design of putting it up in the Merchant’s Exchange of that city. If it do not convince some of the “solid men” there—away that Chicago is a “settlement” of promise, they are beyond conviction. We believe it would be for the advantage of our city to place these views of Hesler’s in every “Change room of the seaboard cities.

Chicago Tribune, August 6, 1859

The Journal says that a London Insurance Company having instructed their Chicago agent to take no risks in our “wooden city,” a copy of Hesler’s great photograph, the city at a glance, has been sent out to refute the calumny.

Chicago Tribune, August 26, 1859

VIEWS OF THE CITY.—Of a verity there be many views of Chicago, and they differ somewhat; but none are more striking and reliable than this the sun paints for Hesler. We stated, the other day, that he has sent to England—on orders from capitalists—a copy of his large panorama photograph of Chicago. We learn that the latter work will probably be exhibited at the National Fair, under magnifiers, after the “dioramic view” style, to give the thousands of strangers what they will scarcely get in any way equally as well—a view of the entire city at a glance. Hesler, at his new gallery on Lake street, has also just completed some exquisite views of that prominent business street.

Chicago Tribune, October 10, 1879

EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREAT FIRE IN CHICAGO,
We take pleasure in announcing the return to this city of Mr. A. Hesler, the veteran photographer, who for many years preceding the great fire was recognized as being pre-eminent in his line and the most popular and successful of the fraternity in Chicago. After the fire, which occurred eight years ago yesterday, Mr. Hesler removed his studio to Evanston, where he recently took into partnership Mr. H. G. Peabody. Messrs. Hesler & Peabody are now located at the northwest corner of State and Washington streets, and yesterday their spacious and elegant apartments were thronged all day and evening, the occasion being the first grand opening and photographic art reception tendered by the firm.

The Photographic Times, September, 1895

Alexander Hesler, the veteran photographer, and one of the finest daguerreotypists whoever lived, died at Evanston, July 4th last. Mr. Hesler was stricken with what appeared to be apoplexy, and he did not regain consciousness. Mr.Hesler was over seventy year sold, and his age made it appear doubtful whether he would recover; dissolution came to the old gentleman without pain or consciousness.

Hesler was probably the oldest photographer in Chicago. He had a studio here many years before the great fire, and suffered with many other citizens in that calamity. Soon after the fire here moved his business to Evanston, where he remained until 1880, when he returned to Chicago. For a long time his studio was located at Randolph and State Streets. At the time of his death it was at 147-153 Fifth Avenue. The veteran photographer’s “Picturesque Evanston,” a book of views of every point of interest in that little city, gained a wide circulation and made the artist many friends.

Was a Great Daguerrotypist.
General Arthur Ducat said to-day:

Perhaps no other sportsman who went into the new western country in those early days, enduring all manner of hardship and exposure, was as great a wild fowl shot as Alexander. He and his companions, the late Charles Winston and Sydney Kent’s brother, made a trio of hunters who were not excelled in their time. The deceased leaves three sons and a daughter. One son is a surgeon in the United States Navy, another is with Reid, Murdoch & Co., and the third is attending college. In brief, I think that is a fair sketch of my old friend Mr. Hesler.

Hesler and “Hiawatha.”
G. A. Douglass, the photograph-supply man, who had known Alexander Hesler for years, was surprised to learn that the photographer had passed away.
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“The old gentleman was a truly great artist; in fact the leading daguerreotypist in the country,” remarked Mr.Douglass. “He came to Chicago from Galena and did the best work in the West. Of late he had been doing work for Milander Bros., and it pleased him greatly to think that so many photographers were assisting in reviving an era of daguerreotyping, for one of these pictures, well made, he considered a grand work of art. It has been made the subject of much comment among artists and poets that it was Mr. Hesler who was principally responsible for the inspiration which induced Henry W. Longfellow to write ‘Hiawatha.’ The incident became known at a dinner in this city attended by old-time photographers, at which anecdotes were discussed as well as choice morsels and cigars.

It seems that Mr. Hesler, armed with his picture-taking paraphernalia, wandered into the Northwest in search of nature’s beautiful retreats. This was in 1851, and in August of that year he tramped over the present site of Minneapolis. There was no sign of a city at that time. Coming upon the falls of Minnehaha, he took several views of the natural poem. While arranging his pictures he was accosted by a man who said his name was George Sumner. The latter purchased two pictures of Minnehaha to take to his home in the East, remarking that he would retain one and give the other to his brother Charles.

“The incident had nearly been forgotten by Mr. Hesler when it was revived in a startling manner. He received an elegantly bound volume of a work by Long fellow, and the principal poem was ‘Hiawatha.’ On the flyleaf was the poet’s signature and the legend ‘With the Author’s Compliments.’ Hesler was puzzled to account for the poet’s solicitude, and almost a year after the receipt of the book he met George Sumner, who explained the mystery.”

Longfellow Saw the Picture.
“It seems that the daguerreotype had got into Long fellow’s possession and, taking it with him into the woods, he got his inspiration, as he said, from the pretty view, and wrote ‘Hiawatha.’ Mr. Sumner said that it was a good thing for the poet that it was the counterfeit of Minnehaha Falls, not the real article, that the poet gazed upon for his inspiration, otherwise there would have been no ‘Hiawatha’ written. Hesler must have been a great artist to move a poet so with his handiwork.”—Chicago Evening Post.

Chicago Tribune, July 6, 1895

Alexander Hesler, the pioneer photographer of Chicago, and for many years the most famous daguerreotypist in the United States, died at his home in Evanston yesterday morning at 8 o’clock. Mr. Hesler had not been ill twenty-four hours. While taking a flashlight picture in the afternoon of July 4 for one of his neighbors he was stricken with apoplexy. He became unconscious and was removed to his home, No. 216 Lake street, where he died the next morning without regaining consciousness. The funeral exercises will be held at the house Sunday at 4 p.m. and the internment will take place at Racine, Wis., the next day.

Mr. Hesler’s photographs made him famous. Among them are two of Abraham Lincoln, the first ever taken of the martyr President. The one of Minnehaha Falls. taken in 1856, is said to have inspired Longfellow to produce “Hiawatha.” Mr. Hesler has won many medals from international exhibitions. He was honored thus at the Crystal Palace of Londin, the Centennial Exposition, and the Paris Exposition.

Mr. Hesler was born of English parents in July, 1823, at Sorell, near Montreal, Canada. He came West when a young man and settled at Racine, Wis. He was in the hardware trade for a while, but in 1847 he learned daguerreotyping. He followed this profession for two years in Racine, and removed to Galena. While in the latter city he prepared an exhibit of daguerreotypes for the Crystal Palace Exhibition at London in 1851, on which he received several medals, one of which was a first prize. He came to Chicago in 1853, where he became famous. From 1853 to 1858 he occupied rooms in the old Metropolitan Block, and from 1858 till the building was burned in the great fire he occupied quarters at No. 113 Lake street.

After photography had superseded daguerreotyping he became well known also in that line. His “bird’s eye view of Chicago” taken the year before the fire² from the top of the Court House, has become famous and is now the most correct likeness of what the city was in those days.

In February, 1857, Mr. Hesler took a daguerreotype picture of Mr. Lincoln. It was duriungb the time of Lincoln and Douglas were stumping the State together, and Lincoln came over to his office one day from the Court House and said “the boys wanted him to have a picture taken.” Mr. Hesler made a bust picture which was nearly a profile of the right side. The picture is similar to one taken four years later, with the exception that Lincoln’s hair in the first one was long and appeared disheveled, Mr. Hesler suggested at the time that he comb it, but Lincoln said no, the boys would not know if he did. Mr. Lincoln was so well satisfied with this picture that after his first nomination, when there was a call throughout the country for his likeness, he sent to Chicago for Mr. Hesler, who went to Springfield in June, 1860, and made two more pictures of the great statesman. One of these became the most famous likeness of Lincoln, taken while his face was yet unbearded. It was almost a profile, showing the right side of his face.

Makes Pictures of Lincoln.
The other picture taken at this time was almost a front view. The uneven outline of his face, his high cheek bones, show up distinctly against a dark background in this portrait. His coat was plain black and he wore a black bow tie, with a white collar turned loosely over it. These two pictures in miniature were ordered by the hundreds of thousands and sent all over the country.

In 1855, Mr. Hesler was in Minnesota and took what was probably the first picture of the Falls of Minnehaha. It was in November and the trees and brush in the vicinity were glistening with frost from the spray and the adjacent rocks were covered with snow. A copy of this picture was given to Henry W. Longfellow. A year later Mr. Hesler received a copy of “Hiawatha,” with the compliments of the author and an autograph letter from him saying that was Mr. Hesler’s picture of the romantic falls that suggested to him the poem. When he wrote the poem Mr. Longfellow had never seen the falls, and it was not for several years later that he did see them.

Mr. Hesler was a lover of flowers and of children. He kept many plants in his house during the winter from which to cut flowers to send to his neighbors.

Several years ago Mr. Hesler took a picture of the little daughter of Dr. Jewell. The child was laughing, and the likeness was so lifelike and beautiful that it was copied and recopied in this country and Europe. His book called “Picturesque Evanston” is a collection of artistic views of his own home town.

Mr. Hesler was married in 1849 to Helen E. Dorchester, daughter of Capt. J. Dorchester of Racine. He survived her scarcely a year. He leaves four children: Dr. Fred Hesler, a surgeon in the United States navy, on the Philadelphia, Arthur J. Hesler, a traveling salesman for Reid, Murdoch & Co., Harold R. Hesler of Evanston, and one daughter, Miss Helen.

The Lincoln Portraits by Alexander Hesler

Court House

tobey

The southwest corner of State and Randolph Streets in 1857. Taken from a daguerreotype by an unidentified daguerrotypist. Charles Tobey and Brother were here at 72 State Street from 1857 to 1862.

NOTES:

¹Excerpted from The Chicago Tribune, September 21, 1975.

² Obviously this was an error by the editors. The photographs were taken in August, 1858.

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